The National Gallery Singapore is celebrating its 5 year anniversary. And in connection to this event, the Gallery invited people of all ages and all walks of life to share their interpretation of a chosen artwork from across the gallery, to be added to the artwork as a label.

      These artwork labels could be in form of writing or drawing, discussing what the artwork means to you, how it connects to you. The artwork labels will be printed and be hung on the exhibit walls next to the artwork chosen. And the name of the contributor and some information to know more about him/ her will be included for everyone to see! 

      Of course the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) Sisters Guides didn’t miss this opportunity. A list of artworks was given to them from which they could choose to create an artwork label for it.

Novia Arluma chose the ‘Land and Farmer are Free when United’ artwork by Tanah and Petani Merdeka / Menghidupi Semlia, the artists (Indonesia). She wrote a poem as her artwork label.

Novia is from Indonesia herself and has been a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) in Singapore for 14 years. She counsels fellow MDWs who face problems and runs Pena Novia, a blog in Bahasa. Her blog focuses on MDWs issues, rights and protection. As a Gallery Sister Guide, Novia leads fellow domestic workers in Southeast Asian art tours.

“ I feel honoured to be a part of this wonderful project. It’s another experience,” Novia said.

Bhing Navato chose ‘Defend Thy Honor’ an artwork by artist Fernando Amorsolo. (Philippines).  She also wrote a poem as her artwork label.

Bhing is from the Philippines and has been a domestic worker in Singapore for 25 years. She volunteers with HOME and writes prose and poetry. As a Gallery Sister Guide, Bhing leads fellow MDWs in Southeast Asian tours.

And Bhing said, with all smiles, “ It was such an amazing honor for me to be given the opportunity to have my own artwork label to be placed beside one of the most important artists in the Philippine history.”

Jo Ann Dumlao chose ‘Portrait of a Man in Barong Tagalog’, an artwork by artist Severino Flavier Pablo. A sketch of her son wearing Barong Tagalog is her artwork label, together with some descriptions about the Barong Tagalog.

Jo Ann is from the Philippines and has been a domestic worker in Singapore for over 13 years. She contributed to Our Homes, Our Stories, an anthology of personal stories of migrant domestic workers. As a Gallery Sister Guide, Jo Ann leads fellow MDWs in Southeast Asian tours.

“I am in high spirits, feeling great elation! Who would think that an MDW in Singapore be given the chance like this, to create an artwork label for the National Gallery Singapore. I am speechless, really on cloud nine! Thank you, NGS,” Jo Ann enthusiastically said.

We don’t get this chance often, so, when an opportunity knocks, let’s embrace it.

HOME Sister Guides are thankful to NGS in opening a window for them, in experiencing how to be a docent and enjoying the magic of artworks.

Let the magic of Art Embrace You! If you too want to experience the magic of art, do let us know and we’ll bring you to the Gallery. And it’s Free!

*Article written by Jo Ann herself a participant and one of the HOME Sisters Guide *

Draw and Create with Bote Dyaryo Man at the National Gallery Singapore

Let me take you to a one awesome Sunday event at the National Gallery Singapore. This noteworthy Sunday, the Filipino Artist Robert Alejandro is with us to conduct a Tagalog workshop for the Filipino community in Singapore.

Yes, it’s Robert Alejandro, does that name sound familiar? He is an Award-Winning Graphic artist, an Illustrator, a Painter, a Crafter and one of the Pillars of Filipino Arts and Crafts shop- Papemelroti. He is also a founding member of Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) – an organization of children books illustrators.

Robert Alejandro proves that making Art is Fun and Unique!

Bhing Navato and I (Jo Ann Dumlao), are partners today, we are the Filipino Sister Guides of HOME. We are officially part of the Best Friends of the Gallery (BFG) volunteers. A super splendid part of our Singapore life journey.

We invited participants for the workshop through posting on social media. The event was open to the public – anyone of the Filipino Community at this time, but the main target was the Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers.

