Monday, November 24, 2008

Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community: Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang

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A Project of the Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community (Korea)


Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang 2008
(Mr and Miss Filipino Culture 2008)

Israel Antonio (Baguio City) and May Heducos (Bukidnon)

The Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community successfully organized the first Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang 2008 (Mr. and Miss Filipino Culture 2008). It was held October 19, 2008 in Tongsong Auditorium, Seoul, South Korea.

Six ladies and 5 gentlemen competed in the contest, which aimed not only to show their beauty and physical appearance but also to showcase Philippine culture and true Filipino Christian values.

The program started with a Doxology followed by the Philippine National Anthem sung by the Hyehwadong choir.



The candidates danced the Sinulog, a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Sto. Nino as their production number.



The candidates then introduced themselves to the audience.





The candidates paraded in their regional traditional costumes and the Hanbok, a Korean National dress. They then displayed their talents in singing, dancing and acting. For the evening dress competition, the male contestants wore the Barong Tagalog, while the women wore the Filipiniana. There was a question and answer period, where questions ranged from the ordinary, "Why do you think you deserve the title of Ginoo or Binibining Kalinagang Pilipino?", to the more difficult," What can migrants who are far away from their families do to maintain fidelity to their spouses and families?"







The chairman of the Board of Judges was the Honorable Ambassador Luis T. Cruz, assisted by Mylo Fausto, the Cultural Officer of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Ms. Maricon Ebron, the Tourism attache, Miss Loreta Medina, a free lance writer, Ms. Cathy Garcia from the Korea Times.

Israel Antonio (Baguio City) and May Heducos (Bukidnon) were crowned Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang 2008. The first runners-up were Mark Brazas and Jenilyn Danting, while Kishore Patrimonio and Sheryl de Villa were the second runners-up. There was also raffle with the first prize of 1 million won going to Celestino Gequinto Jr. Mila Casao won a PAL round trip ticket to the Philippines. Aniceta Alsagon won a colored television and Mhac won a digital camera.
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Sunday, November 16, 2008

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A Book Launching at Power Books (Makati, Philippines)


The Filipino Family Surviving the World
by Dr. Ma. Lourdes Arellano-Carandang
and Dr. Queena N. Lee-Chua



The Filipino family today is facing many changes, within itself and in the larger society. But the family remains the moral center of society where values are learned, and role models, emulated. To rebuild the nation, it is the belief of award winning clinical psychologists, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Arellano-Carandang and Dr. Queena N. Lee-Chua, that we need to start taking care of the family. In their book The Filipino Family Surviving The World, they discuss the impact of these developments on parents, teens and children and suggest ways of coping with changes.

Perhaps the change that has had the most direct impact on the Filipino family today is global migration- the significant increase in the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). This has resulted in changes in the structure and composition of our families. There are now more single-parent families, mother-headed, father-headed, child-headed, blended families and many others.


Dr. Carandang explains affirmation via total listening.

Dr. Carandang, or as she is known by many of her patients, former students and mentees, Tita Honey, tells the story of families currently experiencing the ups and downs of the OFW experience in the section of the book entitled, The Inner Lives of OFW Families. Here are some of those family stories:

Mirasol Family


Romy Sr. and Aurora have five children. The two eldest children are married while the three younger ones, all adolescents, live with them. Romy also has a two-month-old daughter from an extramarital affair.

A year ago, Aurora left to work in Qatar as a reflexologist but ended up as an "all-around". She left to earn money for her children's education. But her departure saddled them with a huge debt, resulting in their having to mortgage their family home.

Romy has to learn how to budget their expenses and to take care of the children's school needs. He works as a tricycle driver until the wee hours of the morning. He says that the work helps him cope with loneliness. He used to drink, but his children didn't approve, so he stopped.

The youngest in the family, 15 year old Romy Jr., echoes the overwhelming sadness felt bu the whole family: "Nawala ang ilaw ng tahanan, nawala 'yung laging nasa bahay, nawala 'yung nag-aalaga ng buhay at 'yung nag-aalaga din sa amin. (The light of the home had gone, the one always at home had gone, the one taking care of the household had gone, and the one taking care of us had gone)."

Romy Jr. says talking to his mother on the cell phone twice a month helps to alleviate the sadness. Activities such as fixing the house and doing the laundry with his siblings, as well as studying, have also helped him cope with his mother's absence.

His passion for singing and solving logic puzzles, and his aspirations to finish school and pass auditions for a national singing competition on TV have helped him rise above feelings of burden and sadness.

