(‘SINGSING’ MOBILE APP. Mayor Ed Pamintuan leads the launch of the interactive literacy app ‘Singsing’. Joining him are CCA president Dr. Richard Daenos, Sinupan Singsing head researcher Mike Pangilinan, heritage and culture officer Joy Cruz, Smart senior manager for education programs Stephanie Orlino, councilor Amos River and tourism officer John Montances. Photo Courtesy of AC-CIO)
ANGELES CITY – In time for this city’s celebration of the National Heritage Month, the local government here under the leadership of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan in partnership with Smart Communications, City College of Angeles and local culture and arts advocates launched the “Singsing”, a Kapampangan learning application on Monday at the City Hall.
The mobile application was created to serve as an interactive learning tool for pre-school students as it features words, letters and numbers, all in Kapampangan. The software was developed by the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO), the students of CCA and OrangeFix Media, while the content was provided by Sinupan Singsing: Center for Kapampangan Cultural Heritage.
According to Mayor Pamintuan, the project will help safeguard the city’s advocacy of promoting Kapampangan as the official language of the city alongside other official languages. The app will also further the cause of Ordinance No. 424 of promoting the use of Kapampangan language especially to young Angeleños and the generations to come.
Furthermore, the mayor attributed the project as another milestone for the people of Angeles whose overwhelming love and unwavering dedication to promote Pampanga’s rich arts and culture have resulted to the shedding of its “Sin City” image.
“We have come to the age where heritage, culture, and the arts are of most importance to our people. We are now reaping all what we have sowed during the earlier years of my term and now, there is indeed a renaissance of culture and arts in our city,” said Pamintuan.
“While we are enjoying the advantages of urbanization, we have been keen in protecting the soul of our city – its cultural heritage legacies,” the mayor said.
In affirmation, Culture and Heritage Officer Joy Cruz said that the app manifests the collaborative and unified efforts of the public and private sector towards attaining this goal of the city.
Stephanie Orlino, Senior Manager and Head of Education Programs of Smart Communications, said that the app is part of their nationwide endeavor of promoting the “mother-tongue” through the use of digital learning advancements.
Also present during the launch are Councilor Amos Rivera, Sinupan Singsing Head Researcher and PAMANA Awardee for Heritage and Culture Mike Pangilinan, CCA President Dr. Richard Daenos, Tourism Officer John Montances, Kristine Joyce Magadia of Smart Telecommunications, DepEd Angeles City Superintendent Leilani Cunanan, members of the ‘Singsing’ technical team, and all the Day Care teachers from various barangays in the city.
The ‘Singsing’ app can now be downloaded for android handsets via Google Play for free. Smart Communications disclosed that additional features will be infused to the app in the future updates of the mobile application.
