Soulprints - Amyline Quien Ching

LITTLE VOICES THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Each soft utterance from a child’s lips may drown against the voices of the world but together their words can change the world.

Believing in the power that rests in the hands of the young, Plan Philippines launched for the first time the biggest celebration of arts and advocacy for children, “Wow Bata- Bida sa Sining at Adbokasya.” Working with more than 42,000 rural-based Filipino children and their families for 40 years now, the international humanitarian and child-focused development organization thought to come up with something that would help children voice out their issues and concerns and at the same time foster friendships between children from different communities. “Wow Bata represents Plan’s recognition of the children’s role and the importance of performing arts as a powerful tool in educating the public about the pressing issues faced by Filipino children today,” says Plan Philippines Country Director Supriyanto. He also hopes that the event, carrying the theme “Bata Tayo’y Magsaya, Ipagdiwang Galing sa Sining at Adbokasya” will become a venue to advocate their cause and to educate the public about the pressing issues that affect them.

MOBILIZING LITTLE VOICES

Seeing their little bodies and their eyes filled with youthful idealism and child-like innocence, nobody would have guessed the extent of their understanding of the issues that hound the country… that is, until they open their mouths.
“Child labor is probably the most serious problem in our community. This is something that we seek to address,” maintains Jonathan Otic, outgoing director of the National Coalition of Children’s Associations of the Philippines (NACCAP). If given a million pesos as project funding, he will build reading centers for young children. According to him, this will help increase the quality of education in his province, San Jose.
Karen Bigay of Bicol agreed to this, saying that one of the primary needs of their community is quality education. Most of the delegates also revealed the lack of child services, the prevalence of child labor and the worsening issue of child abuse inside the homes are problems that people should attend to.

EFFORT WELL SPENT

In preparation for the Wow Bata Festival, these child leaders from different Plan communities went on a three-day training workshop aimed to help them mobilize their groups to solicit funds and other resources for the festival. The seminar called “Resource Mobilization Workshop for Young People” equipped participants with the proper tools of sourcing and managing funds strategically to sustain their organizations. With knowledge in tow, they then embarked on unique and creative schemes of raising funds for their production through solicitations, product selling, benefit shows, stage plays, mini concerts and talent search.

Wow Bata truly lived up to its name. Large-scale productions, a grand parade, and an educational tour that featured in its itinerary some of the must-see places in Manila made the event a true WOW!
Kicking off the event is a parade that saw children from across the country garbed in the colorful costumes of their respective regions. Participants from as far as Southern Leyte and Cebu danced in abandon with the ati-atihan to the amusement of onlookers. Children from Cagayan, Benguet, Pangasinan, Mindoro, Camotes, Masbate, West Samar, and East Samar also joined in on the fun.
Recreational workshops like craft’s painting, paper mache’ junks recycling, mass media broadcasting, photography, indoor landscaping and reflexology were also conducted. Interactive games, trade booths, photo exhibit guaranteed a steady flow of interest and excitement.

CULTURAL PRESENTATION LIKE NO OTHER

Each night promised to be an evening that emphasized how truly gifted and talented Filipino children are. Belonging from various theater groups from across the regions, young actors and actresses gave stunning performances that would sometimes tug the heart and reduce the audience to tears or in other times induce laughter and child-like fun.
Every movement was well thought of, every dialogue delivered with such emotion that even the people who are already used to seeing such acting gifts are overwhelmed with the depth of understanding that they have displayed.
“They were all so good. Whenever children perform, you know that they have put everything in the performance. So what I’m looking for is something extra. For this, I focused more in the appropriateness of the presentation to the age of the child and the artistry that they have displayed,” reveals Museo Pambata Programs Director Desiree Lleno, who served as one of the judges.
She, together with Alvin Morales, Project Officer at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; Amalia Cullarin Rosales, head of the committee on Cultural Education of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Dean of the College of Arts of Polytechnic University of the Philippines; Verni Severo, senior artist-teacher at the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Angel Tatlonghari, a social development specialist trainer and cultural worker for stage; and Mie Takaki, grants manager of Plan Asia regional office, took possession of the score sheets for that night.
Each group was judged according to the way they communicated their ideologies in promoting children’s rights, tackling children’s concerns in their own communities and contributing in the issues through active participation; the creativeness of the techniques employed as well as the timing and control of effects and lights; and the impact that they have made to the audience. These made up half of their scores. The other half was placed on artistry, which includes the creative use of space, acting and performance, music and setting, movements, creative innovation, integration of local culture and the appropriateness of piece for actors and venues.

AN AVENUE FOR THEIR ADVOCACIES
Whether comedy or tragedy, each presentation discussed the issues and problems of child abuse, poverty, and child labor at the community level, something which all of the judges applaud.
“It is heartening to know that children as young as they are, are already aware of the issues that they face everyday. They alone know how to pass on the message to other kids, to create presentations where other children could relate to,” shares Desiree Lleno of Museo Pambata.
Showing their prowess in all aspects of presentation, Bicol claimed the top honors, winning the Best in Over-all performance (Bida sa Kabuuang Kahusayan ng pagsasadula). Camotes, on the other hand, wowed the judges with the way they conveyed their message for the young. They grabbed the Best in Orientation (Bida sa pagkukuwento at mahusay na pagpapahayag ng mensahe) plum. Funny lines and entertaining tunes paved the way for West Samar to bag the Best in Music and Songs (Bida sa paggamit ng Musika at Awit) while East Samar took the Best in Organization (Bida sa kaisahan at pagiging organisado ng samahan) prize. The Best in Cheering (Bida sa awit-galaw-hiyaw ng pagpapakilala sa samahan) went to San Jose while Southern Leyte took home two awards, the Best in Artistry (Bida sa Mataas na antas ng kasiningan o estetika ng pagsasadula) and the Best in Resource Mobilization (Bida sa paglikom at pagpapaunlad ng Rekurso) awards.
Their eyes brimming with triumph and excitement, all of the contestants professed their happiness at being recognized. Months of hard work, memorizing lines, creating props and practicing their scenes did not go to waste.
“We are so happy. When all of the awards were given, we lost hope. For sure one of those teams will eventually get the Best in Overall Performance. When we heard our team called, we really jumped for joy. Sulit yung pagod namin. In addition to the hard work that we put in, what really made us win is the solidity of our group. Everyone really pulled his weight. Everybody did their part,” exclaims Karen Bigay of Bicol. Group cooperation, according to Angel Duran of East Samar
Still win or lose, what is foremost in their minds are the things that they have learned from the experience.
“We really enjoyed ourselves. We had fun and at the same time we learned things that we would be able to use in the future. Nothing could replace an experience like this,” responds Nicole Rena Delantar of Western Samar.

THE POWER OF THE YOUTH

Young they may be, each of them displayed the dedication and commitment that characterize mature individuals.
“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Whatever we have learned through this experience will surely help us, even in a small way, change the country for the better,” enthuses Karen Bigay.
They may just be kids but they are already capable of doing something worthwhile. If the voice of every child will collectively call out for reforms in the community, changes can be initiated not only in the grassroots level but in the whole of the Philippines as well.

posted by Amyline Quien Ching @ 11:09 PM