First we did a quick tour to see some art works in the museum – Ang Baraha by Filipino artist Brenda Fajardo and Those Chased Away from their Lands by Indonesian Amrus Natalsya. The participants were split into 2 groups. And they were in awe – they expressed that in how they applauded the artworks, how they admired the wide range imagination of the artists. Other participants said, they will be coming back to the NGS to see more of the artworks. They are fascinated by the art, just like me.

After the quick tour, we headed up to the workshop room where the drawing materials were waiting for us. This time, we were going to Draw and Create with the Artist.

For most of the participants, it was their first time to do drawing and water coloring. The artist was so generous that he let me and Bhing and the NGS staff join the said workshop. I can say this Art workshop was a wonderful experience, art is fun and you’ll enjoy it once you start stroking your brush. Even if you don’t know how to draw (just like me), at the end the workshop you’ll say, I did it without a sweat! We draw a pop up jeepney greeting card.

The Artist himself is very energetic (wonder where it comes from), approachable, all smiles when he mingles with us. But you know what, he is an Inspiration. With his looks and energy, you won’t know that he is now living the best years of his life after his successful battle with Colon Cancer (he was diagnosed in 2016). He is a fighter and a motivated soul.

Coming to Singapore and giving a workshop to fellow kababayans is a Dream Come True, this is what Robert Alejandro said.

Thank you to the Artist and participants. We all did well and great at the end of the day!

By Jo Ann Dumlao

It’s celebration time! This December HOME celebrated both International Migrants Day and their 15th year Anniversary. Every year, HOME celebrates these 2 remarkable events, which are important to us, and give us the opportunity to show  unity and oneness instilled in us Migrant Workers.

And this day was special in another way: the new Executive Director of HOME was introduced. The entire HOME team was there to wholeheartedly welcome Ms Catherine James.

We were  thankful that our very own “ Sister Big B” made it to the celebrations.  Sister Bridget Tan, the founder of HOME, had a stroke in February 2015 and has been unable to walk since, but is still the jolly one in spite of her condition and she always joins us in these celebrations. Her presence helped make the celebration such a wonderful event. Everyone was beaming with happy faces to see her, listening to her inspirational message and singing with her. We love you, sister Bridget!

All the HOME Family leaders made a speech that linked to the Migrant Workers situation and well-being. I myself represent the My Voice group.

•HOME Roses—Re- Integrate with Innovation by Zoe Menez

•HOME Nightingale—Depression is a Silent Killer by Marina

•HOME Academy—Don’t Stop Learning by Cristina

•HOME Helpdesk Lucky Plaza—Domestic Workers Right by Bhing

•HOME Suara Kita—Decent Work by Novia

•HOME Kartini—Overworked and Underpaid by Yanti

•HOME My Voice—Employer Employee Relationship by yours truly, Jo Ann

•HOME Myanmar Helpdesk—Effective Communication by Khin Lay

I can say, all were very well delivered campaigns!

As the celebrations continue, we make a toast to HOME’s Anniversary: wishing for more years to celebrate abundantly. May HOME prosper and continue to be the shelter of the abused, the defender of the hopeless and giver of strength of the less fortunate migrant workers.

Singing and dancing followed to keep the celebrations exciting and lively, and gift packs were distributed to the migrant workers. Amazing prizes for the lucky draw winners and the best-dressed from the migrant workers were handed out also. Each one of the winners received a prize. Today, abundant prizes and gift packs were given away – every migrant workers was a winner today! It was a fun filled, enjoyable day of celebrations with lots of splendid prizes and splendorous lunch. HOME staff, HOME Family leaders and volunteers were all amazing. Once again, they proved that the spirit of team work sprinkled with love is within them. So much dedication.

Written by Jo Ann Dumlao

By Jo Ann Dumlao

Not even in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day I would be one of the Sister Guides at the National Gallery Singapore. But in a blink of an eye, it happened.

The National Gallery Singapore (NGS) is a modern art museum in Singapore that has the largest public collection of Southeast Asian Art in the world. The Sister Guides program is a collaboration between the NGS and HOME (the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics). In the program several volunteers are trained as mentors to lead gallery tours for our fellow migrant workers – in our home language. For me, that is in Filipino (Philippines), other languages in the program are Burmese ( Myanmar) and Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesia). There are 2 HOME volunteer mentors in each team. The great thing about this program is: there is free admission for migrant workers, and it includes refreshments after the tour!

