TAO PO at Ateneo de Manila University *a special Christmas celebration*

Join us for this unique Christmas celebration!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 23, 2007
Bellarmine Field, Ateneo de Manila University
6:00pm right before 8:00pm simbang gabi at Jesu

Tao Po is an original production born from the collaboration between Gawad Kalinga and TeatroFilipino Integrated. It showcases an insightful script, moving musical scoring, dynamic choreography and remarkable performances from the SIGA of GK Villages in Metro Manila: Bagong Silang, Payatas, Baseco, and Paranaque.

Tao Po tells the journey of the Filipino people moving from the harmony of God’s creation to the agony and misery of poverty and ending with stories of hope from ordinary people who have found a concrete vehicle for change in Gawad Kalinga. In the spirit of Christmas, we would like to share this promise of hope to all who believe in inspiring a new culture for our people.

Hopefully, more successful shows like this will enrich art programs for GK communities.

"TAO PO" PLANNING TO GO ON TOUR!!!

It was such a hit that Tao Po are planning on touring locally and internationally! Wow, Im so happy for them!! Hopefully some of you who didn't see it will get a chance to see it. It will be showing again next month at the Ateneo de Manila University most likely on Dec 23,2007 but it's not yet finalized. Preparations are also being made for it's first international show to be in Jakarta, Indonesia!! ...as GK is also located there. Praise GOD! =) Please keep them in your prayers for these plans to follow through, for safe travels, and more fantastic shows... they deserve it! GK deserves it. we deserve it. the world deserves it LOL. thank you!!!

"Tao Po" (Street Theatre Production)

Hello everyone! Kumusta kayo?!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything, I was pretty busy with the Tao Po show for the GK1World Expo event. I am happy to say Tao Po was a hit! And so was the Expo. I have never been more proud of a performance/production before in my life! The youth from GK Bagong Silang, Payatas, Baseco, and Paranaque did an amazing job!!! These are not professional performers with much training before this show, but they really did perform like professionals and I'm not just saying that.

Tao Po means: someone is knocking, someone is outside, is anybody home?. The show was made up of 3 vignettes. (check the flier above) It was beautiful. And Tao Po is all original works!

I am so honored and lucky to be a witness to the youth's transformation during the workshops & rehearsals that went on for about 2 months. Many of them were shy and unsure of themselves in the beginning, but I saw how they really just blossomed through this process. They became confident, their acting, dancing, and vocal skills developed immensely. Their dynamics were wonderful and they really became receptive to direction taking and flexible to making many adjustments. They became professional performers really. Many who saw the rehearsals were unsure if it was going to be a successful show because there was much practice and polishing needed. But in the end, when it mattered the most, these youth were on point and SHINED LIKE BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL STARS. It was magic. You could tell the youth loved performing! They were proud of their work and their story. It was amazing.

It is especially deep because I grew close to the youth and I got to see them blossom. And the show is about their lives. Some of the youth even wrote their own monologues about true stories they experienced or witnessed in the slums. It was very moving. I even cried in one of the shows.

These are the powerful creative records of GK's history and it is even educational for Filipino History. All performed by the real characters: the precious people GK is working so hard to uplift and transform.

***This to me, is the beautiful & powerful essence of what it means -to give voice to the voiceless and celebrate heritage, culture, heroism, and a new Philippines.***

This was one of my main driving forces coming to the Philippines and GK. I am soo blessed to be a part of it (by helping stage & prod manage) and see it manifest in such a beautiful way, especially being a Theatre Arts major, having a passion to serve the poor, and being a Filipino-American!

I will forever hold this experience close to my heart. And I pray that GK continues to share these valuable Filipino stories for the rest of the world to embrace, and hopefully be moved to serve to poor!

