Galing Bata Turns 19! Website Launch
Hello, Galing Bata family!
Welcome to our new website, launched at our 19th anniversary party on November 12, 2020.
We’re excited to use this website to stay connected with students and families. We also wish to develop a digital archive of Galing Bata since its 2000s origins. Cultivating this online presence also empowers us and our youth and families to continue their exploration with digital literacy and storytelling.
In the meantime, we celebrate and revisit classic Galing Bata blogs created by our educators and students throughout the years:
Scholars work on computer activities with Tita Mary Ann and Ate MJ. October 2019
Galing Bata Wordpress 2010-2012
This was created by staff and students during the golden era of Windows operating systems — XP, Vista and 7, and when we still likely had those old Macintosh computers set up by Kuya Donald in the former FEC library at the present middle school campus, with the old piano (currently, the Galing Bata program office).
In this screenshot, Galing Bata Correspondent sixth grader Dylan reflects on a favorite past time for GB scholars— going on an ice skating field trip at Yerba Buena.
Galing Bata Chronicles, July 2020
Alumni and current staff Kuya Mark revives the spirit and joy of the Galing Bata Correspondent role taken up by students through Galing Bata Chronicles. Kuya Mark, with students, created this space of digital expression through The Create Club to document student reflections during GB Summer Online Na! 2020 Program, in adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place.
Kuya Mark explains in an introductory post:
The club included things like presenting each other's Talambuhay (Story of My Life) and the rest consisted of three blog posts that would build on their creativity, imagination, writing, English, Tagalog, reading, and critical thinking skills. The three blog posts for Summer 2020 are: All About Me, Individuality, and A Letter to My Future Self.
Summer 2020 was different for all of us because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and meeting our students only through virtual means. As mentioned above, I hope that this club allowed for the students to also get to know themselves even more and use blogging as an outlet to share their individuality. Hopefully this club also helped to make them feel empowered and become even more resilient in these trying times.
In its 19th year, Galing Bata continues to thrive because of the cultural memories we all create and preserve together, through interpersonal activities, including documenting our experiences online. We look forward continue sharing and exchanging stories with all of you. Congratulations and happy anniversary to you!
Isang mahal,
Galing Bata Staff