THEATER PROJECT TAKING SHAPE

Monday, 9 January

Met with the selected participants for a briefing on the proposed dance-drama presentation at 2 pm Monday. The meeting was held at the Buenavista National High School where we had chosen 25 students (15 girls, 10 boys), mostly 3rd year students. The briefing was done in the presence of other students equal in number who also came to observe.

Earlier in the day, the school principal who was known to Ian expressed all support to the project but cautioned that it would be best to also get the support of the parents of those who would pass the audition. She called in a male teacher for the purpose of listing down the names of prospects since he had familiarity with the students and knew who had potential as performers.

Upon learning this, he asked a curious question thus: "What will the students get in return since they will provide their services to you?" It was in complete contrast to the school principal's statement earlier in the day: "We have always wished to have such a theater group in our school or training for teachers, but we do not have enough resources. In fact, it is very seldom that we are able to send our teachers to Manila to attend similar activities organized by the Cultural Center as an example for lack of funds..."

I was quite direct in my answer to the assistant: "No, we are the ones providing our services free of charge..."

The students were told that there would be rehearsals after school and that they should themselves talk it out with their parents. Some of those selected came from barangays quite a distance from the town center like Timbo and Daykitin.
In the middle of the briefing Ian excused himself to attend a municipal meeting on the town fiesta. For the first time he showed signs of nervousness.

Only 11 made it to the first rehearsal meeting at 6 pm. Ian and I scheduled new auditions on the next day at the Marinduque Victorians College. But by this time other things seemed to move in our favor. The municipal government had agreed to construct the stage design we would require, it would make representations with the provincial government to borrow the mobile stage lights used during cultural presentations, it would request pangulong (fishing boat) owners to provide food for the cast and production staff after the presentation. The presentation was moved to 19 January, the fiesta day itself since there would be an all-barangay dance on the eve of the fiesta. The mayor also stated willingness to sponsor a streamer to help promote our activity. The distict supervisor who was also present in that meeting expressed interest to support any future project that we might have.

Ian reported that during the municipal meeting, the mayor also made a curious remark: "We had problems with a previous similar project with another group...we were not able to liquidate a considerable amount of funds... later learned that similar funds were actually received by the proponent from NCCA..."