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Arriving in shape for SM Rosales yearly kite activity.
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ith summer turning high, gigantic butterflies, dragonflies, and bugs already adorned the ceiling when our party arrived this morning inside SM Rosales.
On a closer look, they were in fact kites or saranggola mounted to give the shoppers a little delight of a mall experience. On that particular occasion, some eager mallgoers were going to fly high and somehow would be recovering their childlike fancy. And strangers like us came to aid them to relive this fantasy.
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A celestial dragon woos the participants at SM Rosales event center
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Every year, SM Rosales has
been adapting this for a summer bonding affair - The Summer
Kite Making and Competition for its valued customers. The
management has realized the value of preserving this tradition and has
considered including it in its advocacy to promote this cultural recreation which is on the
verge of extinction. Both kitemaking and kiteflying are
wonderful activities for SM banners as it both promotes family bonding and cultural
value. A celestial dragon was on display in the event activity center, a head
turner for the shoppers as it waited for a call to order.
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| The registration table is getting ready for the flock of participants |
The registration started as soon as the mall opened. The shoppers
and their kids were randomly invited and easily gave in since it was for free.
What really attracted them to this activity was the opportunity for families to
have a bonding time instead of the usual mall promenade. It's also a chance
however for the adults to relearn what they have unlearned which is the art of
kite making. There's an impromptu workshop awaiting them with a free kit
containing all the materials to make a kite and a stand-by assistant to keep
watch and assist them with help.
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| The kids trooped in groups spending their moments and energy coloring their pre-printed kite designs. |
The kids as expected really
turned up the most with the company of their parent or elder company who just
like them eagerly joined them and enjoyed kitemaking in the process. The elders
I noticed seemed to be more serious and absorbed and in helpful mode while the
kids were filling up the figures with colors. Something about the kite gives
adults childhood reveries or is it childlike thinking. Whatever it is, there's
something unleashed within with just the kitemaking alone...
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Some finished examples of colored designs being laid down and dried.
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A simple kite is made up of 2 sticks for a frame, a stable paper
quality, thread to attach to the kite, paste, ribbons, and colors. When the
coloring is done, it's time to attach the paper to the frame horizontally and
vertically by pasting it forming a rhombus or parisukat. Once
dried, the thread is attached forming the shape of the triangle before the
ribbons are applied on both sides to attain balance. Then the kites are
finished and ready to be paraded and flown outside by the wind gusts.
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| Participants proudly wield their works and show them off on stage |
Kids proudly filled the stage displaying their work
for the selection process. A winner was selected for the most beautiful,
creative kite. After the parade, The kids were led outside to the parking area
where they could freely have the best time flying their kites. Parents were
also encouraged to assist their kids or do it themselves to maximize their
bonding time.
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| At the back of SM Rosales, a perfect venue to fly the kites including the big ones. |
The back of SM
Rosales was the perfect venue for the outdoor kiteflying where the
winds have momentum. There's a competition looming with all of the entries
readying their kites on standby for a roll call. Participating entries were
divided into kids and adults.
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| Kids can't wait to see their kites fly while their parents are on the watch and aid them in the lift. |
Kids who were at the workshop earlier together with elders or
parents showed up on the ground to test their kites. It's interesting to
witness a raw joy seeing their bonding and they let it loose despite struggle
flying the kite in the air.
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| This humongous squid kite is declared the winner for the adult category in the award |
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This swan kite comes close to 2nd which appears elegant on the air
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The Kite Festival of 2013 ends on a high note with a dragon stunner.
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What's really more endearing in the aftermath of the kite festival was seeing the happy faces of the happy participants. Excitement mirrored on both kids and adults as they mutually rediscovered the joys of kitemaking and kiteflying. Recovering kiteflying as a Pinoy cultural activity is like reviving our lost values and our identity.
