At BestStart East Tamaki, we value the rich cultural diversity within our centre and love creating opportunities for tamariki to learn about and celebrate the traditions of different cultures. Recently, our preschool community came together to celebrate Philippine Independence Day, enjoying a week filled with fun, learning, and cultural exploration.
Throughout the celebration, our tamariki were introduced to a variety of traditional Filipino games, including Tumbang Preso, Luksong Tinik, and Patintero. The children quickly learned the rules and became so engaged that they eagerly organised and played the games independently during their outdoor play.
One of our Filipino tamariki also shared a favourite playground game, "Sawsaw Suka, Mahuli Taya!", which brought plenty of laughter, excitement, and joy to the group.
As part of our learning, the children explored interesting facts about the Philippines, including the symbolism of the Philippine flag. They were fascinated to discover that the flag's red and blue colours can be displayed differently during times of peace and conflict, highlighting the importance of national identity and history.
The celebration also included a hands-on cooking experience, where tamariki helped prepare glutinous rice and made delicious purple biko, a traditional Filipino sweet rice treat. To conclude the week, everyone enjoyed a special Friday lunch of pancit, a popular Filipino noodle dish.
Through experiences like these, our tamariki develop an appreciation for diversity, build cultural understanding, and learn to celebrate the unique identities that make our community so special.