Halloween Tutubi Style (click on the photos to enlarge)

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Halloween Party Tutubi Style, Oct 29, 2005, American Legion, Arlington, VA

Philippine Heritage III, Oct 27, 2005, Philippine Embassy, Photographs by Julian Oteyza (double click on images to enlarge)

More Philippine Heritage Photography by Julian (double click on photographs to enlarge)

Reception to Honor Ms. Cristeta Comerford - White House Executive Chef

His Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines and Mrs. Albert Del Rosario
and the Filipino-American Community in Metropolitan Washington, DC
Friday, 21 October 2005, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004

More Hail To The Chef Photos by Julian Oteyza

Katrina Relief Donation

To the Leaders/Coordinators of Filipino Organizations/Members of the Filipino Community:

The Philippine Embassy wishes to inform you that H.E. Ambassador Albert del Rosario, on behalf of the Filipino-American community, formally turned over to the American Red Cross the donations in the amount of US$ 70,210.00 for the Hurricane Katrina victims. The donations which were coursed through the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and Philippine Consulates were raised from the Filipino community throughout the U.S. Total donations amounted to US$ 98,020.00, US$ 27,810.00 of which were directly given to ARC chapters in Guam, Honolulu, Saipan and San Francisco.

Fund raising efforts for the Hurricane Katrina victims will officially close on 31 October 2005. Those who wish to donate to the American Red Cross through the Embassy and the Philippine Consulates may do so before said date. For the Philippine Embassy, please send your donations to Ms. Cynthia Tayam of the Finance Section. Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to call me at 202.467.9385 (Consular Affairs) or Ms. Grace Valera-Jaramillo at 202.467.9393 (Economic Affairs).

Allow us to convey the American Red Cross’ sincere appreciation to the Filipino-American community for its generosity and overwhelming support for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign.

Attached is a copy of the press release on said turnover. The pictures taken during the turnover may also be accessed at the Embassy’s website: www.philippineembassy-usa.org.

The Embassy would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support.



Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia
Consul-General
Embassy of the Philippines
Washington, D.C.

Tour of Red Cross Headquarters

Ambassador Handing the Checks

Group Shot in Front of Red Cross HQ

What Is The Tutubi Legend

In the Philippines, the dragonfly is called a tutubi. In Native American medicine, the tutubi embodies a stripping away of all the beliefs that limit our abilities to achieve a dream or goal, and it is to remind us that anything is possible when we really understand that we are part of a Greater Spirit and as such we have the power to manifest anything that we desire.

Tutubis in the early stages are known as Nymphs and spend most of their lives submerged in the water voraciously consuming and preparing for the day when they have dealt with the things in their lives that do not enhance their ability to develop wings. Once they have consumed all they need to move to the next level, they emerge from below the surface, become an adult, spread their wings and fly. Tutubi spirit shows you that you are ready to step beyond the thought of blaming “something” and instead are now getting down to the business of accepting responsibility for what happens in your life by making the appropriate choices as you feel guided.

Tutubi also connects us with the power of color and the ability to work with many different colors to achieve anything we want to experience in life. The color we surround ourselves with sets up a vibration that attracts circumstances and energies that reflect back to us the messages we are sending forth. If we affirm that we are ready and willing for the changes to occur color vibrations are a tool to match the energy we are seeking to experience. Wearing red or violet will help us to become better recognized for the work we love; new beginnings are enhanced by green; yellow empowers and blue and indigo are excellent for developing your ability to listen to your inner truth.

Tutubi energy enables us to get more in touch with our deep emotions and reminds us to live in a manner that is true enhancement to the path we have chosen. When tutubi energy appears in your life, be ready for transformation. This is a cycle that allows you to work through that which does not enhance your chosen path. Now is the time for you to claim your real power, step forth renewed and encourage others to follow in flight when they are ready to join you.

Thank you for being a tutubi – your joyful flight inspires and leads us to reach greater heights.

