Filipino News 171

BUHAY
NZ
06 ISSUE 171 | REUNION 2023 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.migrantnews.nz | Facebook: Migrant News
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
B y R i c k y M a t t h e w scarcity of Filipino books impetus for
Balancing her role as a and heritage can thrive in
and a shortage of literary the birth of
literary advocate with her the pages of books and in
AUCKLAND - Jade resources in general. the Filipino
full-time job, Munoz the experiencing of Batang
Ceres-Munoz, a devoted Recognizing this deficiency,
Children's
embodies the idea that pas-
Pinoy events. By actively
advocate for preserving
Munoz embarked on a Library.
sionate individuals can engaging with these stories
Filipino culture in New
Zealand, has taken an
innovative approach to
make a significant impact
on their community.
The Filipino Children's
and cultural celebrations
they embark on a lifelong
journey through the world
enriching the lives of
Library and Batang Pinoy of literature and their rich
Filipino youth who are
growing up far from their
not only provide access to
books, but also reignite the
heritage.
Filipino News, New
ancestral homeland.
joy of reading and cultural Zealand’s only Filipino
Munoz, who leads the
appreciation among Filipino
community newspaper,
‘Filipino Children's
youth in New Zealand. recognizes Jade Munoz's
Library’ and organizes
Munoz acknowledges dedication to promoting
children's events under the
banner of ‘Batang Pinoy’,
JADE CERES-MUNOZ has been nominated for
the Filipino Kiwi Hero Award 2024 for
that rekindling a love for
reading takes time and
Filipino culture through
the power of reading and
is nurturing the essence of
Outstanding Community Leaders
perseverance. Her commitment
to reconnecting young
Filipino heritage
Not all superheroes wear capes
minds to the joy of
by encouraging a
reading and the richness
of their heritage
love of reading
among the
through Batang
younger generation.
Pinoy events and the
mission not only to fill the Munoz seized the opportutives
within the communi-
to nurturing cultural Filipino Children's
Munoz's own journey as void for her own family, nity to digitize stories and ty, Munoz highlights the identity through literature Library.
a literary enthusiast is
deeply rooted in her family
but for the Filipino community
as a whole.
make them accessible to
children seeking Filipino
eagerness with which people
search for books and
and cultural events is evident
in her work with the
She will be receiving a
Filipino Kiwi Hero Award
background. "I've always "My daughter is the one stories, but lacking access engage with cultural Filipino Children's for Outstanding Filipino
been into literature who inspired me to sell to them.
events. Yet, she notes a Library and Batang Pinoy. Community Leader 2024
because I grew up with books," Munoz says, highlighting
The Filipino Children's broader transformation in In the multicultural during the Philippine
books and both my parents
the pivotal role her Library and Munoz's progress. "People are look-
landscape of New Zealand, Independence Day
are writers," she reveals. family played in steering Batang Pinoy events have ing for books. However, Jade Munoz's literary crusade
Celebrations in June 2024.
This profound connection her towards this path of literary
become lifelines for they don't always use
and cultural initia-
with storytelling and literature
served as the catalyst advocacy. Her aspi-
rations led her to import
Filipinos in New Zealand
seeking culturally resonant
books to teach their children,"
Munoz observes.
tives serve
as beacons
for her unique mission. Filipino books to New literary resources and "This is reintroducing of hope,
When Munoz and her
family moved to New
Zealand, they encountered
a stark challenge: the
Zealand while she worked
with the embassy.
The onset of the COVID-
19 pandemic provided the
looking to engage children
in cultural experiences.
When asked about the
reception of these initia-
them to the concept that
reading is such a good
experience for kids to grow
up with."
reminding
Filipino
youth that
their culture
Schools told to ramp up efforts
to stop racist bullying
By John Gerritsen,
RNZ Reporter
The Education Review Office
(ERO) says schools must do more
to stop racist bullying of children
from ethnic communities.
A report the office published on
recently said one in five children
from ethnic backgrounds reported
racist bullying and nearly a third
said their school did not take the
problem seriously.
More than half reported seeing
people being mean to others
because of their ethnicity or culture
and one in five had read
racist messages, the report,
Education For All Our
Children: Embracing Diverse
Ethnicities, said.
Nearly one in five learners said
they had to hide their ethnic identity
at least once or twice a month,
and a third felt lonely at school
every week or day.
"Too many learners from ethnic
communities experience racist
bullying and racial biases," the
report said.
"And when they raise concerns
they are not always acted on. We
must do better. Every school
needs to be able to prevent and
tackle racism."
The report said the education
system could set firmer expectations
for tackling racism, set up a
system for monitoring it, and give
students stronger avenues to complain
when it was not dealt with.
It could also consider teaching
more languages in schools,
changing the way religions were
taught, and helping ethnic communities
set up their own schools
or special units within schools.
The report included comments
from students.
"I see so many teachers and
staff at my school be racist and
don't care about you because
you're a different race - I hate
when it happens, and it irritates
me a lot. I feel like shouting and
screaming every time something
like that happens," said a pupil.
"I still feel kind of weird taking
Indian food to school as you have
to eat it with your hands. One of
my friends - she is Indian too - got
bullied so badly for her food that
she became
a loner. And
she tried to
bring sandwiches
to
school even
though she
didn't like
them, but it
was too
late," said
another.
One student
said he
did not
report schoolmates for saying
"mean things" because he did not
want to get them in trouble.
Another described girls from
different ethnic communities sitting
together at break times and
"Kiwi" girls opting not to join
them.
The report said about 16 percent
of school pupils were from
ethnic communities, most of them
born in New Zealand, and within
20 years they would account for
nearly 30 percent - most of them
from Asian communities.
In Auckland, 43 percent of
school children would
come from Asian backgrounds
by 2043.
SCHOOL ZONE: One in five children from ethnic backgrounds
reported racist bullying. Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
The report said 80 percent students
from ethnic communities
believed their teachers treated
them fairly, but more than one in
four said their ethnicity influenced
the courses teachers recommended
for them.
"Stereotyping of what particular
ethnic groups should aspire to
is very limiting and doesn't enable
students to reach their aspirations,"
a community youth leader
told ERO.
The report said learners from
ethnic communities, especially
Asian children, achieved well at
school, but some groups had bigger
gender gaps and often wanted
higher expectations from their
teachers.
"Education is not
currently always
reflecting what
whanau from ethnic
communities want.
Four in 10 whanau
from ethnic communities,
and nearly
a third of learners,
do not feel schoolwork
is challenging
enough," the report
said.
It said almost
two-thirds of families
wanted their
school to support
their mother tongue.
The report said students from
MELAA backgrounds (Middle
Eastern, Latin American, African)
reported much lower wellbeing
than other students.
It said every school needed to
be able to respond to increased
diversity and tackle racism.
The report was informed by
survey results from 1250 families,
558 students, and 263 teachers.
- Published with special permission
from RNZ.