CONGRATULATIONS & THANKS to: Gawad Kalinga, Ancopusa, & partners. Tita Maria Montelibano, Gkom, Ate Eena Meloto, Ate Michelle Montano (Congrats on her & Kuya Paul's newborn baby boy!), Emong (Raymond) Dimaiwat, Mabuhay

And the brilliant creators of Tao Po -->Teatro Filipino Integrated (TFI): Ron Capinding (Director), Wincy Ong (Music Composer) Ina Luna (Dance mentor), Maris Dimayuga (Acting & singing mentor), Reamur David (Prod manager)

Special thanks to: Emong Dimaiwat, Leana Go, K Calubaquib & Omar Regalado for helping stage manage. And Jj Ignacio, Trency Caga-Anan, & Jean Pierre Reniva for the great costumes and managing them backstage. (And anyone I may have left out, but hopefully I didn't!)

AND OF COURSE THE ***GK YOUTH STAR PERFORMERS FROM GK BAGONG SILANG, PAYATAS, BASECO, AND PARANAQUE***

BAGONG SILANG:

Aljon V. Jimenez
Aris Phoeonix Sangalang
John Matthew D. Lugue
Julius Angelo D.C. Ordonio
Mark Aeron D. Gomez
Raymond Dimaiwat
Trixie Ann D. Gomez
Aljoies M. Quintana
Ched Gimenez Dulay
Jeanette Tolosa Fababier
Nina Mae Gomez

PAYATAS:

Bryan Joe Trapani
Florence Mark Farrales
Julius F. Gundran
Mark Fernando P. Mamaril
Patrick John G. Peñaflor
Carren Austin T. Palomar
Keelin Espera

BASECO:

Alvin H. Monto
Dennis Celero
El John G. Retulin
Mark Joseph M. Regalario
Marvin P. Lasquite
Anna Luna P. Peñas

PARAÑAQUE:

Carlo Ala
Edmond Alarcon Paronda
Jose B. Sanjose
Mark Anthony P. Banaag
Emily Chen Jane G Cabuqnasan


AND THE WHOLE GK & TAO PO PRODUCTION FAMILY ON A SUCCESSFUL AND JOYOUS GK1WORLD EXPO AND THE FIRST OF HOPEFULLY MANY TAO PO SHOWCASES TO COME!

GODBLESS!

Build in Alabat

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Last week I got to travel to the peaceful and beautiful island of Alabat in Quezon for a local Bayani Challenge. It was soo much fun and a nice break from the city life of Manila. The people were super friendly and of course super hospitable there. We must have been fed every 3 hrs! Yeah.. I really enjoy these builds. lol just kidding!

I've learned that the most important thing is to give love in all that you do. In the states its normal to be anti-social and to be to yourself, but being in GK has taught me how to connect with people more. And that's really what life is about. I was flipping thru a fashion magazine the other day waiting for my coffee at a cafe (its been a long time since I actually looked at a fashion mag) and I remembered how I use to think those rich good-looking people and their possessions, their comforts, big houses, cars, and parties were really what success was all about. And how even if your middle class that is what you work towards and is most respected. I use to look at those pictures and think, "wow wouldn't that be nice?" But as I was looking at it that Thursday in the Mocha Blends cafe next to the Philippine Immigrations Bureau (cause I was working on my visa), all I could feel was this painful emptiness of vainity through those pages. I mean it seemed like I could see it in their eyes and thru their make up and smiles, and all that nice 'stuff' seemed lifeless on those pages. I had never seen it that apparent before.

And I thought to myself, "wow... I'm so grateful to be experiencing life through GK right now. To be in the presence of such beautiful & loving people who care about The People soo much..To be on the ground with poor Fiipinos, sharing food, life, laughter, and sweat with them.. and to know this work is really transforming lives and rebuilding the Nation."

And then I thanked God for how Rich I truly am.

"TAO PO" Street Theatre in the GK Expo in October!

Last weekend I just attended my first two rehersals for the street theatre that is to be put up for the Expo in October. I am overseeing the project with Ate Eena and Ate Michelle (my lovely mentors in Mabuhay). And I am part of the production team.

