Pride in Culture

Posted on April 19, 2014

Kids play between ships that ran aground during Yolanda in Tacloban. Photo was taken April 16, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

“When we measure strengths its first economic and political then cultural is the recognition of lifestyle based on economic and political factors. Let’s say it’s a mirror of realities in a society. But it’s not only like that it goes two ways. When you discover this then you can use it as a weapon, as a device to change society by changing their point of view. Pag pinalakas mo yung Pinoy through culture mas effective it’s more self-sustaining. Pag sinabi naming LAKAS PINOY Lakas natin kasi Pinoy tayo,” said Joey Tañedo, NCCA Head of the Committee on Visual Arts.

Photographer/ Painter & U.P. Professor Joey Tañedo conducted The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

Students got to use the SAMSUNG Galaxy 3 Tab for a photography exercise and got to make new friends. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

Tañedo was conducting a workshop called LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN last April 14-16, 2014 at Palo Leyte for teachers and students. Pinky San Andres and photographer/ Creative Director Noel San Andres organized the project as a way for students to deal with their traumas brought by Yolanda. PALO Culture and the Arts Organization served as vital volunteers for the activity held at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte.

from right: SAMSUNG HR officer Reg Ranada, SAMSUNG Public Affairs Head Arlita Narag, LAKAS PILIPINO Managing Dir. Pinky San Andres, Palo Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla, NCCA Committee on Visual Arts Head Jose Alberto Tañedo, Rozel and Kyla Narag, and Palo Municipal Tourism Culture & the Arts Officer Carlos Romano. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

BAYANIHAN PHILIPPINE NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY impressed audiences while the LED screen of NPAT brought them to the countryside. VOICES FOR VISAYAS was held at the New Port Performing Arts Theater, Resort’s World Manila last January 15, 2014. Photo by Jude Bautista—A lot of our dances come from the ceremonies of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest like the tinikling.

An appreciation for our own traditions helps the process of healing, “Sa Pilipino when someone dies we have so many rituals. After the burial may 9 days novena ka. Tapos may 40 days na celebration. Tapos meron kang babang luksa. Di ka na magluluksa. Pag na matayan may itim na pin or suot. Eventually darating yung time a year, tatanggalin mo na. Tapos na.”

Photographer/ Painter Joey Tañedo reminded us that The San Juanico Bridge was part of the Maharlika Expressway started during the Marcos era. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

The roots of those traditions are not necessarily Catholic, “That’s almost Christian although not recognized by Catholic Church. That’s cultural because they don’t have that in Western countries. Yung matagal ang closure. Kasi nga iba nga yung relasyon sa pamilya. Asian yan parang Chinese.” He is convinced that it is important to show how and why they should be proud to be Filipino and a member of their community.

Apart from the seminars students were able to use SAMSUNG Galaxy S3 tablets so they can express themselves through a photography exercise. Students also learned the basics in COMPOSITION for photography. Teachers were also made to express their feelings through art by drawing using Cray pass.

Art work by Teacher ALDO B. ROSA of ANAWAHAY National High School Palo Leyte who went through LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop. It was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

PALO Municipal Cultural Officer Carlo Romano conducted team-building exercises with the students. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

Both groups learned the unique Filipino subcultures as presented by an NCCA produced video: Kultura ng Pagdidiwata (Harmony with the Spirit World), Kultura ng Paguuma at Paguukit (Devotion to the Arabesque Art), Kultura sa Pamamanata sa Poon (Devotion to the Patron Saint), Kultura ng Pananahan (Devotion to the Family), Kultura ng Pangangatwiran (Worship of the Intellect), Kultura ng Pagaaliw (Culture of Entertainment, Kultura ng Pagtutol (Culture of Social Ills) and Kultura ng Pagkakabansa (Culture of Nationhood).

NCCA Committee on Visual Arts Head Jose Alberto Tañedo and SAMSUNG Public Affairs Head Arlita Narag. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

SAMSUNG Phil Public Affairs Head Arlita Narag said, “We in SAMSUNG believe that culture is a very strong resource. The situation calls for its importance. We have to preserve and promote our own culture. Kelangan ibalik natin kung ano tayo talaga.”

She also shared some important data from a workshop on culture she attended in Singapore, “There’s a local consultancy that surveyed 100 countries on national pride. DO you know who topped the list on national pride? The Philippines.”

Writing on the wall of a ship that ran aground during Yolanda in Tacloban. Photo was taken April 16, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

Teacher Joy Balagapo of Sto Niño SPED CENTER, Tacloban City shared that Mdme Imelda Marcos developed Tacloban via culture. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista

Teacher Joy Balagapo of Sto Niño SPED CENTER, Tacloban City shared a time when things were better for the community, “How can we enliven cultural awareness here in Leyte? Parang di siya buhay na buhay ngayon. When I was young I studied at Leyte Normal University at that time buhay na buhay ang kultura noon. Madame Imelda Marcos was the first Lady at that time and she was giving special attention to Tacloban most especially at Leyte Normal University.”

At the same time the workshops were conducted SAMSUNG also brought their washing machines to provide free laundry. LAKAS PILIPINO Managing director Pinky San Andres said, “The project has to be welcomed by the community. In this case it was the cultural officer for Palo, Carlo Romano. We arranged it with Mayor Petilla. The fire station was involved because of the water supply. We got volunteers and it was announced in the barangays so that we could let the people know about it. Yesterday there were a lot of people who attended because there was a free live airing of Pacquiao vs Bradley II fight.”

Kids play between ships that ran aground during Yolanda in Tacloban. Photo was taken April 16, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

Participating teachers and students came from: Philippine Science High School, Eastern Visayas Campus, Pawing Elementary School, Palo National High School, Leyte Normal University, St. Paul’s business school and Eastern Visayas State University.

from left: SAMSUNG Public Affairs Head Arlita Narag with SAMSUNG HR officer Reg Ranada. The LAKAS PILIPINO LAKAS NATIN workshop was held April 14-16 at the Tierra De Milagros Resort in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Jude Bautista