By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – July came and went and these events just blew the Filipino community away with happy and prideful memories.
2nd Outstanding Parents’ Awards and Gala on July 21, 2018 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Newark
The Excellence in Parenting awardees were: Mr. Augusto and Mrs. Julieta Arroyo; Rev. Rogelio and Mrs. Agnes Bantawan; Mrs. Pilar Calubiran; Mrs. Lumen Castaneda; Rev. Sunny and Mrs. Marivic Ibok; Rev. Mabau and Nancy Ilemabila; Mr. Jaime and Cielo Lardizabal; Dr. Nur Nonilon Queano and Potri Ranka Manis; Bishop Nathanael and Ruth Ocampo; and Mrs. Lydia Tanate.
The 2018 Excellent Parents awardees
Organized by the Filipino International Community of America (FICA), the Excellent Parents Awards is an expression of empowering families by celebrating the bond of sacrificial and undying love between couples. FICA president Emil Rapada said that “it is time to recognize the people who have given their time, financial, and emotional resources to fulfill the role of being parents.”
FICA president Emiljun Rapada
The 4th Sunday of July is National Parents’ Day in 1994, when Pres. Bill Clinton signed it into law. Since then, churches and community organizations all over the US have commemorated this day to honor parents.
Newly installed Consul General Claro Cristobal keynoted the event which was attended by more than a hundred guests. Fresh from his Ambassadors’ Tour in Manila, ConGen Cristobal said that he commends FICA in its efforts to strengthen the ultimate pillars of vibrant communities: caring families.
“As children grow into adulthood, parents need to be what they are meant to be – exemplars and guides. It is all about love and sacrifice. And yes, respect. Obeying your wife. Respecting each other,” said Cristobal.
Hosts Marivir Montebon and Bp. Rene Ballenas
Mrs. Julieta Arroyo, a retired school teacher in the Bronx, spoke on behalf of the awardees in an acceptance speech. She said: “our bond is strong as husband and wife, because we put God as the center of our relationship. We withered all challenges because of faith and love.”
This writer and Bp. Rene Ballenas hosted the afternoon gala which was sponsored by Jollibee, Glossy Skinovation, HSA, and Synergy Production and Marketing.
Weaving Silk and Pineapple into Fine Philippine Fabrics
The Philippine Center on 5th Avenue was home of the interactive Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Traveling Exhibition:Lecture Series, Weaving and Embroidery Demonstration and Workshops from July 24 to 27, 2018.
ConGen Cristobal, Dr. Ana Labrador of the National Museum, and Amb. Teddy Locsin Jr. of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN open the Hibla Traveling Exhibit at the Philippine Center
Ms. Rhodora Sulangi explains to ConGen and Ms. Cristobal and this writer the art of weaving during the opening of the exhibit.
Featuring the piña (Spanish for pineapple) and seda (Spanish for silk), the Philippine Consulate Cultural Affairs, the office of Sen. Loren Legarda and the National Museum brought to the Filipino community here the exquisite art of embroidery and weaving pinya and seda.
Pina-silk Filipiniana from the personal collection of Sen. Legarda
Pina-silk Barong Tagalog, also from Sen. Legarda’s collection
Seda is reputedly the smoothest woven fabric in the world. When combined with Pina, this silk exudes elegance and luxurious smoothness.
During its opening day, Let dela Cruz demonstrated the art of weaving combined with embroidery using an antiquated weaving loom from the national museum. She is the production manager for the Dela Cruz House of Pina in Kalibo, Aklan.
Let dela Cruz demonstrates a combination of weaving and embroidery using the old weaving loom from the Philippines.
Artisanship at its finest
Lillian Teresita del Valle of Lumban, Laguna shows the art of embroidery.
‘Bordadero’ Consul Arman Talbo tackles his own embroidery.
Some curious children of the Paaralan sa Konsulado observe how Tess del Valle does embroidery.
Cultural Affairs head of the Philippine Consulate Olive Magpile does her own embroidered artwork too.
Filipinos here, including young children of the Paaralan sa Konsulado, enjoyed doing their own embroidery during the first week of the exhibit with the guidance of Let dela Cruz, Rhodora Sulangi, Tess del Valle, and Joan Monado. The traveling exhibit is up until September 7 at the Philippine Center.
In the Philippines, particularly Laguna and Aklan, Philippine fabrics made of silk and pineapple, have inched into becoming a medium-size industry vis-a-vis challenges in ample resources, capitalization and fair remunerations, and the passing on of the artistic craft from one generation to the next.
(Featured photo: Child actors Edelle and Elie Rapada greeted ConGen Claro Cristobal and Mrs. Marilou Cristobal during the FICA Excellent Parents Awards; FICA president Emiljun Rapada ushered in his little children to do the traditional Filipino ‘Mano Po’ greeting to the two special guests; Other photos courtesy of Consul Arman Talbo.)
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