Filipino Children Learn About Asean Culture First-Hand

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - An Asean official from Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) spoke on what the Association of South East Asian Nation (Asean) hopes to achieve in the coming years and its relevance to children at the Philippine Embassy.

Pg Mahari bin Pg Hj Sulaiman, Assistant Director of the Asean Department, MOFAT, was speaking during the second Asean Day celebration held by the Filipino Language and Cultural Enrichment Programme. Some 60 Filipino children are taking part in the week-long programme ending this weekend.

Brunei's representative from the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Awg Serudin bin Hj Damit, gave a demonstration on how to wear the "sinjang", a traditional woven cloth wrapped around the waist worn during official, religious or wedding ceremonies, and the "sanggul", a traditional headdress for women that is worn without hairclips.

Awg Serudin greeted the students in Tagalog, the official Filipino language, and said that yesterday marked the second time he made the presentation for the embassy's cultural programme. The Second Secretary at the Royal Thai Embassy, Ms Pimduan Nagaviroj meanwhile introduced the "rumammit", a Thai assorted fruit dessert in fresh coconut milk and crushed ice.

Ms Pimduan invited everyone to experience the Thai New Year, Songkran, on April 13-17, when "water is thrown politely to each other, and people greet their parents and relatives." Children who asked questions received Thai souvenirs from the Thai second secretary.

Meanwhile Mr R Ratasegar, Third Secretary at the Singapore High Commission, showed a video presentation on the country's tourist attractions. Resorts World Sentosa was the most applauded by children. "The best man for the best job" was the quote he gave when asked on racial equality in Singapore.

Mr Mom Ravin, Second Secretary at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia, presented a prize to a Hannah Patricia, who gave the correct answers to questions on the country's official language (Khmer) and capital city (Phnom Penh).

Mr Enda Iskandar Yusuf, Counsellor at the Embassy of Indonesia, made a cultural video presentation on Indonesia, which featured the "wayang kulit" or shadow puppet and the musical gong, among others.

Jamilah Abdul Halim, Director of Tourism Malaysia (Brunei) spoke on the Malaysian traditional costume that she wore: a Nyonya kebaya, made up of a sarong and a tight fitting embroidered blouse (kebaya).

Jamilah spoke of Azah Aziz, a cultural lover who popularises Malaysian culture in her 20 books including "Rupa dan Gaya: Busona Melayu" and "Sayang: Pantun dan Seloka Kanak-Kanak", a compilation of Malay nursery rhymes; and of Datuk Nicol Ann David, the world's youngest squash champion.

To mark the occasion, the students made colourful Asean flags planted on sticks on a banana tree trunk under the guidance of volunteer teachers Lourdes Estante and Nedy Veloso. The national colours greeted the foreign representatives from the Asean high commisions and embassies when they arrived at the multi-purpose hall of the Philippine Embassy Chancery. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin. (Tony Alabastro)

Source: http://brudirect.com
Picture: http://brudirect.com

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