Page 11 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

January to June
2017 11

(Continued from page 10… World Autism Awareness) Children’s Museum of the Arts Holds
Philippine Day in New York

The Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) in New
York City celebrated Philippine Day on 19 February 2017
with a day-long program featuring workshops celebrating
various aspects of Philippine life, geography, arts, and
culture.

The program likewise included a special
performance workshop by Sinding Kindaw Melayu
Heritage Center and its founder, Tradition Bearer, and
Artistic Director Ms . Potri Ranka Manis.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega opened
The young artists with their families pose with models wearing clothes featuring their
designs. the Philippine Day with a brief show and tell for the
audience on the Philippines. She told the audience,
In her remarks, Consul General Theresa De Vega composed mainly of young children and their parents, that
thanked Ms. Linda Borromeo and the Board of AHF for their the Philippines is one of the most diverse countries in the
dedication and vision to raise awareness for autism among world, a place where East and West meet and where
community members and recognized the partnership between various cultures are welcomed and celebrated.

AHF and the Consulate in the past year to bring FAAB Fashion for CMA Director for Community Programs Michelle
Hope. She noted that the project celebrates for a change the Lopez thanked all the guests and participants for
unique qualities and potential of persons with autism instead of spending the day at the museum and taking an active part
their deficits and disabilities. in the various activities featuring the Philippines.

She also paid tribute to the 10 young artists with autism Among the art workshops offered include, a clay-
whose talents from singing, painting, and public speaking, were on making workshop with the geography of the Philippines
full display during their visit to New York City. In their short trip, serving as inspiration; stop-animation lab featuring the
they participated in a two-day art work shop, fashion show, and an Sulu Sea as backdrop, Soundscapes of the Luzon
art exhibit at the United Nations last April 3 attended by Philippine rainforest in the Sound Lab, Kut-Kut inspired prints, and
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York the creation of Shadow Action Figures modelled after the
Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. work of contemporary Filipino artist Ronald Ventura.

During the program, Ms. Borromeo said that autism Consul General Dizon-De Vega assisted by her
awareness affects a significant segment of the world population. daughter Montserrat turned over a Philippine doll
In the U.S., 1 out 68 births have the condition. She explained that handcrafted by Anthill Fabric Gallery of Cebu and a book
AHF envisioned FAAB to empower persons with disabilities to for children on Philippine architecture as donations to the
overcomes challenges by promoting healthy self-expression, CMA collection.
building skills, and providing inclusive opportunities in the creative
arts. The CMA event provided an important
opportunity for Philippine culture and arts to be introduced
Mr. Andy Shi delivered a message from Autism Speaks, to young Filipino-Americans and mainstream audiences.
the global organization working for autism awareness.

Guests also learned more about the AHF and FAAB
Creative Arts Therapy project with through a short video
presentation.

The program also
showcased a Sharing of the FAAB
Experience by one of the young
artists, Ms. Nina Bantoto as well as
song numbers by Ms. Samantha
Kasper and pop artists Meredith
O’Connor. The other FAAB artists
aside from Ms. Bantoto and Ms.
Kasper include Nick Huang, Vico
Cham, Jorel Alegre, Daniel Sanchez, Ms. Roxanne Cajigas, a Fil-Am Ms. Potri Ranka Manis and the Kinding Sindaw Troupe, Consul General
Teacher and community volunteer
Julyan Harrison, Karl Oliveros, JA model shows off a piña shawl with art Theresa De Vega, Montserrat De Vega and Michelle Lopez, Director of
Tran, and Julien Borromeo. work by a young artist with autism. Community Program, Children’s Museum of the Arts (photo by NYPCG)