More Artists from the Children's Heritage Day

Children's Heritage Day at the Philippine Embassy

“Today, I want you to consider the Philippine Embassy a magic kingdom” Consul Joy Quintana of the Cultural Section of the Philippine Embassy instructed the children attending the Children’s Heritage Day on Saturday, October 15th in Washington, DC. There were audible gasps of delight from the children as they listened carefully to her words. Thus the tone was set for Children’s Heritage Day.
The day began with Honorable Excellency Albert F. del Rosario presenting certificates of merit to the winners of the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc., sponsored annual Children’s Art Contest and made possible this year by the generous support of Mark Cabrera and Associates, Remax Pros. The names were announced by PAFC President, Mary Anne Fadul and as the children received the certificates from the Ambassador they gathered around him for a group photo, beaming with joy for the special recognition they received for interpreting this years Philippine Festival theme, “Bayanihan, Building Strong Communities.”
Ambassador del Rosario invited all of the assembled children and guests to come to the 2nd floor of the Embassy when the program was concluded for a tour of the Embassy.
Quickly following the distribution of awards, Christine Dela Rosa and Le Nguyen Thuy (George Washington Philippine Cultural Society) assisted with covering the carpet with plastic and mats to provide seating for the children as Linda Pirrone, (Tutubi Productions) outlined the next event which was a series of tales from the Philippines told by volunteer story tellers. Each story was 5 minutes or less in duration and the children were instructed to pay close attention for at the end of the story telling session they would be provided materials to illustrate one or all of the stories they heard. She promised that at the end of the timed drawing session there would be a big surprise.
Soon the first story teller was introduced and that was Xavier dela Santa (Marinduqueño Association of the Capital Area) who told “The Legend of Marinduque.” In rapid succession the stories that followed were, “The Story of Harana” narrated by Maurese Owens, (PAFC) with singing by Ernie Cordero, (Ilocano Society of America) guitar accompaniment by Julian Oteyza, (Tutubi Productions) acting by Bing Branigin, (Chair of Capital Region National Federation Filipino Association); “The Story of the Barong” as related by Euforsino Guevara, (Council of Philippine Arts and Architecture Association) with the modeling assistance of C. J. Abenes; and finally “The Story of Juan Tamad” narrated by Linda Pirrone and interpreted through a magic show by Julian Oteyza, Nikki Oteyza and Amber Nucols.
The GWPCS “Story Teller Helpers” Christine and Thuy assisted with the distribution of supplies to the seated children and they began a 30 minute drawing session with assistance from several adults in attendance. As the children completed their work, volunteers Bing Branigin, and others pitched in to help display their work on the walls of the Embassy. Many children and some adults were given special pieces of drawing paper with strange designs to color. When time was up, Julian Oteyza with the assistance of Charles Oteyza, Amber Nucols, Nikki Oteyza and GWPCS members, worked to assemble all 26 of the completed pieces of strange designed paper as Linda Pirrone told the legend of the Tutubi (dragonfly) to all of the children. The children were very attentive as they were told that like young tutubi’s they all had much to learn and experience before they would have wings to fly, and even though they may be small, they were an important part of the community and valued for every contribution they had to offer. She said tutubi energy required support and encouragement and community involvement whether in the family, in the country, or wherever they happened to be. At that point, she directed the children and parents and guests to view on the stage what working together as a community in the Philippine Embassy on this first ever Children’s Heritage Day had produced and they gasped with surprise to see all of 26 pieces of paper were assembled on the stage to produce a giant Tutubi.
The assembled guests were invited to enjoy some wonderful food prepared by Mrs. Leonila Oteyza and food donated by other volunteers while the children took great pleasure in explaining their interpretations of the stories they heard to their parents and guests.
Several of the parents have volunteered to be story tellers at any future events and those who were first time guests of the Embassy exclaimed how proud they were to be a part of a historical first “Children’s Heritage Day.”
Tutubi Productions, (Julian Oteyza and Linda Pirrone) would like to thank the Embassy officials and staff for the opportunity to conduct an inter-active day for children in the beautiful Philippine Embassy and special thanks to all of the story tellers and GWPCS helpers; donor, Mya Talavera (Realtor); the winners of the 2005 children’s art contest and their families and friends and all of the guests who for one Saturday in October joined together to honor the children in the community and give wings to a dream.

Photos from the Heritage Day at the Embassy

Childrens Heritage Day

PRESS RELEASE:

Saturday, October 15th, 2005 – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Children’s Heritage Day and Art Exhibit

The Philippine Embassy and Tutubi Productions are proud to honor the 2005 winners of the Philippine-American Foundation for Charities, Inc. sponsored annual children’s art contest with an art exhibit beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15th, 2005 in the main hall of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC.

Following a brief recognition program for this year’s art exhibit winners, a special inter-active program featuring story tellers interpreting Philippine Heritage related tales will occur. The story tellers will share stories through spoken word, dance, song and magic for children, ages 3 – 16. Following the story telling session, the children will be invited to interpret the stories with water-based art supplies and then share their interpretations with the assembled guests and embassy officials.


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