May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada—a time to reflect on and honour the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Asian communities. At HSCA’s Out of School Care (OOSC), the Kinder group celebrated this month through storytelling, crafts, cultural dress, and a sensory-filled tasting activity featuring the Filipino dessert halo-halo—a name that translates to “mix-mix” in Tagalog.
While the day was cut short due to rain, the kids’ excitement and curiosity made the celebration shine.
Led by OOSC educators Freda and Gerand, the children were invited to create their own versions of halo-halo, a beloved and interactive summer treat in the Philippines. Traditionally made with crushed ice, sweetened fruits, jellies, condensed milk, and topped with items like ice cream, purple yam, or flan, halo-halo is as colourful and diverse as the culture it comes from.
“My favourite part was seeing the kids smile and enjoy the halo-halo, even though it was raining,” Freda shared. “It made me happy to share something special from our culture with them.”
The children selected from a spread of toppings—some unfamiliar—like coconut jelly, palm fruit jelly, tapioca pearls, purple yam, and sweet banana, with the familiar presence of ice cream drawing immediate attention. While some children weren’t fond of the dessert’s unique flavour, their openness to trying something new impressed the educators.
“They didn’t actually like the taste of the halo-halo,” Gerand shared. “But I appreciated their honesty and politeness. I saw their willingness to try new experiences—and as their educator, I want them to explore.”
Cultural sharing didn’t stop at dessert. Leading up to the celebration, children made flags representing various Asian countries and engaged in discussions about the continent’s diversity. On the day of the event, Gerand wore a Barong Tagalog, a traditional embroidered shirt worn during formal occasions in the Philippines. He used the opportunity to talk with the children about cultural dress and its importance.
“Wearing the Barong made me think about the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation,” he reflected. “Clothing is an excellent way to express how you feel—and I explained to the kids that people in the Philippines wear this for special celebrations.”
Throughout the day, both educators saw powerful moments of connection.
“One of the kids shouted, ‘I’m from China!’ during our discussion and proudly talked about speaking Chinese,” said Gerand. He shared that the moment stood out to him because it showed the children were making personal connections to what was being shared.
As Freda explained, halo-halo is a perfect metaphor for cultural celebration: “It brings people together and helps us learn more about each other through food.”
Beyond the fun and colour, the educators hoped the experience planted seeds of appreciation, self-expression, and curiosity.
“When we introduce traditions, foods, and customs from different cultures—like making halo-halo—we’re giving kids the chance to explore new experiences in a fun and engaging way,” Freda explained. “These moments help children learn not just about others, but also about themselves. It builds trust, respect, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.”
And that’s the real magic of “mix-mix”—bringing different ingredients, stories, and people together.