Paaralan Sa Konsulado 2015

Paaralan Sa Konsulado (School at the Consulate) 2015 Opens; Renée Salud Talks About Pambansang Kasuotan

By Carol Tanjutco, J.D.

“Let’s Celebrate our Filipino Culture” is this year’s theme of Paaralan Sa Konsulado (PSK), a project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Association of Filipino-American Teachers of America, Inc. (AFTA). PSK, now in its 17^th season, is a summer school that helps young Filipino Americans revisit their Filipino culture. It opened at the Philippine Center on June 27,2015, with close to sixty youngsters, their parents, guardians, consular officials, and teachers and volunteers in attendance.

The PSK 2015 students during the Opening Ceremony

Ambassador Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., the Philippine Consul General in New York, welcomed all to the Philippine Center and congratulated the registrants and their parents for choosing to participate in Paaralan Sa Konsulado. He reminded everyone how important it is for Filipinos to teach their children about the culture. He again thanked AFTA for continuing to implement the program to help the young Fil-Am children experience and reconnect with their culture. He also expressed great pleasure of meeting Mian Catalano, an alumna of PSK, who delivered an inspirational message to the students.

For her part, Mian Catalano narrated her experiences as a student of the first and second seasons of PSK. “I remember my sister and my first day. We were a little nervous, since we did not know what to expect. Who will we meet? What will we learn? Will it be fun? Paaralan Sa Konsulado covered so many topics, including language, history, games, arts, songs, and dances. For all that Paaralan Sa Konsulado offered us, my sister and I liked Filipino dance the most.  On the fifth day, we performed a dance for the culminating program. It was so enjoyable we came back the next summer. Soon, my sister and I were able to give back to Paaralan as volunteer teachers of dance.” She added, “ We are most grateful to AFTA’s Paaralan Sa Konsulado where we discovered our special connection to Filipino culture through dance. What will you discover? I am so excited for you all to find out what your special connection to Filipino culture is at this year’s Paaralan Sa Konsulado.” Mian trained for Folklorico Filipino Dance Company and was very proud to have performed with the other Filipino American dancers at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center.

Mian Catalano, PSK 1999 alumna, sharing her experiences growing up as a  half Filipino  in an Italian neighborhood in Queens and how PSK  helped her in life.

PSK 2015 will feature noted Filipinos to discuss special topics like Pambansang Kasuotan, Katutubong Sayaw, Kundiman, Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal, Pagkaing Pinoy and table etiquette, according to Dr. Raul Cajigas, AFTA president.

For its first special guest, PSK hosted the well-known fashion designer Renée Salud who talked about Pambansang Kasuotan (national dress). He told the audience his struggle to follow his dream- from a bodega worker to one of his stature now in the fashion world. He encouraged everyone to follow your dream no matter the hardship. He also explained his advocacy to use indigenous materials in his creations to help the people in the provinces and their livelihood. “ I am a Filipino and very proud about it. I think that I have a responsibility to promote our national dress.” He added, “It is my dream to see all Filipinos wear it always in the same way the Indian women wear their sari everywhere.” And for as long as he designs, he will make clothes using Philippine fabrics and materials and show the world the beauty of our Pambansang Kasuotan. It is evident that Renée Salud wears his Filipino pride on his sleeves!

Philippines’ Fashion Ambassador, Renee Salud during the plenary session on Pambansang Kasuotan.

One Saturday in this year’s PSK, students will join Mrs. Eleanor de Leon, the consul general’s wife, in a luncheon at the ambassador’s residence. They will proceed to the Central Park to hold a picnic and enjoy the Palaro Ng Lahi, an all-Filipino games afternoon.

Paaralan Sa Konsulado will meet for four more Saturdays and will hold its culminating program on August 1, 2015. The students will perform skits in Filipino, songs, and dances for their parents and friends.

The consul general’s office in cooperation with AFTA, will push for a database of all students, past and present. AFTA will continue to modify and improve the program to serve the community, especially the Fil-Am youth, to know and celebrate their Filipino culture.

PSK teacher volunteers and friends with Renee Salud.