Here's one dramatic story: Once, an elderly man lost his wife to a lingering illness. The neighbors noticed that the man would just sit in the veranda and weep. While walking across the street, a couple with their four-year old daughter in tow greeted the man. Sensing the man's grief, the girl ran and sat on the lap of the elderly man. After a while, when asked by the couple what she said to the elderly man, the girl replied: "Nothing, mommy. I just wiped away his tears, so I could help ease his pain."
For adults, such a simple gesture is just a whim of an innocent girl. Yet it conveys a powerful message. It is an insight into what it means to be "human."
In a world where children grow up to a highly-visual and technological environment, one vehicle that would "re-humanize" ourselves is to engage in the study of the arts. "One main purpose of the arts is to understand and learn how to be a true human being," says Fernando Josef, Tanghalang Pilipino's current artistic director. "We have to convince people that the arts can be a potent instrument in the development of a more creative, confident and better human being."
For decades, Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) has been in the forefront when it comes to educating children, teens and adults through workshops intended to develop their self-esteem as well as to rediscover the world in all its aspects. "Art is directly for the improvement of the human being as well," Josef states. "That's why," he continues, "we are seriously looking into the future of training-workshop in the Philippines." TP's training-workshop, according to Josef, will be based on two-pronged objectives: conducting a theater arts program for teachers and a program for the general public. "You know, I am looking into the possibility of realizing a long-time dream-to have an arts academy or arts school here," Josef declares.
And to fully realize the dream of building an arts institute in the near future, Josef attests that it is necessary to build a semi-quasi or permanent faculty for theater. While recognizing the children's potentials in theater arts, Josef states that it is also necessary to monitor the development of the faculty as teachers. "It is vital because theater arts is an institution of change and for understanding human behavior."
This year's workshops include children's theater, teen theater, musical theater for teens, beginning acting, acting in musical theater, rehearsal and performance techniques, and event, production and stage management, to be conducted by the alumni of Philippine High School for the Arts and the TP Actors Company such as Paolo O'Hara, Roeder Camañag, Tess Jamias and trainers from the University of the Philippines.
What makes this year's summer theater workshops different? The participants would have a chance to audition for possible slots as actors in a TP production. "There will be directors who will scout for either an understudy for an Actors Company position or for other theater productions," he says with a smile.
Aside from that, interested children and teens can also enroll in TP's new satellite venue near NBC Tent at Taguig's Global City, a project in collaboration with the Ft. Bonifacio Development Corporation, Ayala Corporation and Mr. Antonio Cojuangco. This is in conjunction with TP's expansion program. "We are trying to build an Arts in the City Project," Josef affirms. "Arts must be shared and talent is not a monopoly."
To get into a glimpse of what will transpire during the summer workshop, participants will be given materials that will be analyzed and acted upon, and for after every exercise, the participant's performance will be evaluated. "Nag-improve ba ang understanding niya, nagkaroon ba siya ng kaibigan, naging positive ba ang views niya or naging ‘mayabang ba siya'," adds Josef. "It's like a personality development." "Parang, holistic ang approach." Each workshop culminates in a recital to be held at the CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute.
Someone once said that a "life without the arts is a life of seeing without feeling, and touching without real contact." Artists have always been the real purveyors of things that let us get in touch with our emotions. By encouraging others on a lifelong journey with the arts, we encourage a deep appreciation and understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the people of the world. And that's one school of thought worth fighting for.
(For schedules and other inquiries, please call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661 (telefax) or 832-1125 loc. 1620/1621 or e-mail at ccptanghalan@yahoo.com.)