Latest news with #Baybayin
Khaleej Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Autistic kids as young as 4 carve out words of hope during calligraphy workshop
"Acceptance, awareness"—these words were carved out on a big canvas by kids aged 4 to 18 on Sunday morning at a special calligraphy workshop for children with autism, led by the talented Filipino artist Gino Banola. The children took this Sunday activity to the next level as they came together to celebrate World Autism Acceptance Month in Dubai. The session aimed at using the art of calligraphy as a creative tool to support self-expression and enhance fine motor skills in children on the spectrum. Laica Hamilton was on the front line with her 6-year-old son, who was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of 4. Describing the moment of her son's diagnosis, she said, 'It all started with denial and trying to figure out the best for your child.' Laica, who is also a member of the Ausome Family Journey (AFJ) community—a group of passionate parents raising children on the autism spectrum—emphasised their mission. 'Our goal is to create safe, inclusive spaces that promote diversity, acceptance, and creativity among neurodiverse children,' she explained. Her journey evolved from finding the right therapy centres for her child to discovering a supportive community where fellow Filipino parents come together. 'Everyone here has a different experience; there's no guidebook for raising a child with autism, but we have each other. You find a sense of belonging.' As her son drew lines on the big canvas, Laica noted how beneficial these types of workshops can be for both children and parents alike. Artistic expression For the second year in a row, Gino Banola, a Baybayin calligrapher, guided the kids through the art form. He shared his vision for the workshop, stating, 'We're not only promoting our Philippine script but also teaching the kids about their identity. Words like 'Acceptance' and 'Awareness' are vital for understanding their journey and embracing who they are.' Gino highlighted the importance of fostering both self-awareness and cultural pride through artistic expression. Pamela Amor Calinog, founder and president of the AFJ community and Brand Ambassador of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower UAE, opened the mic for parents to share their journeys. She explained the significance of the Sunflower lanyard, which symbolises hidden disabilities. 'To me, it's a call for patience, understanding, and kindness. As a mom of a nonverbal child with autism, I know how difficult it can be when my son is overwhelmed. The lanyard helps raise awareness that not all disabilities are visible, reminding us to choose empathy over judgment.' The event also showcased a beautiful prayer performance led by children with autism and ADHD, highlighting their talents and resilience. The event took place at ABLE UK in Dubai Healthcare City, which offers a spectrum of specialised therapies tailored to meet the diverse needs of every child. Aman Sura, the Director, expressed the centre's commitment to community-building. 'Hosting events like this not only brings families together but also celebrates the resilience of both parents and people of determination. We welcome every child here—so much difference can happen when they're in the right place,' she remarked.
Hi Dubai
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Culture Enriches Minds with ‘Celebrating Languages' April Programme
Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is set to captivate visitors at Dubai Public Library branches this April with an interactive, knowledge-rich programme under the School of Life initiative, themed 'Celebrating Languages.' As part of the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy, the programme features 37 engaging workshops, equipping participants with life and creative skills, including voice-over techniques, photography, content creation, wellness, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and artistic expression. The Reporters Training & Media Production Studio will host a voice-over workshop, guiding adults on voice control and delivery, while The Junction in Alserkal Avenue will offer a Mastering Body Language session, enhancing non-verbal communication skills. Under the Wellness and Nutrition Club, families at Hatta Public Library can explore pickle-making techniques with Nada Kattan, while Al Safa Art & Design Library will hold a ladies-only Pilates class to boost flexibility and strength. The Art Club at Al Safa will feature Benedicte Gimonnet's mixed-media landscape painting, Abeer Al Edani's 'Drawing on Wood' workshop, and two Medaf Creative Studio sessions—one on journal marbling and another on memory box design. At Al Mankhool Public Library, the Chess Club, led by the Chess Academy, will conduct three strategic sessions, including speed chess and grandmaster tactics. The library will also offer Baybayin calligraphy workshops by Gino Banola, teaching participants to design hats and scarves with the ancient Filipino script. The Career Club will feature an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) workshop, introducing Odoo software for business implementation, while the STEM Club in Al Twar Public Library will host the Green Leader Challenge, encouraging students to develop sustainability projects. The Creative Impact Track at Al Safa will include Ruq'ah calligraphy workshops by Mohammad Altamimi, culminating in a showcase at the Dubai Calligraphy Biennale 2025, and a professional photography session by Reporters and Canon, focusing on digital content production. With its diverse and innovative learning experiences, Dubai Culture's April programme fosters creativity, skill-building, and cultural engagement, reinforcing Dubai's vision as a global knowledge and arts hub. News Source: Emirates News Agency
CBC
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Ancient Filipino script making a comeback with new generations
Ally Gonzalo is on a mission to remain connected with their homeland. The Filipino-Canadian immigrated to Canada in the summer of 2016 but is determined never to lose touch with their culture and what it means to be Filipino. Enter Baybayin. Gonzalo is Winnipeg artist and photographer who taught themself Baybayin, the ancient Filipino syllabary. "Having left my motherland I really wanted to find a way to feel more connected and so I was like, 'Well, I know I can teach myself, why don't I just familiarize myself with this writing script even more,'" Gonzalo said. A syllabary differs from a language but includes characters that represent syllables. Baybayin is thought to date back to the 1400s or earlier, before the Philippines was colonized by Spain. Gonzalo now teaches the script in workshops in Winnipeg. (Gonzalo will be holding new workshops soon. For more information message Gonzalo via their Instagram account.) Winnipegger Kat Daaca, also known as Baybayin Baby on Instagram, teaches Baybayin workshops in person and online. This evening (Thursday March 20) she is teaching a 90-minute interactive virtual course for beginners and people who already have some familiarity with the script. Register here, or for more information visit her website. Local Filipinos aren't the only people intrigued by Baybayin. The cool thing for me is that it's not a historical design. That's my personal font that I made for myself and my website, and they used it on the money. Winnipegger Paul Morrow has done extensive research on the ancient script and created his own Baybayin fonts. "Now, because of the internet … the newer generations are just more interested in it so it's coming back," said Morrow, who is not Filipino. He made his fonts available free online, and now they appear on Phillippines currency, he said. "The cool thing for me is that it's not a historical design. That's my personal font that I made for myself and my website and they used it on the money." Winnipeggers' interest in Baybayin is also now the subject of a mini-documentary by Chaira Plaga, a digital film and media student at Red River College PolyTechnic. Her four-minute documentary was made with the help of fellow students Trevor Mason and Evan Rivard. For Gonzalo, the resurgence of Baybayin is gratifying and they hope more Filipinos learn the script. "What I would say to fellow Filipino Canadians if they want to connect with their Filipino heritage, is just, 'explore Baybayin,'" Gonzalo said. "The worst thing that will happen is really you just didn't learn it in a day. I didn't learn it in a day, either."
CBC
20-03-2025
- General
- CBC
Ancient Filipino script making a modern-day comeback
News Duration 3:43 In online and in-person tutorials, younger Filipino-Canadians are learning Baybayin. The syllabary predates the colonization of the Philippines and was previously a lost language.
