Lola Basyang and The Children

October 18 was a special day.

Almost 450 individuals trooped to PETA Center to watch a very special play – MGA KUWENTO NI LOLA BASYANG.

It was special – because Lola Basyang was sooo candid and energetic; she brought the house down…to think she just started with instructions on how we were to respond by stomping and clapping as we answered her questions with laughter and excitement. There was the youthful cast as well all so full of life, wearing all the colorful costumes creatively and playfully done – slippers wrapped around as belt, baby bottles in a round bottle carrier as the queen’s crown, and all the other stuff that adorned the cast. They all gave life to the stories. Their voices were so beautiful and all the antics brought laughter and joy to the viewers.

It became very special – to the families, teachers and friends of Kolisko Foundation for Education (KoFE) and The Kolisko School for Steiner Education who went to watch the show. We laughed and interacted with the characters, feeling bursts of joy as we watched our own children laugh and shout with glee as they enjoyed every bit of the stories that unfolded before us.

But it was all the more special to the children and their guides from our partner communities. It was the first time for many of them to step inside a real theater, and watch a real play. They were there because someone gave them that chance to be there. And you my dear reader, you were one of those individuals who found a way to help. Your selflessness has moved our children to find joy in your love even when they are strangers to you, and you to them.

To us who were there we saw the children who are deaf, abused, orphaned, urban poor children, and those who once lived on the streets; and the youth from marginalized sectors such as poor artists from Antipolo, the struggling Deaf artists and entrepreneurs, the Indigenous Youth from Kalinga, Compostela and Samar - We were all blessed that we had this rare opportunity to enjoy, laugh and go wild with Lola B with them around us...just as they too were blessed with the gift of that one rare chance to experience the same. And their day ended with a memorable experience that would never be made possible without you finding a way to look for their sponsors. About 200+ were there because of you. The remaining 200+ were there, well because of you too!! ;-)

And let me share my appreciation to ALL of the parents, teachers, family and friends who made it a point to find a way to take those extra miles (a thousand i think!) to help - selling 1 ticket to selling over a hundred!!! convincing others to join us more so, finding those individuals and families who gave more by sponsoring 1 child and some even a dozen at a time!! And so thank you, thank you. We did not only help The Kolisko School raise the needed funds, but we made many children happy too. ;-)

And we just couldn’t get over the joy of what Lola Basyang brought us - the stories and the joyful children and adults who came out of the PETA theater that afternoon of October 18. Maybe a repeat can happen again, with your help.

For now, bask in the happiness that your love brought to these children and to our lives. Stop for a while and imagine those smiles and the brightness of life;s Light that beamed oh so bright that day.

Come and meet the children courtesy of Roxas family and Maralit family. Video soon to be uploaded courtesy of Macatuno family.

Thank you to the following
- MAJOR SPONSOR - World Chicken (Be good to your heart, eat grilled)
- DONORS - Mama Sita and Little John's Convenience (Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

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KoFE is holding a block screening of MADAGASCAR ESCAPE 2 ARICA on November 8 (Sat), 4pm at Trinoma Cinema 5. About 103 kids who are deaf, children with autism, mental retardation and other exceptional children from Bo. Obrero Elementary School will be given this chance to enjoy a movie with your help. Contact admin.kolisko.school@gmail.com, noemi.pamintuan.jara@gmail.com, velvethere@yahoo.com, maralitcam@yahoo.com and techiedelatorre@gmail.com or any KoFE member or The Kolisko School parent/teacher for more details on how you can help. Maybe you or your friend can be their Ninong/Ninang on November 8? ;-)

BREASTFEEDING IN THE WORKPLACE

For moms out there who breastfeed and would like to breastfeed their child without having to leave work.Do pass on to those who can benefit from it especially now that (melamine tainted!) formula milk is replacing the best milk for babies.

BREASTFEEDING IN THE WORKPLACE

Being (and Keeping!) a Productive Employee Who Raise Healthy Children

Breastfeeding is a rewarding and nurturing experience for both working mother and child. Learn how you can continue breastfeeding even after you go back to work.

Get helpful tips on how to sustain your supply of breast milk before you are tempted to buy a can of formula milk out of desperation.

Find out how employers can support productive employees who desire to raise healthy children through breastfeeding.

Get it straight from VELVET ESCARIO ROXAS, Deputy Executive Director of Arugaan – an NGO that is a staunch advocate of breastfeeding and earth-friendly and indigenous diet for children

OCTOBER 18, 2008
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The Kolisko School for Steiner Education
10 Alabama Street, Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City

Php 250 donation entitles you to a seat.

Fifteen (15) slots only!
Please reserve a seat before October 18.
Contact 0906-3034065, savechildhoodnow@gmail.com

About VELVET ESCARIO ROXAS
Wife of Jonathan Adam Roxas, head of TATAY - a father support group especially for breastfeeding

Mother of Jehielle, 6 years old, Bahay-Bahayan at The Kolisko School, breastfed for 3 years and 2 months

Mother of Voegelle, 15 months old, currently breastfeeding. Her waterbirth is a Philippine Medical pioneer - the first ever recorded hospital-based waterbirth in the Philippines!

