WORLD ART SUMMIT DAY
July 24, 2016
Botolan, Zambales
For the celebration of World Art Summit Day, PEARLS team went to Botolan, Zambales to be with the amazing Aeta kids who are part of our LitClub.
Project Pearls adopted an Aeta community there last year.
The date was July 24, 2016. It was one fine Sunday dawn when a four-hour ride from Manila started.
Volunteers and Litclub kids from Batia, Bulacan joined forces for this trip that I never thought would turn out to be one of the most creative, unforgettable and colorful days
we would have.
It was almost nine in the morning when we finally reached our destination – the humble and very simple way of living town of Botolan, Zambales.
Most of the residents here are indigenous people. They are Aetas.
Smiles on their faces upon seeing us can beat the ray of the sun as they warmly welcomed us.
We headed to their central school which they called LAKAS, the acronym for “Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubong Ayta ng Sambales”.
The World Art Story Summit Day held at one of their classrooms.
For a first timer like me to their place, I was a bit amazed to their classrooms because they look like a very wide nipa house minus the kitchen, bedrooms and restroom. The floor is made of bamboo sticks and the foundations or beams are made of other strong woods.
Yes, it is not a typical classroom that we are used to, but the most native and very close to nature one of a kind!
The session then got started.
First part was the introduction of the Pearls team to the kids.
Each kid was given a name tag for us to recognize them and each volunteer including the litclub kids from Batia, Bulacan were assigned to sit beside them.
We formed a circle while on an Indian sit and sang a song happily.
Through this, we were able to get along with them and silently breaking the wall of awkwardness to some of them who tend to be shy.
A short discussion about different kinds of lines with Ate Peachy, our head for LitClub, was then followed.
Kids actively participated to her questions and they were engaged to what she was talking about.
She correlate lines with emotions and the kids shared what they feel and think about the different kinds of lines such as straight, curve, wavy, etc.
After the discussion was Art time! Kids drew the lines that they like the most on a half sheet of foam board that was bond paper size. Volunteers assisted them with the art materials they needed.
After the drawing was the rolling of colorful paints! Yey!
They used rollers to scatter the pain on the foam board.
And here came the stamping!
On a colored paper, they stamped the foam board. Hello there, Art Attack!
We let them dry first and another discussion followed.
For this time around, it was led by Ate Karen, one of our volunteers and at the same time LitClub facilitators.
She discussed the activities that we do during day time and night time.
Kids had the chance to share what they do during those times.
Here’s Art time once again!
Children drew what are the things they usually do during day and night time.
And then each kid were given illustration boards that were folded like a book. Inside this board, they will put the drawing that they did. While on the outside, the stamped papers they did awhile ago will be the cover design.
The title of their “mini books” depend on what they like.
Some put “Ang Aking Buhay” (The Story of My Life) and the likes.
Seeing these pile of artworks was just like looking at the sea of amazement.
They were just so creative!
We believe that through Art, we can express how we see life. And these kids see their lives so vibrant!
Lunch break came. It was eating time!
They ate their meal on the nearby classroom. And this classroom was funded by Ms. Melissa Poquiz, friends and family.
Thank you so much, Ms. Melissa! The kids are so grateful for having this classroom for them.
For the after lunch activity, kids were going to create illuminating words.
Ate Peachy once again led this part. She taught the kids how to create illuminating letters using the art materials provided.
They must think of words that inspired them the most and here is the list of some of those words:
Beautiful
Love
Fun
Respect
Dreams
Joy
Friends
Kind
And many more inspiring words!
After these activity, they had a parade around the court while bringing the illumunating words they chose and while singing their LitClub anthem written on Sambal, their dialect.
This song was composed by one of them! He’s Edmundo! How bright this child is. We can see a songwriter in the making and we love it!
After the parade, we gave them some school supplies and even though this was just a little thing compare to the happiness they brought us, they were so happy and thankful.
This day’s activity ended with a snack time for them.
A long hour ride just to see and to be with them was worth it! Each of them has a lot of stories to tell the world and we will be forever so eager to hear all of it.
If only a day would be enough but we know that it isn’t for we have to go back to our homes and lives left in Manila.
Thank you so much, Botolan kids!
Till our next creative, educational fun time!
Saying “Hi!” and “Hello!” to our partners in making this event super possible.
Litworld.org
globalgirlsglow.org
