Young participants of the 2020 Filipino Language and Cultural Enrichment Program (FLCEP) pose for a group photo with Ambassador Christopher B. Montero and officials of the Brunei Filipino Educator’s Club.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 26 OCTOBER 2020. In line with its cultural diplomacy program for the Filipino diaspora, the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam held graduation ceremonies for forty-four (44) young Filipino participants, aged 6 to 17 years old, who completed the 2020 Filipino Language and Cultural Enrichment Program (FLCEP) on 18 October 2020 at the Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam.

Held from 14 September 2020 to 16 October 2020 in partnership with the Brunei Filipino Educators Club (BFEC) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the FLCEP was conducted through a blended mode of learning due to the ongoing pandemic and in keeping with the health and safety measures in the Sultanate. Learning sessions were conducted mostly via a digital/online platform, with minimal face-to-face interaction between teachers and participants. Online lessons focused on Filipino history and language, while face-to-face sessions were devoted to cultural enrichment activities such as Filipino traditional games and cultural immersion activities.

The highlight of the ceremonies was the awarding of winners for the NCCA’s Padayon Arts competition under the following categories:

1. Paligsahan sa Pag Dibuho para sa Kabataan (Drawing Competition) – for Beginners Level
2. Paligsahan sa Pag Sulat ng Tula (Poetry Writing Competition) – for Junior Level
3. Paligsahan sa Pag Vlog ng Kultura ng Pilipinas (Vlogging Competition) – for Senior Level
4. Paligsahan sa Bay-Sa-Hin (Baybayin Reading and Writing Competition) – for Senior Level

Video presentations of cultural performances, which the young participants diligently and enthusiastically prepared under the guidance of their volunteer teachers, were shown during the ceremony. These performances consisted of Filipino traditional rural dances like “Kiriwkiw” performed by the Beginner Level students, Muslim dances such as “Silong sa Ganding” and “Pandala”, performed by the Junior Level students and a Cordillera dance “Dong Dong Ay,” performed by the Senior Level students.

In his message, Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero emphasized the importance of continuing the FLCEP amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide Filipino children with a sense of “familiarity” during these challenging times, and enabling them to strengthen their sense of Filipino identity and pride for their Filipino heritage. He also thanks the volunteer teachers of BFEC for their unwavering dedication and professionalism, as well as the parents for their valuable support in the success of the FLCEP.

After the ceremonies, all the young participants, parents and volunteer teachers were treated to a simple merienda consisting of Jollibee food packs, sponsored by the Office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

First introduced in 2008, this year marks the 12^th edition of the FLCEP, which has contributed not only in strengthening love for country but also in the reintegration of Filipino children in Brunei to Philippine society in the future. END

Ambassador Christopher B. Montero delivers his remarks at the graduation ceremonies.

Beginner Level students present their video cultural dance performance “Kiriwkiw”

Junior Level students present their video Muslim cultural dance performance “Silong sa Ganding” and “Pandala”.

Senior Level students present their video Cordillera cultural dance performance “Dong Dong Ay”