Fun to play, learn at the museum
It was a time of laughter, fun, and learning for John Patrick del Castillo, 10, and his brother Juphet, 11, when they visited museums and heritage galleries in Cebu for the first time.
They were among 309 children from different barangays in Cebu City who joined the fourth Kids at the Museum program as part of the celebration of Children’s Month in October.
In four Saturday of last month, urban children learned how to play traditional Filipino games and had workshops on weaving palm leaves (lukay ), cooking, comic drawing, and painting.
“Nakahibaw ko giunsa ug kudkud sa lubi (I learned how to grate a coconut),” Juphet told Cebu Daily News.
They had wanted to join the painting workshop but ended up with cooking lessons.
“Pero lingaw man gihapon kaayo,” said John Patrick. (It was still a lot of fun though.)
Article continues after this advertisementThe boys who study in Tejero Elementary School said they had fun playing “tubig-tubig” with neighborhood kids from barangay Tinago who participated in the event.
Article continues after this advertisementJuphet said he was struck by the sight of memorabilia of Jose Rizal like his clothes and books at one museum.
John recognized Rizal as a national hero.
“Bayani siya kay nagpakamatay man siya para sa mga tawo,” John said. (He’s a hero because he died for the people.)
The exposure to culture and history was an eyeopener for the kids.
“Nakat-on mi kung giunsa ang mga karaan nga binuhatan,” Juphet said. (We learned how things in the past are done.)
Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of the Culture and Heritage Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc, said the Kids at the Museum activity aimed to guide children to appreciate museums as a venue of learning Cebuano culture and heritage.
“The entire event is a platform for education. And when you want to educate the kids, it must also be fun and interactive,”” she said. The children came from barangays Cogon Central Ramos, Day-as, Pari-an, Kamagayn, Lorega San Miguel, mabolo, San Roque, Señor Sto. Niño, T. Padilla, Tejero, Tinago and Zapatera.