There are several objectives for NGS and HOME to collaborate in this program, and with these, they hope to develop meaningful engagement of migrant domestic workers in their community.

1. Develop a deeper understanding of the migrant domestic worker community In Singapore and their connection with the Gallery.
2. Reduce access barriers for the migrant domestic worker community – become an inclusive museum.
3. Pilot a self-empowerment/self advocacy model of engagement with a community of need.
4. Pilot a strategy to reduce the linguistic barrier faced.
5. Explore meaningful programmatic connections between the Gallery Children’s Biennale and the Gallery permanent exhibitions.

The tours took place on 2 Sundays in November, with different time slots for each language. To make the program successful, we invited participants by giving-out Sister Guides flyers and posting on social media.

Each group made a journey to six different artworks from the Children’s Biennale and UOB Southeast Asian Gallery. In line with the theme of the tour “Embracing Hidden Stories,” we explored hidden and untold stories through looking at artworks from Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Under the guidance of the Sister Guides, participants thoroughly studied the artworks. The participants then willingly and excitedly shared their thoughts and opinions at the Q&A part of the tour. It was a delight to see how focused and interested they were! The selected artworks are connected to our lives as migrant workers, and they also speak about women, other minorities or indigenous people, about democracy and history. For me, yes, I definitely have this emotional connection to the artworks.

The feedback of the participants was great: they had fun, they gained knowledge about art and generally found the experience heart-warming and overwhelming. The most asked question afterwards was: “when is the next tour program of NGS? I will come again!” Everyone had an enjoyable experience – very different from what they thought was going to be “a boring art gallery experience.”

To us mentors, what challenged and excited us was that we did not know most of the participants, we met them only during the day of the tour. But gladly we were able to mingle and get to know the participants. Afterwards, all of the Sister Guides happily and willingly signed the volunteer form to make us officially part of the “Best Friends of Gallery “ team.

I want to say a big Thank You to the NGS for giving us – my fellow tour guides and myself this amazing opportunity. My heart is full; to see the Artworks of Juan Luna was a dream come true. He is not just an artist but also a National Hero in the Philippines. We are both from the province of Ilocos Norte.

There is no Right or Wrong in Arts, just enjoy what you are seeing and experiencing!

Better late than never
Last Sunday, the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) celebrated  International Women’s Day. We celebrated on  March 12th instead of March 8th, because most of our HOME Family members are domestic workers, who need to work on weekdays.

The celebration started with Christian, Buddhist and Muslim prayers respectively. In the said celebration, members and audience hand in hand sang a song that delivers “If we hold on together, our dreams will never die.”

Then, it was time for dance, and each HOME Family group was represented. The best three Dance Groups were chosen by a jury of volunteers. The HOME shelter group was selected as the winner.

A jury chose 20 women from the audience to join in an  on-the-spot cat walk on the stage in a competition for  Best Dress. The criteria were the dress should suit with the theme, be carried well, and fashionable as well as elegant. All candidates in the top 10 were asked a question regarding the day’s theme (Empowerment of Women), and from there the judges picked the Top 5. All winners in each categories were given prizes.

HOME Roses group gave a demonstration on HIV/AIDS awareness, a video sharing and a great condom demonstration, a quiz, and prizes were given as well.

International Women’s day is an important day for HOME, for domestic workers, and for all women. We are proud to promote women’s rights!

All the  HOME Family leaders (I represented My Voice Family) gave a short message to the audience about International Women’s Day–Empowerment of Women, as this year’s theme.

A Petition from HOME members/foreign domestic workers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and India was read-out-loud, in which they expressed what they are going through in their employers home. It all summed up into one important point: The rights and dignity of foreign domestic workers should be given the utmost attention by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). To formalise the Petition, foreign doemstic workers and guests present signed the Petition letter to be passed on to MOM.

Respect our rights, respect our dignity as workers.

By Jo Ann Dumlao