The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, in cooperation with the Filipino community in Laos, organized a half day kite-making activity for kids on March 15 as part of its year-long Sentro Rizal activities.
Adopting the title “Saranggola ni Pepe,” the activity started off with by Mr. Giovanni S. Villafuerte, a Filipino volunteer in one of the Laos-based non-profit associations narrating an episode in the life of Jose Rizal , whose nickname was “Pepe,” particularly on how he has managed to recover a lost kite while playing as a child. Video slides were shown as part of the story-telling by Mr. Villafuerte.
Mr. Villafuerte then guided the Filipino children in kite-making. Materials such as bamboo sticks, old newspapers, strings, Japanese paper, paste and plastic straws were made available to the kids. The children literally took to the floor and started fashioning out their own kites with their distinct colors, shapes and other designs, with the music of Celeste Legaspi’s “Saranggola ni Pepe” played in the background.
The activity ended with a flying of their hand-made kites, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed, with their parents or guardians, as well as Embassy staff, assisting them.
The event was capped with a warm bowl of guinataang kamote at saging that was savored by all.
Press release and photos courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs. 03 April 2014