TAYO NA SA MAKILING (June 08, 2009)

Again, all roads led to the Philippine High School for the Arts last May 19-22.
Gifted tweeners and teenagers, all 119 of them, were invited to take part but 99 sent back their Reply Form.

By May 18, only 73 were physically present in the biggest arts event in Mt. Makiling, Laguna.

Twelve are creative writers, eight are ballet dancers, sixteen are folk dancers, eleven are musicians, nine are theater artists, and seventeen are visual artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

For four days, they lived the life of reality television contestants.

“No, this is not Bahay ni Tata,” PHSA Director Fernando “Nanding” Josef explained, “but Tayo na sa Makiling or the second phase of adjudication activities for PHSA scholarship hopefuls after more than a 100 participants were screened during the 2009 Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS) held in sixteen Regional Audition Centers (RAC).”

It is a first.

In PHSA history, it is only recently that it is able to offer unique type of training program facilitated by PHSA’s resident teachers like Cecilia Martinez (Psychoeducational), Victor Ursabia (Classical Ballet), Emma Izon (Filipino Language), Marza Palentino (English Language), Ernestina de Guzman (Theater Arts), Frances Niduaza (Music), Karla Diño (Music ), Gerardo Leonardo (Visual Arts), Marc Vincent Cosico (Visual Arts), Robert Stephen Biadoma (Philippine Folk Dance), and Victor Flor (Philippine Folk Dance), to name a few.

We, as guest artist/educator, conducted workshops, or should we say playshops, in poetry and prose that were graded!

Aside from further assessing skills (or proficiency in at least three literary genres; excellent command of English and Filipino; wide vocabulary), their motivation (or the enthusiasm, focus, and perseverance) as well as creativity (or expressiveness, originality, fluency, and flexibility) were measured through such writing.

There were sessions, too, on time management, study and library skills, dormitory living, nature walks, and talks on such topics as Psychology of Artistically Gifted Filipino Children by Dr Erlinda Camara.

At the end of the day, the main aim of Tayo na sa Makiling is to identify the most eligible aspirants who are entitled to full Special Secondary Education scholarship for the School Year 2009-2010 which includes, free dormitory accommodation, free meals, and a monthly stipend.
On the other hand, those who will not qualify will be placed in the Waitlist Category as probable replacements for those who will eventually decide not to accept the scholarship award.

And for the parents and legal guardians accompanying the participants – a separate orientation on School Mandate, Scholarship Agreement, Manual for Scholars, Academic Support and Behavior Management Programs, Foster Care and Family Programs, and other support mechanisms was be given.

As Advisory Council member, we approved as early as July 2008 of the ANSYAS team’s plan that would allow PHSA scholarship applicants to have their artistic ability screened preliminarily by alternative means via submission of a DVD/VCD of performances or portfolio of works while the usual means of auditioning live at a RAC remains unchanged.

However, feeling the need to have an event that would gather all applicants shortlisted from both means for more individualized and in-depth assessments, Mr. Wong, the ANSYAS head, volunteered his vision: “There should be an array of fun-filled learning experiences, art workshops, educational tour, psychoeducational assessment, and physical acculturation sessions, all aimed at introducing the young artists to life amidst the forest of Mt. Makiling and to living in a boarding school away from families and the bustles of city life.”

Thus, Tayo na sa Makiling was conceived in November 2008.

Eventually, after fulfilling the historic PHSA's dream project, Mr. Josef has this say: “On the one hand, it has given the participants the opportunity to get acquainted with other children who, like them, are inclined towards the arts and have dreams of becoming a PHSA scholar someday. On the other hand, the parents of applicants have come to know the culture of the school face-to-face, enabling them to make informed decision on the impending separation between them and their child who has the chance to make it to the roster of PHSA scholars. On the part of the PHSA teachers, Tayo na sa Makiling has afforded them the occasion to get acquainted with would-be scholars of the school up close and personal and choose the ones most artistically talented, psychologically fit, and internally driven to pursue art as a course of study in high school on the strength of the assessment results.”

Last May 22, after a halfday of discussions and debates, not necessarily heated, the registrar revealed its most-awaited secret.

Below are the names of 35 new scholars of the PHSA for School Year 2009-2010.

Astronomo Ziv Crisanto Guysayco Memorial Elementary School Music-Guitar
Barliso Ana Lalaine Heneral Pio del Pilar Elem School Ballet
Bas Christine Angela Maramag Central Elementary School Theater Arts
Buhia Blanche Louise Philippine Normal University Theater Arts
Cantos Gerard Thomas Elizabeth Seton-South Music-Trumpet
Caro Corinne Laguna Bel Air School Visual Arts
Castardo Janene Marie Calumpang Central Elementary School Music-Voice
Conarco Crishelle Dianne Magugpo Pilot Imelda Elementary School Visual Arts
De Guzman Nicko Lourdes School of Quezon City Creative Writing
Del Pilar Zyrha Mae Leyte Normal University-Integrated Lab School Folkdance
Diolazo Justin Ray Dagupan City National High School Folkdance
Dones Andrea Paula Padre Burgos Elementary School Folkdance
Espinosa Jason Baclaran Elementary School Unit II Folkdance
Ganayo Rosseadelle Judee Liceo de Los Baños Creative Writing
Ilagan Dessa Rizalina Miriam College Grade School Theater Arts
Lazaro Maolen St Theresa's College Visual Arts
Ledamo Klyde Francis Bontoc SPED Center Music-Piano
Mendoza Gabriel Art Olangapo City National High School Music-Violin
Mortel Pia Adelie Marikina Catholic School Music-Voice
Navarro Hiraya Milagros Communty of Learners Foundation Creative Writing
Rellon Suzie Dawn Tagum City National High School Folkdance
Renomeron Antoine Karl Tacloban Angelicum Learning Center Visual Arts
Roldan Isaac Ernest Shiloh Learning Center Music-Violin
Salas John Jacob Sagnap Elementary School Theater Arts
Serafin Joshua Education and Training Center School-I Theater Arts
Soroño Abigail Joyce Learning Links Academy Visual Arts
Tangalin Eira Joanne Escuela de Sto. Rosario Ballet
Timogan Frejaneh Bukidnon National High School Visual Arts
Togonon Friane Jade Dadiangas West Central Elem Sch Creative Writing
Tordesillas Jessica Ellice Learning Links Academy Creative Writing
Trance Mary Dianne San Joaquin Elementary School Ballet
Valentino Krystle Dianne Musicnoz United Methodist Church Learning Ctr Theater Arts
Vibar Kysar Von Musicnoz North Central School Folkdance
Vidal Joma Mekira Leen Cabanatuan East Central School Ballet
Zerrudo Anton Ludwig Concepcion Holy Cross College Music-Guitar

From that mystical mountain, watch out for them bringing back the slippery glory of Philippine arts and culture in the same of league with this year's National Artists namely Federico Alcuaz (visual arts); Manuel Conde (cinema); Lazaro Francisco (literature); and Ramon Santos (music) to be honored on June 11 at the Malacanang Palace and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Friends are contributing funds for the chemotherapy of our dear friend, singer Susan Fernandez, who is stricken with cancer. You may also text get-well messages to her at #0917-4043484. For donations, please send to Acccount Name: SUSAN F. MAGNO. Savings Account No.186-3-186-15062-8, Metrobank Kalayaan Branch.

CONSIDER THIS:
A good person is like a lighthouse, it does not ring bells nor fire guns to call attention.
It simply shines.