Every Saturday of the month since July 2016, an excited group of Filipino children based in Switzerland learn about Philippine language and culture through stories, songs and play activities at the Kwentuhang Sabado traveling playgroup.

Kwentuhang Sabado was formed by a group of four young Filipina mothers who are living in the cities of Lucerne, Zurich and Basel. The team hopes to create a community for other Filipino-Swiss families who share their passion for Philippine culture through Filipino books, crafts and activities.

On Saturday, 12 November, Embassy representatives visited the Kwentuhang Sabado session in Schüpfheim, Lucerne. Children ranging from 18-month-olds to an 8-year-old participated in storytelling with Filipino children's book and in singing Filipino songs. Even the snacls (merienda) for the kids consisted of Philippine delicacies like puto (rice cake) and home-made cassava cake.

All playgroup sessions are conducted entirely in the Filipino language.  Kwentuhang Sabado believes that all Filipino children, whether or not growing up abroad, should learn to communicate with the Filipino mother tongue in order to preserve their connection to their homeland.

The Philippine Embassy supports Kwentuhang Sabado for propagating Filipino culture to young children through the use of Filipino language, literature, songs and games.  The Embassy likewise believes that opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression of the Philippines— valuable resources for ensuring a better future— are all preserved for the next generation when we continue to use the Filipino mother tongue.

Kwentuhang Sabado invites all Filipino-Swiss families who wish to celebrate Philippine culture through reading and play and hope to raise children rooted in their Filipino heritage.

More information about the group and its playgroup schedules and venues are available at https://kuwentuhangsabado.wordpress.com/. ###

Children participants and their parents listen to Filipino stories during the Kwentuhang Sabado.

All activities, such as playing with games (left photo) and dough shaping exercises (right photo) are conducted entirely in the Filipino mother tongue.