I think this performance is gonna be great. The last two rehearsals I saw were awsome! The performers are some of the Siga Youth from four different sites: Bagong Silang (including some from the Bagong Silang Musical), Payatas Trece, Baseco, and Paranaque. There are about 20 youth performers all together. They are an excellent and dynamic group of performers, really. I have seen them rehearse songs and dances. And the team of mentors (directors and instructors) are graduates from Ateneo University Theatre and are AWSOME. That'd be Ron, Ina, Marris, and Rhem. The youth have a great support team.

I am excited to see how the youth continues to grow and how the show comes together. I love how the youth just blossom through this medium. And none of them are trained performers! There are a few who have some experience from the Bagong Silang Musical, but thats it. It is amazing to see them shine so early in the rehearsals, especially since Gk's educational programs are still in it's early stages. I think one of the best ways to build confidence and self-esteem within the youth is in the arts -particularly *The Performing Arts*

It's golden =)

recap

Greetings everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for all those who have been reading my posts =)

I've been doing well. Just moved into my fourth host family, Tito Lito's family's home. I think this may be the last transfer.

Just to recap, after 3 months of being here I feel like I finally have found my bearings somewhat. As inspiring as this journey is, it has also been very challenging. God is Good though and never gives you what you can't handle, but of course tests your limits. And I know He has been testing me plenty and has carried me plenty. I feel I am an even stronger person, more hopeful and grounded, and yet still tender.

As the blessed journey continues I pray for His guidance and love...

How I got into Gawad Kalinga

I thought I would share how I got involved with GK.

I went to school for Theatre Arts at San Francisco State University and then went to LA to persue an acting career. I experienced my first taste of show biz in Hollywood. As a small fish with basically no connections, I learned quickly how easy it could be to lose yourself and get eaten alive just to get ahead. As a woman of color, I also became bitter towards the lack of decent roles offered to us. Compromising my values had tempted me much more than I wanted. Unfortunately, that's how much of the business is and I was not ready for it at that time. I am the kind of person that needs time to fully digest the pros and cons, what experiences mean to me as a changing, growing woman. Because of this, coupled with the lack of inspiring work/art I was groomed with in college, I lost the fire to continue the path as a "struggling actress". Ironically I'm volunteering six months for the poor.

So, I thought what do I do now if Im not gonna act? I initially went into acting to use it as a medium for social awarness and to inspire change. So I decided I would do just that, seek how to directly change peoples lives. After I became more aware about world issues, I passionately dove into activism in the States, during Bush Jr.'s term. After about a year of heartache, I grew an even bigger passion to travel to the Motherland and help the poor.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, I had never been to the Philippines so I wanted to connect with my roots as well. I wasn't sure who to work with though. And then a friend of mine told me he had an aunt that did missions with the poor in the Philippines and that I should talk to her. So I did. She introduced me to Gawad Kalinga and explained how they work to strengthen communities on all levels, in very experimental, radical, and holistic ways. Never hearing of anything like it, I was overjoyed and very curious to learn the ways of how they address the roots of poverty. I thought it was the perfect vehicle to journey through the Motherland for the first time and satisfy a strong longing to make a lasting, revolutionary difference.

And what a difference it has made! GK has made all the difference. It is the most amazing, most fulfilling, life changing ride I have ever experienced. Seeing and sharing the dramatic changes they have made in people's lives inevitably changes you in more ways you can imagine. I never had any idea that when I walked into GK that I was going to be in the first batch of this crazy six month BUILDER'S CORPS program! It was definitely meant to be though. GK just started the program when I decided to volunteer. As a young lady, taking this huge leap all by myself, has been extremely empowering. It is also very challenging and lonely many times, but that is where you discover so much of yourself.

Every day I reflect on what God's plan is for me.... And I pray to fulfill what ever it is one day at a time. I am humbled and blessed to be here as Gawad Kalinga's first official "guinea pig" of the BUILDER'S CORPS.

I have to admit, it is quite a historical role!



“The times in your life you’ll regret the most won’t be when you looked foolish, but when you didn’t take action at all.”
— Denise Marek