Museum’s ‘PH Day’ highlights Filipino traditions

Kids and parents alike create their own Philippine lanterns on “Philippines Day” held at the KID Museum. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, D.C.– More than 300 visitors consisting of families with young children participated in the first-ever “Philippines Day and Ligligan Parul” held at the KID Museum on December 8.

Ligligan Parul or Festival of Light is an annual festival held in mid-December in the City of San Fernando Pampanga, Philippines that features a competition of giant lanterns to welcome the Christmas season.

Kids were introduced to the Philippine lantern and were given materials to create and design their own to bring home with them. They likewise participated in crafts-making and textile projects depicting the Philippine tarsier, paraw boat, and tigmamanukan (fairy bluebird).

Mencie Hairston of Mabuhay Inc. tells the story of “Why Filipinos love Christmas” to kids during the 2nd storytelling session at Philippines day in KID museum. CONTRIBUTED

A set of fun and interactive activities also added entertainment for the eager kids, including Filipino macaroni salad-making demonstration, lumpia shanghai (fried egg rolls) food tasting, Filipino folktales interactive storytelling, and tinikling bamboo dance presentation.

“As we celebrate the Christmas season, we are proud to impart unique Filipino traditions, which will help foster stronger bonds within Filipino-American families and communities,” said Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez in a statement.

Mabuhay dance group performs “Tinikling Bamboo dance” during Philippines day at KID museum. CONTRIBUTED

The pioneer event was made possible through collaboration with the Filipino Young Professionals of Washington DC (FYPDC) and Mabuhay Inc. Both organizations contributed time, manpower, and resources beginning from the planning stages of the event up until the execution during the program day itself.

FYPDC led the food demonstration and storytelling session, while Mabuhay Inc. led the tinikling dance presentation and a 2nd storytelling session.

FYPDC officers (from left to right) VP At-Large JP Abon, President Aggie Serrame, VP of Membership Carolina Ramirez, and Treasurer Joseph Javier; (Standing from left to right) Philippine Embassy Press & Information Attaché Lia Macadangdang, KID Museum Maker Educator Dya Ishak, Mabuhay Inc’s Yolanda Dela Cuesta and Mencie Hairston, Philippine Embassy Vice Consul Darell Artates, Philippine Embassy Cultural Attaché Lalie Gavino, KID Museum Maker Educator Cori Leyden-Sussler, and Philippine Embassy Cultural Assistant Maya Cruz. CONTRIBUTED