Dalawang Bayani - Big Thank You!

ALBTPM - at Teatrong Mulat's lobby.   

Our first showing of Dalawang Bayani taught us two important things (and a lot of small lessons in between). The first important thing is that nothing ever turns out as planned. The second is that even if nothing turns out as planned, you can still make circumstances work for you if you are flexible, creative, and... cheerful!

We initially planned two shows on September 8, but the schools we invited suddenly scheduled some make-up classes for that day. As it was too late to invite other public schools, we decided to move the morning show to November 30, 2012, at 3pm.

Meantime, September 8's 3pm show pushed through: Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas performed the shadow play Ang Pagong at ang Tsonggo and the bunraku-style Dalawang Bayani, as well as treated the kids from Center for Peace Asia to a short demo on puppetry. They all loved it!

Before the show...

...looks like everyone's excited!

Cello's Doughnuts donated 10 boxes of their cute and delicious cocktail doughnuts for us to sell outside the theater, delighting the kids (and kids at heart) after the puppet show.

We're Cello's "employees" for the afternoon! ^_^

A chance to be generous
As you can see from the pictures, many kids who would not have had the chance to watch an educational and cultural show were able to experience puppetry and learn something new about history and the arts because of the pledges of generous people. The good news is the chance is still here! You can still sponsor an underprivileged child to watch this eye-opening puppet show on November 30, 2012, Bonifacio Day, for free.

Tickets are pledge cards that may be bought for Php 300, 500, 700, or 1000, depending on whether you wish to Share a Step, Go in Strides, Take a Leap, or Fly a Catechist to Brazil respectively. This is a fundraising for the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil--proceeds will help send a CatC:H catechist to Rio--and at the same time it is an outreach event that will help underprivileged children and public school students to appreciate their national heritage.

Big thank you! 
Thanks to all the people who made this show possible with your generous support. You made many kids happy!

Albert Donado
Alvin Donado
Amalea Dulcene Nicolasora
Amy Villanueva
Angela Aninao and friends
Apollo Marco Lizano
Arra Labadan
Belle Gonzales
Carmela Castro
Cecil delos Santos
Chelle Batalia
Cherryanne Cristobal
Christian Cruz
Dan Ramirez
Diana Buenaventura
Edlyn Santiago
Egoy Gomez
Elise Cruzada
Gabi Francisco
Ghiselle Villorente
Gino Garcia
Grace Floria
Honey Cruz-Grapa
Isis Bautista
Jena Pastor & Xoce Divina
Jennifer Alambra
Joy Indrinal
Judith Octavo
Julie Ann Icotanim
Kitchie May Sumaylo
Kris Monzales
Laarni Capistrano
Laura Tumala
Laurice Juarez
Leddie Agoncillo
Ley Lacar
Lexie Estacio
Loribelle Ribleza
Lydia Aclan
Mae Servanillo
Mai Marsangca
Malou Magbojos
Maricar Pimentel
Mark Louie Gomez
Meyn Marasigan
Michelle Angelo
Natasha Bautista
Nerie Montuya
Noriza Loisa Castillo
Norman Baes
Olay Lackar
Raul Chavez
Richard Lasam
Richie Cruz
Rino Paez
Rossana Sandagon
Shane Custodio
Shasha Vargas
Sonny Espiritu

The Mulat cast at the curtain call. Applause!

Sofia Movlazadeh
Tata Francisco
Teresa Gomez

Of course, a big thank you, too, to Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, without whom we wouldn't have a show. Thank you for a great show! :-)

CatC:H learns about capoeira

Photo from urbangirlsquad.com

Last Sunday, CatC:H invited Vida Sioson and her fellow capoeiristas Joan and Ces to talk about Capoeira, which is a dance/martial art that originated in Brazil. A lot of us didn't know about this martial art, and those of us who did have never seen it in action (with the exception of Kit, of course). So, it was an interesting lesson and quite an eye-opener, especially because it gave us a sneak peek into the culture of the country we all hope to visit next year!

A bit of history: Capoeira was created by the African slaves in Brazil as they tried to find a way to train to fight against their Portuguese captors without making them suspicious. That's why the martial art looks like a dance! It's a mix of African dances and Brazilian music & culture.

Freedom

In capoeira, a game between two players is called a "Benguela." We asked the capoeiristas if in a Benguela their moves are choreographed, and Vida explained that capoeira is a spontaneous art: the moves only look choreographed because of the skill of the capoeirista to flow with the rythm and the movements of her opponent. She made an analogy: it's like a conversation; you speak spontaneously in response to what your friend says--but that does not mean you rehearsed your lines beforehand!

What's very interesting about this dance/art is that it is not only a fitness routine or fighting style--it's a cultural combo meal: you get to dance, you get to fight, you get to sing, learn snippets of Portuguese, and even play instruments!

Now we're looking forward to attending a special capoeira class to try it out for ourselves. Vida, Joan, and Ces were very encouraging; they said that you don't need to be flexible to start. All you need is determination to learn something new and of course resilience so as not to be discouraged when you make mistakes. Let's go!

See Vida's post on this at her blog VidaLoca.

ONE MORE WEEK to treat a kid to watch a puppet play!

Do you want to help kids from the urban poor community of Mandaluyong to appreciate their national heritage? Sponsor a child (or more!) to watch the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas production, Dalawang Bayani. 

In this Palanca award-winning one-act play, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio puts the two key figures in Philippine history together in a dialogue that gets them to talk of their joys, sorrows, hopes, loves, and special vision for the Nation that they both dream of passing down to the new generation of Filipinos.

The Catechists of Calayan (Catc:H) invite you to this rare restaging of Dalawang Bayani, the 1995 winner for One Act Play in Filipino in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Proceeds will help send a catechist to the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Watch Dalawang Bayani on September 8, 2012, at 10am or 3pm, at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo, 64 Mapagkawanggawa St. Teacher's Village East, Diliman, QC.

Tickets are pledge cards that may be bought for Php 300, 500, 700, or 1000, depending on whether the person wishes to Share a Step, Go in Strides, Take a Leap, or Fly a Catechist to Brazil respectively. Those who can't watch may also support us by sponsoring a child from the urban poor communities of Bgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, or public school students from Ramon Magsaysay and Rizal High School to watch the play for free. Whichever way you would like to help, you’re sure it is for a good cause!

For tickets or to pledge, please contact Nicole at 0916-341-3366 or any Catc:H member you know. Thanks!