June 25, 2016
Batia, Bulacan
It was three years ago when the Nanays of Ulingan joined LitMoms, LitWorld’s Literacy program for mothers. It was also that time when their families had just moved to Batia, a relocation site in Bocaue, Bulacan, and started a new chapter in their life after years of living in Ulingan, Tondo, Manila.
Five Nanays had to take the trike on our way to town because 20 people couldn’t fit in the van. The trike is the main mode of transportation in this barangay as with most places in the country.
Theirs was a fresh start. Life in Ulingan was far from easy, and the transition sure wasn’t easy either.
Last Saturday, I had an honor to be there while they make their own self-portrait boxes, an activity done during the Global Glow HerStory Summit in New York City. The activity encourages self-reflection through art.
Drawing different symbols like the sun, a flower and hearts on the sides of a box.
Using lines, shapes, symbols and words, they illustrated outside a box how other people see them. Inside their boxes, they put significant symbols that they think best represent their inner thoughts and feelings.
Paying close attention as Ate Peachy demonstrates the day’s activity.
Nanay Analie sharing her self-portrait box to the the rest of the group. Shooting Stars for her!
A couple of Nanays shared their boxes and what symbols they used, to the group. Notable are the symbols of hope, and strength you’ll find in most boxes.
Nanay Analie used coils and broken lines as her symbol of hope. She used flowers, teddy bears and zig zag lines to represent her pride of the life she’s lead. Notice also the hearts, fishes and an apple which tells us how colorful a mother’s life can be.
I wish I could tell you all the wonderful symbols that these amazing Nanays used, which somehow will tell us of a mother’s life; full of love, hope and courage.
A bubbly nanay in the surface, but ever wonder what she’s inside? I can sense that strong faith that kept her standing and smiling 🙂 She put different colored flowers inside her box.
Another fun activity with the LitMoms! Shooting Stars!
More photos here:
https://m.facebook.com/ProjectPEARLS1/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1386256211401363
Written and photos by: Kat Bayaban
#projectpearls
#litclub
#litworld
