The Philippine Lightsaber Guild: The Force is strong in Southeast Asia

The release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” last year has widened the appeal of the film franchise to include not only diehard fans but new recruits as well. And “Star Wars” popularity is not only contained in the U.S. but has reached all corners of the world. In fact, in the Philippines, an island nation in Southeast Asia, there exists an organization that is devoted to all things “Star Wars.”

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The Philippine Lightsaber Guild is a nonprofit group founded by “Star Wars” enthusiasts. At present, the organization has 13 “temples” in different cities and provinces around the Philippines. Members of the guild meet on a monthly basis (some even more frequent), to teach each other the skills and values that come along with wielding a lightsaber. Most of the time, they go through rigid physical training, which serves as an intense aerobic workout with swords. One of the first major activities of the group was a gathering of some 200 “Star Wars” fanatics who, as expected, came with their lightsabers.

But it is not all about wielding the lightsaber for the guild members. The most recent event of the Philippine Lightsaber Guild is a month-long short film competition, which started last March 29. Five secret judges will review all video submissions about the theme “lightsaber drama.” Winners will be announced on “Star Wars” Day, which is held globally on May 4.

The Philippine Lightsaber Guild joins other groups that embrace the Force. One of the most renowned groups is the Empire Saber Guild, the New York chapter of the Lucasfilm-recognized international “Star Wars” costuming and performance organization, Saber Guild. Incidentally, the Philippine Lightsaber Guild is the third lightsaber group to come out of the country. The previous two groups, Saber Suicide Squad, and The Saber Authority were more oriented on the martial arts aspect of lightsaber fighting.

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Wendy Eber is a ‘Star Wars’ superfan. She is also writes fan fiction about a droid named Eber-CT. Follow her on Facebook for more on her tales about a galaxy far, far away.

Beyond The Pen And Paper: Teaching Children About Creative Writing

Creative writing is a skill that many teachers and parents are struggling to teach. Because of this struggle, children can get frustrated about writing, too.

As a teacher and a writer-at-heart, I make sure I do my best to expose my students to literature. School-aged children should be encouraged to write poetry or stories so they can foster their artistic expression, search for identity, learn to read and write, and entertain other readers. Writing is an activity that students should enjoy. 

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The first step to teaching children about creative writing is to expose them to different literary forms. Reading is fundamental to a solid writing experience. Adults can read them story books, poems, and even songs. Aside from providing children with a print-rich environment, here are tips on how to help children write creatively at their young age:

Start by building up their vocabulary list

 

How can children write creatively if they do not have the right words for their ideas and feelings? Teachers and parents can start by building a child’s vocabulary list. Introduce concepts like synonyms and antonyms, so they’ll have a broader word bank. 

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Teach them the importance of journaling

 

Writing journals are effective for beginning writers. A short “Dear Diary” entry can foster creativity as children recall events that happened in a day. Journal writing is a more personal approach to storytelling. 

Give encouraging feedback

 

Provide children with encouraging feedback whenever they introduce something they wrote. Authentically appreciate their craft and give suggestions that they can use the next time they write a piece. 

Hi, I’m Wendy Eber, a writer and a school teacher. Get creative writing tips for kids when you subscribe to my blog.