High School Mathematics Teacher
Philippine School for Innovative Studies
Malingap corner Malumanay St., Teachers Vill. West, Diliman, Quezon City

Deputy Executive Director, Arugaan
April 2003-Present
#2 Starlight cor. Vista St., SSS Village, Marikina City
Email: arugaan@mozcom.com Tel: +632-4905452

• Counsels mothers on good infant and young child feeding practices
• Teaches proper breastfeeding techniques to other mothers and other health practitioners including doctors, nurses, midwives, etc.
• Co-authored the book "Let's Eat, Learn and Play"
• Creates crèche/daycare for babies and toddlers
(home-based, community-based and in workplaces)
• Instrumental in organizing the "First International Workshop on Indigenous Foods for Complementary Feeding" of 13 countries in Southeast Asia held in Bangkok, Thailand
• Organized 1,000 women and youth leaders as breastfeeding counselors and defenders held in Quezon City Hall
• Team leader and team member in coordinating and organizing different events (trainings, seminars and workshops) supported by different organizations including WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), DOH (Dept. of Health), WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action), IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network), Plan International Inc., etc.
• Trains, presents and lectures for different national and international trainings, seminars and workshops


WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

Lecturer/Trainor/Presentor:
• Asia Pacific Conference on Breastfeeding (November 30 - Dececember 3, 2003 New Delhi, India)

• First International Workshop on Indigenous Foods for
Complementary Feeding (June 2004 Bangkok, Thailand)

• Every Mother is a Working Mother (August 14, 2004, St. Luke's Hospital, Quezon City)

• Lifeskills Training for Brgy. Health Workers and Day
Care Workers (January 30 – February 1, 2006 Llorente, Eastern Samar;
September 2005 Lilo-an, Leyte)

• Women in Media's "Bulong Pulungan": Pushing Up
Breastfeeding as a Culture for Moms (August 2007, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City)

• The First Father Support Summit (October 2007, UP Diliman, Quezon City)

• Breastfeeding at the Heart of Waterbirthing (November 2007, AMA School of Medicine, Antipolo)

• Waterbirthing for City Health Workers (Feb. 2008, Maasin City, Southern Leyte)

UPCOMING PUBLIC EDUCATION LECTURES at The Kolisko School:

1. BIODYNAMIC COMPOSTING

By Greg Kitma
President, Philippine Biodynamic Agricultural Research Foundation

OCTOBER 26, 2008 (Sunday)
7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Malvar, Batangas

Php 750/adult, Php 350/child
Contact BABA ALBERTO 0921-2234844

2. SOURCES of STRENGTH: Exercises that Nurture the Soul
3. Speech and the Developing Child
4. The HEALING ART of HANDWORK:
1. Creating a Stuffed Animal
2. Crocheting for Kids and Adults
5. Raise Nature-loving Kids in the Time of TV and Gadgets
6. Effects of Electronic Media on Young Children
7. COOKING for LIFE:
1. Homemade Juice from Indigenous Fruits
2. Budget-friendly Ways of Raising Healthy Families in the time of Junk Food
8. Education That Promotes Social Transformation
9. Teaching Math through Art, Movement and Music
10. HAMOG/MORNING DEW: Harnessing the Power of Nature to Improve Health
11. Sing a Song to Promote Social Health
12. The Big C: Social and Spiritual Dynamics of Cancer
13. Unclutter Your Home, Mind and Heart
14. How to Start Saving for a Baby
15. Household Rules for Working Parents
16. Multiple Intelligences: Unfolding Your Child's Specific Intelligence at the Right Time

CONTACT: savechildhoodnow@gmail.com for more information.

You may also visit -

http://kolisko-foundation-for-education.blogspot.com/

http://koliskoschool.blogspot.com/
http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/05/26/20080526125524.html

The Kolisko School SY 2009-2010

Waldorf/Steiner Early Childhood Program in SY 2009-2010: Provides a nurturing environment based on an understanding of the young child's special developmental needs before the age of seven. Modeled after a good home environment. The mixed-age kindergarten has the advantage of being even more like a large family; older children provide a model for the younger ones and help them, while the little ones bring a softer element to the 5 and 6 year olds.

Waldorf/Steiner Education Grades 1 to 5 SY 2009-2010: A 'Renaissance' education where children take all subjects and do not work only on areas in which they excel. The approach to learning is in a holistic way - arts, humanities and sciences are viewed as interwoven with one another, not as a separate fields.

Subjects taught are presented in a lively pictorial way, because the elementary school child learns best when information is artistically and imaginatively presented. During the rest of the day, special subject teachers fill out the rich curriculum by teaching foreign languages, Filipino orchestra, and other subjects.

Emphasis on moral qualities such as truth, beauty and goodness which are not proselytized but experienced in the way the classroom and school is built and cared for, in the actions of the adults around them, and in the content and approach in delivery of the lessons.


Steiner Education - for the world

Acclaimed by UNESCO as education for the new millenium, the Steiner/Waldorf movement has more than 900 independent Waldorf/Steiner schools and 1,600 early childhood programs on five continents. Each initiative is started by individuals or groups within the community. The Kolisko Foundation for Education-The Kolisko School for Steiner Education started this way.

Not only is the Steiner Education truly global in its scope, but also in its approach. Wherever

approach. Wherever it is found, the Waldorf curriculum cultivates within its students a deep appreciation for cultural traditions from around the world, while all the while being deeply rooted in its local culture and context.

The Kolisko School strives to provide an affordable education. The reason for this may be found here.