The Mirasols hope that Aurora will return home for good. Romy Sr. says nothing good has come out of her leaving. "Parang wala namang magandang nangyari. Lahat kami nangungulila. Wala akong nakitang improvement sa buhay namin (Nothing good seemed to have happened. All of us are orphaned, I haven't seen any improvement in our lives)".

Fernandez Family

Six years ago, Arcadio and Aloha lost their jobs when the restaurant they worked for burned down. Soon after, Aloha left for Singapore to work as a caregiver. Arcadio was reluctant to let his wife leave, but both of them decided that the sacrifice would ensure a better future for their children.

It took Arcadio about two months to adjust to the changes brought about by his wife's departure. He stayed home, did domestic chores such as laundry and cooking, cleaning the house, and even bathing 10-year old Jolo. Arcadio says he had difficulty with Jeralyn, an adolescent with issues regarding body changes and low grades, but their relationship has improved.

It is a plus that the Fernandex couple has a good relationship. Arcadio writes to Aloha every day and she, for her part, calls him daily. They pledge their faithfullness to each other, and respect each other deeply. He is also thankful that his wife has a good employer.

Arcadio is now able to buy what his children require, and has adjusted to the role of mothering his kids. He is attuned to and sensitive to their physical and emotional needs. His children are a source of comfort, and he copes by spending a lot of time bonding with them and observing simple family traditions. His goal is to have the kids finish schooling and his wish is that his wife does not get sick. These two things give him hope and energy to continue despite his wife's absence.



Dr. Carandang's Message to all OFWs: Stay in touch,///Chris Carandang singing his own composition,
and believe in the resilience of your children. ////////"Panibagong Buhay".


The Strength and Resilience of the Children

Despite the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness that is especially felt by the father and some of the children, many of these family members have displayed an admirable resilience, and eventually found coping mechanisms that work for them individually.

Out of the pervasive sadness, it is the children who have been able to draw strength from deep within themselves to look beyond the present situation and imagine a better, happier, more beautiful future when the family will be truly complete.
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Monday, October 27, 2008

Kapuluan: Philippine Art Show in Korea

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Kapuluan (Archipelago): Islands of Vision
A Philippine Art Show in Korea



Video 1: The Artwork ---------------------------- Video 2:The Event




The Artists:
Loreta Medina calls on the shamanistic, animistic roots of pre-Hispanic Philippines, finding faces and stories in the bark of trees. William Gaudinez puts together cultural items, such as seashells, gems, animal bones and wood to construct colorful assemblages and wall works. Samuel Penaso uses his abstract paintings to depict the beauty and richness of his place of birth, Bohol. Jimmy Vista features Filipino life in rural settings in his vibrant works, mostly rendered in water color.

The opening ceremony on October 8 featured chanting and poetry reading. On October 14, there will be a lecture on Mangyans and the eight Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups found on Mindoro Island.























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1 comments:

pieces said...

Ang galing talaga ng pinoy!May pambihirang kakayahan at talento.Lalo na ang mga ipinakita ng mga artist na ito.....Talagang maipagmamalaki natin sa buong mundo.sana marami pang mga pinoy na magpakita ng kanilang natatanging kakayahan at talento.....At tangkilikin natin at suportahan natin ang sariling atin!more power po sa mga artist na ito............Mabuhay philippines!!!!!!



Viva La Virgen!

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Our Lady of Penafrancia Fiesta 2008, Naga City

Watch & Pray
The Procession of Our Lady of Penafrancia
(click above to link to first video on YouTube)

Divino Rostro:........................................Waiting for the Start:



Devotees still lined up around Naga Cathedral
at midnight to venerate Our Lady:













For more pictures of Ina (Our Lady) including the Fluvial procession,
click here.





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Submit your thoughts on these videos and pictures by simply clicking on the word "comments" just below. Stay in touch!

Hindi ka nagiisa... One. Filipino. Never Alone.
Click to return to main website: www.ofwparasapamilya.com
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1 comments:
Yola said...

Ang ganda ganda ng OUR LADY OF PENAFRANCIA,talaga pong magpahanggang ngayon ay naroon pa rin ang mga taong nanampalataya sa mga ganitong kaarawan ng ating mga debuhong Berhen....Kahanga hanga talaga ang kanilang pananampalataya.At mukhang mga antik na po ang mga statue ng ating mahal na poon. Nagagalak po sana akong makarating sa Lugar na yan.

 
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