A Slice of Pinoy: Workshops for Kids

One of the ways we teach in Paaralang Pinoy is through workshops where kids can actually try out an  activity--perhaps molding pastillas or playing patintero, tasting the rich tsokolate é or dancing the tinikling, or singing the Batibot show theme song.

With the help of Sign Up Genius, a free online sign up form, you will be able to register for upcoming workshops this spring.  To register your children, go to www.signupgenius.com, click on Find A Sign Up and access our workshops using our email address, paaralang.pinoy@yahoo.com.  You will be able to sign up for all our workshops!  Indicate the number of children who will participate, and include their ages. (Or click the Sign Up Genius button on the right--it will bring you to our workshop registration page directly!)

Here's a sneak peek at the February 9 workshop, Magluto Tayo!  This Cooking Workshop will introduce your children to sweet treats from the Philippines.  They will put together a yummy glass of halo-halo, slice some gulaman for samalamig, and taste some colorful pichi-pichi.  We will also learn Filipino words for different foods and colors, and take home recipes to help mom and dad recreate these treats at home.

Kaya sali na kayo!  Join us and experience a slice of Pinoy.  All workshops will be held at the St. Joseph Center of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

February 9
Magluto Tayo! (A Cooking Workshop)

March 16
Maglaro Tayo! (A Street Games Workshop)

April 27
Mamista Tayo! (A Fiesta Workshop)

Simbang Gabi 2013

Sa puso ng lahing Pilipino
Siyam na gabi kaming gumigising
Sa tugtog ng kampanang walang tigil

For the first time in its existence, Paaralang Pinoy sponsored a Simbang Gabi, the Filipino Advent Novena Mass in cooperation with the various communities of the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia and the Diocese of Arlington's Office of Multicultural Ministries.  It was a wonderful time to show our Fil-Am youth one of the enduring traditions that their parents have brought with them.

For our particular Mass, the Friends of BLD provided familiar Filipino hymns--nothing beats singing the Ama Namin, the Lord's Prayer in Tagalog!  One of our students proclaimed a reading in Tagalog, two of our young boys served in the Mass, and one of our PP families brought up the bread and wine.  Fr. Andrew Fisher, pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and former Director of Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC celebrated our Mass.

As folks walked out the door, they were serenaded with a medley of Filipino carols and handed a slice of bibingka for their drive home.  Our kids may not have had to wake up to church bells calling them to Mass at four o'clock in the morning but with a little bit of imagination, they were transported to a Catholic church somewhere in the Philippines for the familiar celebration that helped them prepare for Christmas.