On August 26th, the Philippine Centre Canada (PCC), funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, organized a soap-making workshop at the National Arts Centre as part of the “Promoting Mental Health and Well-being Among Filipino-Canadian Youth Through Art and Music” project. The workshop, which was participated in by 12 participants (9 female, 3 male) was a huge success, and we would like to take this opportunity to highlight the facilitators who made this event possible – Ethel Maamo and Nicole Sudiacal.

Ethel’s passion for sharing her skills and knowledge in creating DIY non-toxic skin products through her initiative, “Ground to Hand,” helped the participants learn how to make affordable and easy-to-create hand/body creams and soaps. She also provided guidance on the importance of “clearing clutter” and “letting go,” helping individuals in their personal journeys towards emotional well-being.

Nicole Araneta, a Filipino community organizer with Migrante Ottawa, brought her profound knowledge and experience to the workshop. As a graduate of Conflict Studies & Human Rights, Nicole passionately advocates for equity, migrant rights, patient rights, and collective community engagement for societal transformation. Her presence as a discussion leader/youth counsellor enriched the workshop, instilling a sense of empowerment and inspiring participants to make positive changes in their own lives and communities.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who attended the soapmaking workshop. Your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn were truly inspiring, and we genuinely hope you enjoyed your day with us. Each participant had the opportunity to create their own soap and take home all the necessary equipment to continue this enjoyable and therapeutic activity. We can’t wait to see the beautiful soaps proudly displayed at our upcoming Youth Art Showcase in December. Stay tuned for more details!

Once again, we express our gratitude to the National Arts Centre for providing the perfect setting for our workshop. Your support and collaboration made this event even more memorable and impactful. We look forward to working together again in future endeavours that promote mental health, well-being, and the flourishing of our Filipino-Canadian youth.