Balayan volunteer opens new library in GK Dulao
By Sherizze Sean Acot
February 24, 2015
Forty two kids ages 3-12 years old under Sibol and Sagip Programs of the Gawad Kalinga Lopue Legacy Village have been given a new Reading Center by a university student last Feb. 22, Sunday.
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Dianarra Torres, a fourth year AB Communication student of the University of St. La Salle headed the Project MaSi-Maki: Maayos na Silid Aklatan – Maayos na Kinabukasan which aims to create a better reading center for the children of Gawad Kalinga.
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To build a reading center and to inculcate to the kids the love for reading was the main goal of the advocacy project.
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USLS alumnus Kevin Gupalor said that this was made to give the children an opportunity to read, discover their potentials and have a better future. This can also assist in their studies.
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A program took place inside the community’s multipurpose hall at two in the afternoon.
“I chose the GK Lopue Legacy Village because this is the community that’s closest to my heart. Gawad Kalinga has been a part of my life since I am a Balayan volunteer and I’ve seen that the kids really need a reading center,” Torres said. Balayan is a Social Development Office in USLS.
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This project is my way of saying thank you to them for being a big part of my life,” Torres added.
USLS Young Educators Society, St. Br. Miguel Academy volunteers, Mass Communication students, Lasallian brothers Butch Alcudia and Edgar Esparagoza and GK Kapitbahayan took part in the project.
Adonis Arimas, president of the GK Kapitbahayan said that of all the activities in their place, this one was the biggest.
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“Dako guid nga bulig ang ginhimo niyo labi na guid magasugod na eskwela akon nga bata”, shared Jonalyn Parcon, GK resident during the opening of the reading center.
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Torres also held a story telling activity and clock reading by the USLS Young Educators Society, traditional games like planting rice and palosebo and salu-salo for the GK residents and children.
Br. Alcudia said, “It will be easy for the children to learn if I put the learning center beside the new reading center. Dianarra’s seniors’ project is not for compliance. It was her dream”.
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Br. Alcudia’s dream in line with Torres’ initiative to put up the reading center is the GK St. Br. Miguel Learning Center, which they dubbed as the next dream.
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“The kids may not be able to know the importance of books for now but I know that someday, they will appreciate it. This is not my project alone. This is our project. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is as long as we’ve made another dream come true,” Torres added.
ANI: Words in Motion and Himig
By Sherizze Sean Acot // University of St. La Salle
The University of St. La Salle Culture and Arts Program has presented “Ani” last November 18, 2011 at the University Coliseum. The Ani featured the words in motion by the Masskara Theatre and Psalm and Himig by the USLS Chorale. The show was all about the showcase of talents of the Negrense poets. The poems are well made and presented. It signified the timeless allure of our own local poets. The presentors showed the eloquity and timeless characteristics of poems. The show was also full of passion, drama and perfection. The poets really had a passion of making the literary arts alive through poem making.
The differential interpretation of words of the poems came to life and it really evoked emotive responses just like in the “Dandansoy” and the “Ili’ili Tulog Anay” songs. The Dandansoy is a farewell song. Dandansoy is the name of the boy to which the singer says goodbye to. On the other hand, Ili’ili Tulog Anay is a lullaby song. It is about a woman trying to make the baby fall asleep even though its real mother is not there because she has brought bread. These two songs really depict an emotional attachment to its listeners. The listeners could be lovers or has a mother-daughter or mother-son relationship.
Meanwhile, I was also a little bit surprised to hear new songs and even new words. It was my first time to hear a planting and mountain song. “Chua Ay” was the title which was sung by the Chorale. They really had a good rendition of the song and it sounds like some ritual that made the song strong to my hearing. Although there are parts in the show that could make people fall asleep, the performances are exceptional. The production staff behind the show was great also. The background transitions and stage design really added a life to the entire coliseum that evening. I could hear lots of compliments regarding the production especially the background transitions and its effects.
The lighting is also breathtaking and they simply added hue through its vivid colors. The performances were outstanding and they made me realize that I should really appreciate the talents given to us by God and that we should treasure literature more. Truly, the show was overall a success and I am proud to be a Filipino. But most of all, I am proud to be a Negrense.
For that kind of works and performances, I’m sure they’ve shed buckets of sweats in order for them to give us quality performance – and they really met my expectations far more than what I expected them to give me. I salute them for being passionately indulged in arts and I hope that someday, somehow, in my own little works, I could publish mine also and perform that kind of performance on stage with much confidence like them.
Gallery Orange Write Ups
Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Philippines
