A minimalistic set, just some benches, and lights. That’s how this musical was presented.
I was adamant to watch this performance. It had been a long day for me, we accompanied a family friend to an out of town location and got back after lunch. We had an activity in town that we had to attend to at 3pm and it ended around 5:30pm, the musical was slated to begin at 6pm. A tight schedule indeed. We got to the show at the Philam Life Theater along U.N. Avenue in Manila shortly before the performance started.
The play/musical is based on the story of the lives of Gawad Kalinga’s beneficiaries. Tony Meloto, GK’s Executive Director, gave the opening remarks and then gave the floor to a GK beneficiary Josan Reyes. Josan, part of the group that organized the musical, was a former delinquent turned university professor—proving once again that change is possible. Josan tells his story and how, at the age of fifteen, he met GK. Meeting GK turned his life around. He and his friends now also form part of the GK group.
Before watching this show, my only information about GK was that they built houses for the poor. I knew that in my university, some students had gone to volunteer for a GK village, but nothing more than that. Before the musical started, there was a short video of what GK had done so far and where those locations were. The evening was definitely an eye opener.
It wasn’t a Lea Salonga’s concert or anything like High School Musical. The performers weren’t professionals, but they were special. Their performance had a charm that brought tears to the audience. They were children, some now teens and adults, raised in GK. It was something out of a telenovela, but played out in a little more than 2 hours.
I had wanted to post the Gawad Kalinga song here, but I was abit slow to get a recording of the last song of the show. To know more about the history of this musical and what GK does, visit Gawad Kalinga ’s site.
A Call for Heroes. Volunteers and sponsors are always needed. Check out Gawad Kalinga’s site for more information on how you can be a local hero. Nothing of the sort that’s shown on NBC, but it will surely be worthwhile.
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