Olongapo Heritage Fair: Revealing Nellie E. Brown
On April 11, Ellie De Castro concluded the
Finding Nellie Project at Nellie E. Brown Elementary School (NEBES) by
revealing the true identity of her father’s elementary school namesake, Nellie
E. Brown. Her audience consisted of NEBES’ current students and faculty, former
and retired teachers and principals, alumni, Olongapo Historical Society
members, local government representatives and Department of Education
representatives.
The reveal comes after 646 days of research
alongside 5 National Geographic Explorers and De Castro’s own family and
friends. The day was called the Olongapo Heritage Fair, where a program filled
with messages from the community and an interactive exhibit for both students
and alumni were organized by the Finding Nellie Team with support from Olongapo
City Vice Mayor Jong Cortez and West Bajac-Bajac Barangay Captain Billy
Capistrano.
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“Sa hinaba-haba ng adventure, ay nahanap na din si Nellie” |
Finding Nellie: The Project
What Ellie thought would be a quick Google search turned out to be an adventure that has lasted more than two years. Finding Nellie is a project that has made a team of archaeologists, educators, and storytellers scour through offline and online archives in the Philippines and abroad; inquire with libraries, cemeteries, historians, and even active and retired U.S. military personnel; get in touch with local and national politicians; and message anyone who might remotely be related to a Nellie Brown on social media, via telephone, and even by knocking on their doors. On Instagram, the team shares every step of this journey through its colorful and interactive Field Notes.
With the help of the National Geographic Society, Finding Nellie has allowed Ellie and her teammates to connect and reconnect with friends and family; foster an appreciation for community roots; and bring world history lessons a little closer to home – especially to the current students of Nellie E. Brown.
For more details, visit the project’s online spaces:
Instagram: @finding.nellie
TikTok: @finding.nellie
Website: https://www.elliedecastro.com/finding-nellie
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