Through the Lens of Creativity: A Journey of Chinese Furniture and Culture with Mindoro TAG Teachers & St. Scholastica's College-Manila

Belinda Tan
February 10, 2025

On February 1, 2025, the FGS Mabuhay Temple Art Gallery had the pleasure of hosting two distinguished groups: the Mindoro TAG Teachers from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, and students from St. Scholastica's College-Manila. These groups visited to explore the gallery’s exhibition, offering them an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.

Mina C. Ballesteros, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Gelacio I. Yason Foundation-Family Farm School (GIYF-Family Farm School), shared that the visit was a great learning experience, particularly in teaching the Social Studies curriculum. She expressed gratitude for the paper-cutting workshop, which she plans to incorporate into the classroom as it promotes a sense of calm and concentration – a transformative practice for students. Some teachers even requested additional paper-cutting patterns, which they plan to take back to their classrooms for future lessons.

During the tour, the groups were amazed by the detailed carvings on the Chinese furniture. The intricate carvings and elegant shapes of each piece, created by master carpenters, demonstrated a perfect blend of technical skill and carving artistry.

One of the most fascinating stops was the exploration of the Chinese calligraphy brush which requires great precision in every stroke. It was emphasized that Chinese painters aim not just to capture a subject’s appearance but to express its inner energy and spirit.

In the Dining Room, the meaning behind chopsticks caught their attention. The round end symbolizes heaven, and the square end symbolizes earth. This reflects the balance between the two, especially when it comes to sustaining food supply.

The experience was an enriching journey into Chinese culture, inspiring everyone to embrace and learn from the diversity of cultures around us.