Suyomano, an online learning platform aimed at promoting Filipino culture, held its first ever virtual press launch via Zoom.
Sumoyano was founded by Mary Lou Cunanan in August 2020, with the name derived from suyo which means gentle affection and mano which is a gesture of respect to the elderly. It has on its board Aames Aguas, Xerxes Itao, Jackielyn Junio, Dr. Catherine Sy Luib, and Emmanuel Damian who all believe in the preservation of Philippine culture through digital education.
In celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in October, Suyomano partnered with PG&E Samahan in San Francisco, California and Galing Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia to conduct Filipino cultural classes. Enrollees for these classes were mostly Filipino-Americans eager to expand their knowledge and Filipino heritage.
Other partners and supporters of Suyomano include the Manila Heritage Foundation in San Francisco, San Diego’s Filipino Food Movement, Filipino Cinema, and most notably, the Philippine Consulate in Hawaii.
Suyomano was recently featured in an NBC News article on Asian Americans using quarantine to learn their families’ languages. It was also one of the top finalists in the recent Reapra and Future Female Business Hackathon, which featured other finalists from Southeast Asia.
Locally, Suyomano launched a Bayanihan campaign to support Philippine tourism despite the pandemic, and signed an agreement with the Intramuros Administration to make Old Manila virtual tours possible.
Suyomano offers various cultural learning experiences touching from local language series and ancient scriptwriting to traditional martial arts and indigenous tribal cultures. Acclaimed filmmaker Benito Bautista, pureblooded T’boli artist Lyn Lambago, and Filipino branding maven Corinne Romabiles will be conducting these sessions. In support of cultural heritage preservation, proceeds from the T’boli class will be donated to the T’boli tribal house.
The media launched also includes the official announcement of upcoming classes for December on Philippine tourism, Christmas traditions, and a brand new Filipino language series. The launch featured Chef Trisha Ocampo, an alumna of the illustrious Le Cordon Bleu and other keynote speakers. Moderated by Emmanuel Damian, Suyomano’s business development director.
For more information on Suyomano, visit suyomano.com or check out the company’s official social media pages:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Suyomano/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/suyomano/