MAKIRAMDAM: To Listen is to Feel
By: Denise Patricia Y. Lontok, Makiramdam (MMM) Founder
To listen is to feel.
“Makiramdam” means “to listen” in Kapampangan and “to feel” in Tagalog. Stories are meant to be listened to, but they must also be felt to move others. MAKIRAMDAM is a collective of young professionals and students who empower Filipino children one book at a time.
Through a dynamic and interactive storytelling of forward-thinking children’s books, MAKIRAMDAM opens the conversation on social realities neither taught at home nor at school, yet deeply affect children’s values and identities growing up. It recognizes that beyond the often-quoted moral lessons on kindness and cleanliness, there are topics worthy of discussions like gender identity, safe spaces, non-traditional families, and body positivity, among others.
This March 26, 2023, MAKIRAMDAM celebrated International Women’s Month at the Children’s Home of Eucharistic Love and Kindness (CHELK) in San Fernando, Pampanga, an orphanage for young girls who were abandoned, abused, or orphaned. True to its advocacy, MAKIRAMDAM highlighted in this one-day event the triumphs and struggles of women in all fronts.
Through storybooks “Si Segunda, Noong Panahon ng mga Espanyol” read by the organization’s founder, Denise Patricia Lontok, and “Super Suffragettes – the Story of Pura Villanueva-Kalaw” read by guest storyteller Odessa Rosario, feminist topics were broken down into simpler bits and pieces that can easily be understood by children. The two children’s stories share a common historical introspection of female roles in the society, from mere domestic help providers to leaders and suffragettes. Post-storytelling assessments in the form of questions and games allowed children to digest the stories and freely interact with others. At the core of MAKIRAMDAM are these feather-thin storybooks embracing meaningful layers of wisdom perfected by beautiful and innocent illustrations.
A mini concept photoshoot was also conducted. Colorful and expressive clothes were made available to the young girls, allowing them to feel more confident as our guest photographer Jem Estalilla captured their portraits. This was an experience rarely afforded to them, a celebration of themselves in the glory of their womanhood. A “Body Positivity” talk was also conducted by guest speaker Katreena Denise Tarrobal. This gives the girls the opportunity to learn about diversity and inclusivity, to liberate them from the pressure that women of all ages face today. In their tender age, they need stories that will make them feel seen and heard, and any form of representation plays a crucial role in thrusting them into an inclusive society.
To end the program, MAKIRAMDAM donated children’s books and young adult novels, together with menstrual kits from We Bleed Red Ph. Menstruation was also shorty discussed during the program
The organization was co-founded last year of June by Architect Arianne Jean David and founding members, Juan Gabriel Felix, Daniel Guevarra, and Carlo Jerome Pulanco.