“I am very happy with the art I made featuring a boat, my home, and the sea. Without these, we would not survive,” shared Faida Faisal of the Sama-Bajau tribe, speaking in Tagalog. She is a teacher of the Education and Child Development (ECD) Program* for Sama-Bajau young learners residing in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.

With guidance from Cartwheel Team members, Faida helped facilitate the Legends of the SEA (Southeast Asia) Art Workshop on January 20, 2021 where seven Sama-Bajau learners and five parents participated.

 

 

Legends of the SEA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legends of the SEA is an art activity book and workshop created with the aim to bring joy and life lessons to children of underserved communities in Southeast Asia through art, play and storytelling. Drawing upon the cultural and artistic heritage of the region, it presents fifteen stories and art lessons designed to help children build internal and external safe spaces for self-expression, artistry and creativity. It was created by five fellows from the 2019/2020 cohort of the Singapore International Foundation’s Arts For Good Fellowship among whom is the executive director of Cartwheel Foundation, Pia Ortiz-Luis.

This project has the following as its objectives:

1. a) Introduce art practices inspired by the cultures and stories of Southeast Asia
2. b) Provide marginalized local communities with access to art activities that highlight their culture and heritage
3. c) Improve cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills amongst the children of underserved communities, through art-making and storytelling
4. d) Empower local communities by creating opportunities to learn, create and communicate
5. e) Build resilience by creating safe spaces for creative and artistic expression

Legends of the SEA is available as a free downloadable e-book on social media platforms and the Singapore International Foundation website: https://www.sif.org.sg/LegendsoftheSEA.

 

“Home is Where the Sea Is”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the 15 stories featured in the book, the Tagalog translation of “Home is Where the Sea Is”: The Story of the Sama-Bajau People was shared with the young learners and their parents during the workshop in January.

The children showed much delight in clapping every time they heard the word “Sama” as their teachers Faida and Marilyn Bayona led the interactive story-reading. Soon after, they were invited to move and flow freely like water as an engaging way of recounting memories while at sea by embodying its many motions.

Deepening their exploration of what “home” means to them, the participants reflected on their own personal safe spaces — places where they feel happiest and most at home. They drew representations of objects that they usually found in these places and, using simple materials easily sourced from around their area, they creatively put together these elements to create their own “safe space in a bottle.”

 

Considering themselves as among those displaced and no longer residing in their land of origin, this art activity seemed especially relevant for both the Sama-Bajau children and parents. One participant even expressed that her home in Jolo is still where she feels happiest.

All participants showed appreciation for the workshop activities that transpired. Many said that they enjoyed art-making and took pride knowing that the story shared was one they could call their very own, as it shed light on their shared affinity to the sea as Sama-Bajau.

The interweaving of art, play, and storytelling indeed can make way for a more meaningful awareness of one’s identity as part of a larger community that boasts a thriving culture and rich heritage.

In looking to share Legends of the SEA with more of its partner communities, a Tagalog version of the  art book is currently being developed, for release by March 2021.

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*The ECD Program for Sama-Bajau young learners residing in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City is implemented in partnership with Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation. 

Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation is a private, for-purpose organization that champions women and children’s rights in the Philippines and in Hawai’i. With over 30 years of existence, the Foundation has been preventing and treating abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children, women, and their families. The Foundation is named after its Founder and Benefactress, the late Doña Consuelo Zobel Alger, whose generosity and genuine love for children allows us to renew hope for those who have lost it and give hope to those who never had it.

Consuelo Foundation’s Life Skills Plus program empowers children and youth through education and skills training so they, too, can lead, dream, and reach their full potential—and make a difference in our world. This program provides the learners with relevant learning materials to ensure sustained access to quality education. Children and youth are assisted with essential interventions to further build their knowledge, skills, and competencies to be empowered individuals.

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Featured artworks by: Hui Ling Lee (2020)