CHILDREN’s own stand on disaster, drugs and child abuse couldn’t even be louder on the artworks dances, poems and music they portrayed after a six-day workshop they underwent through Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights.
Last April 20, 2018, a total of 41 children from Barangay 21-C, 22-C, and 23-C depicted a dramatic play, that comprised their original poems and songs at Barangay 21-C covered court, Piapi Boulevard.
The play included: “Aso sa Kalaotan”, “Gi-uhaw ako”, “ Ang akong Sugilanon”, “Traydor nga Kalipay”, “Droga bangka sa Kahiagoman”, “Binhi sa Bisyo ug Katalagman” and which were their original poetry pieces and songs: “Internetan”, “Bata Tindog”, “Ang canal”, “Imantala sa Kadaghanan”.
Short dance presentations and advertisements also entertained the crowd.
The full piece told the tale of a child who was battered by his parents and whose attention was diverted to playing internet games and later drugs.
The burning of their house made the child succumb to drug addiction, leading to his doom.
The play challenged the audience to ponder on resiliency and disaster preparedness.
Aside from the presentation, an art exhibit was also held.
Worries of children during disasters, as well as the hope for the clean and healthy environment, were portrayed. Some paintings also depicted human trafficking.
Maria Clarrise Taño, 17, from Barangay 23-C, and one of the master of ceremonies, said that they were asked to make poemsand this was a challenge to them.
“Our trainer first and foremost encouraged us to utilize the vernacular, and then we were asked to make a poem about our experiences in our community, and to express it freely, to say what are the issues we want to raise,” Taño said.
She said that they were doubly challenged on how to pronounce the vernacular words. They are growing up where the vernacular is already a mix of everything, using Visayan in its unadulterated form was very difficult, she said.
Still they are grateful to Tambayan for they were given an opportunity to enhance their capacities and capabilities.
“The aim of this program is not just for us to learn but also to develop our capabilities, and to gain new friends from other barangays. Of course you need to encounter other people and colleagues to assess what you really want to express, especially if the groups of children come from a different religion and culture you need to have unity to create a piece to present,” Taño said.
The children during the workshop were divided by categories: the public speaking, music, dance, and visual art.
George Benitez, among the trainers, said that it is achievement enough that children were able to release their inhibitions and express themselves through art. He said that they made sure that the concrete concepts were depicted in every lyric of the songs, those that can be felt by the five senses.
Benitez, who taught the children the basics of poetry writing and songwriting, said that six-day training from April 15-19 gave children a chance to explore their capacities, which is important in helping children plot their directions in life.
He said the workshops aimed to develop self-esteem of children because he believes that once a child is able to develop that, she or he will have the confidence to explore on a foundation of good values.
Meanwhile, on the visual art section, Norberto Duhaylungsod said that he had observed that the children are well oriented with the theme “Integrating Disaster Preparedness, Child Protection, and Arts".
“I can really see their interest.. although their works still need polishing, I can say that they can already express,” he said.
Benitez and Gonzales are both members of Alampat Productions, a group of artists in Davao City.
The efforts of the trainers were not in vain said the stakeholders from national government agencies, mothers and young children as the audience from the start up to the end, stayed and attentively watched the show.
You can see young children observe their ates and kuyas on stage.
At the end of the program some of audience danced to the community song made by the children:
“Bata tindog-tindog, sulti, lihok, barog, kanta sayaw alang sa mga katungod, arong tanang pangandoy atong makab-ot, tanang kalipay, atong maabot.”
This community dance was led by Tambayan chair of the Board and 2018 Datu Bago Awardee Norma Javellana.