In celebration of the Art Month this February, a UP Open University (UPOU) student and alumna, joins other artists in a month-long exhibit at the Sining Makiling Gallery of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB).
Genevieve “Pinky” Aguinaldo, is a graduate of UPOU’s Diploma in Language and Literacy Education (DLLE), and is currently in the thesis part of her Master of Language and Literacy Education (MLLE) program. She loves to write poems and finds peace in writing them based largely on her experiences in motherhood, marriage and life in general.
Her works are featured in the exhibit titled “Salungguhit: Sining at Tula.” This is a 42-piece ekphrastic exhibit that features 21 art pieces by Alim Vela and Kevin Ray Vlentino, with 21 poetic interpretations by Pinky and Dennis Aguinaldo, her husband. The theme of the pieces revolve around experiences, hardships, thoughts and longings through the duration of the pandemic.
The exhibit rides with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) theme for the National Arts Month this February 2021, “Alab-sining, Alay-sigla,” which aims to provide opportunities for artists to harness their creative energies in uplifting the nation’s spirit in the time of public health crisis.
“Salungguhit: Sining at Tula” may be visited at the Sining Makiling Gallery, D. L. Umali Hall Basement, UP Los Banos from 2 February to 5 March 2021. The exhibit is brought to the public by the UPLB Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts. A virtual rendition is available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-uTVPCD1Do&feature=share.
Aside from being a mother, a student and an artist, Pinky also does volunteer work with the UPOU Ugnayan ng Pahinungod and sometimes serves as Teaching Assistant for the UPOU Faculty of Education. She shared in an email interview how she was “challenged by [UPOU’s] large difference from the face-to-face class in terms of immediate feedback and spontaneous exchanges from classmates and teachers.To fill these gaps, I tried to watch video discussions and continued my communication with my classmates outside the forums.”
When asked how her studies with UPOU helped her, she replied that “the courses I took under the Faculty of Education taught me the value of working around the students’ strengths in order to encourage higher level of participation and commitment in class. I learned how important it is to understand how the students learn, to continuously evaluate the teaching and assessment strategies, and to understand the ways on how to motivate students to continue learning. I use these lessons as a guide in helping my children in their studies. I also try to share what I learned from the program in the brainstorming sessions of Pahinungod.”
Her encouragement to fellow students and aspiring UPOU students is to have the “perseverance, resourcefulness, willingness to adapt, and humility to learn both from classmates and teachers.” She also shared that “I think that what separates UPOU from others is its incredible mix of students, coming from different age, backgrounds, and stories, who are cheering for everyone to graduate and achieve their degrees.”
Pinky has four children from age 12 to three. Her husband, Dennis, is an affiliate faculty member of UPOU.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas
Edited by Joane V. Serrano
Photos contributed by Genevieve S. Aguinaldo and Christian C. Guevarra