Eskwelahang Munti visits seniors in pre-Valentine's Day celebration

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Over 10 students of the Eskwelahang Munti (Little Schoolhouse) of Charlotte, North Carolina joined a field trip to two seniors houses a week before Valentine’s Day. 

Dr. Nini RB Bautista de Garcia, chairperson of the Filipino American Spirit Inc. that created the Eskwelahang Munti, said the pre-Valentine's Day visits is intended to foster love and respect among kids for their elders and other senior citizens. 

The Eskwelehang Munti students visited the the Brookdale Nursing Home and Legacy Heights Senior Living Community where they distributed Valentine cards and flowers to the seniors.

Brookdale Nursing Home houses 25 residents near the Pink Cathedral while Legacy Heights Senior Living Community has a sizeable number of residents. 

The students also performed the Filipino folk song “Paru-Parung Bukid (Butterfly Field)” in both centers. The parents, teachers and volunteers dialogue with the elders and helped the staff in distributing snacks.

The short presentation which delighted the elderly audience was followed with  a group photo. The student group headed to the home of Linda Judson where a Valentine's party was held for the students and parents. The field trip officially opens the new semester for Eskwelahang Munti.

Eskwelahang Munti started last September with the objective of teaching the next generation of Fil-Americans the culture and heritage of the Philippines using Tagalog as the medium of instruction. Emphasis is also placed on the core values of the Filipinos.

Me second at left with Dr. Nini RB Bautista de Garcia on my right.