Wednesday, October 01, 2008 Lantern, kite making workshop held for OSYs, CWDs
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A well-known lantern maker has conducted a livelihood and seminar workshop on lantern and kite making for out-of-school youths (OSYs) and children with disabilities (CWDs) at the SM City Pampanga event center.
Rolando Quiambao, a lantern maker and successful businessman, has gathered around 20 OSYs from this capital city, along with deaf and mute children of San Fernando Elementary School, in the two-day activity which started Tuesday.
The seminar, dubbed as "Parul at Burarul Kekatamung Pagmaragul," is now on its second year. It was started by Quiambao in 2007 to provide basic skills in lantern making to willing learners who can continue the Kapampangan tradition of lantern making.
The event is in coordination with the Artist Supporting Local Artist Group (Aslag) and the University of the Assumption Alumni Association.
The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF), a social advocacy group, donated financial assistance for the needed materials in the event.
"Now more than ever is the time to pass on the skills in lantern making to the youths of San Fernando and pass on the skills in making this tradition alive," Quiambao said, adding that the event also serves as his personal responsibility "to give back" what he has achieved through lantern making.
Quiambao is the acknowledged "King of Giant Lanterns" in Pampanga, having won several times in the Ligligan Parul in the capital city where giant lanterns are displayed during the contest.
Meanwhile, the kite-making seminar was to provide the deaf and mute children some skills that they could use for recreation and even as a form of livelihood.
Rudy Mallari, who represented KDF president Benigno Ricafort, said the skills that were imparted in the said seminar would help the beneficiaries earn a decent living.
The OSYs in the lantern making seminar would be evaluated by Quiambao and those who have met his standards will be offered jobs in his lantern shop.
Quiambao believes that artists and craftsmen should not be selfish in passing on their skills to the younger generation to be able to keep craftsmanship traditions alive. (IOF)
