ShareThis
They walked up the stage with the confidence of Meryl Streep. They emceed with the effortless poise of Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. They acted like Cyrano de Bergerac, Shylock, and Hamlet. They spoke with the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln and Rick Warren.
They were students of Integrated Montessori Center (IMC) in Taguig City, Philippines. As campers in the maiden launch of the English Enrichment Camp (EEC), they put up a Speech and Drama Showcase as their culminating activity at IMC’s Multi-Purpose Hall on May 9, 2014.
About EEC
An intensive three-week training program from April 21 to May 9, the English Enrichment Camp (EEC) was aimed at helping the students become empowered for life as fluent communicators.
The modules offered were Speech and Drama, Emceeing and Public Speaking, Grammar Review, and Journalistic Writing.
The IMC teaching team was composed of Mr. Ray April Bravo, Ms. Maria Jeanelita Jamisola, Mr. Jeffrey D.C. Manarang, Mr. Orlando Cruz Pascual, Ms. Lara Charrise Reyes, and me. I was a teaching partner as well as mentor of the other teachers.
The wonder of team teaching was that each teacher brought with him/her different strengths. Put together, our collective knowledge, skills, and experience made us a formidable team.
About IMC
The Integrated Montessori Center (IMC) is an educational institution founded in 1992 by Mrs. Angeli C. Cadungog in the Jusmag Area, Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila. Today, its main campus is on Diego Silang Street, AFPOVAI, Taguig City.
After 21 years, IMC has evolved into a well-respected leader in Montessori-style education in the National Capital Region. It runs six branches and nurtures students from preschool to high school.
IMC feels like a proud and happy parent because her graduates go to top schools such as the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, and Asia Pacific College.
The success of the English Enrichment Camp and the Speech and Drama Showcase is IMC team work at its best. The IMC Faculty and Middle Managers are a truly collegial group. They readily obliged a requested favor. They gave constructive comments and helpful suggestions. They helped without being asked. They are warm, friendly, and cheerful.
Where does IMC’s team spirit come from? Let this picture give a thousand answers!
The Incredible IMC Team (some of them). (Photo by Teacher Noli Magbalot.)
The ‘Drama’ Before the Showcase
Preparing the student campers, aged six to sixteen, for the Speech and Drama Showcase was not easy. Two Korean campers were in the false beginner and intermediate levels of fluency. Individual issues and ‘dramas’ had to be resolved.
One parent admitted that her daughter had been painfully shy and had to be pushed to join the EEC. Although the young lady spoke fluent English and had a strong, pleasant speaking voice, she trembled at the idea of facing an audience. Another parent said that her child’s self-esteem needed an ‘emergency blood transfusion.’
One student could not make eye contact. Another one always fidgeted and made faces while doing the practice stand-up-and-deliver walk to the front of the classroom.
Some spoke too softly and could not project their voices even with repeated breathing drills. Some spoke with a monotone and a poker face. Some just stood there, too scared to make a gesture. Others had quaint mannerisms to kick.
So we rehearsed, then rehearsed again and again… Finally it was panic time — time for the technical rehearsal.
The Technical Rehearsal It was messy.
We were supposed to follow our emceeing script and the time and motion sequence without cuts. But we, the teachers, could not resist asking the student performers to do it again. And again.
Some of them seemed buoyed up by the novelty of the technical rehearsal and their voices rang loud and clear. But some who had been doing well in class wilted and trembled visibly.
Why?
First, the stage at the IMC Multi-Purpose Hall was long and wide. Measuring about 4 by 10 meters, it was huge compared to the low platform in the classroom which was a tiny 1 by 3 meter box.
Second, there were four lapel microphones, four wireless mikes, and two boom mikes with stand. Having never practiced with mikes, the students did not know how to handle them during the technical rehearsal.
Third, when I went up the stage myself at one point, I noticed the blinding stage lights mounted on the ceiling. I sensed the immensity of the stage, the vastness of the empty hall that would be filled with hundreds of guests the next day, and the terrifying thought of forgetting one’s lines.
If I could feel the intimidating ambience of the technical rehearsal, what more the young performers? I knew in my heart that it was time to pray fervently for each one of them.
The Speech and Drama Showcase
The stage backdrop at the IMC Multi-Purpose Hall. (This and succeeding photos by Angelou dela Rosa.)
“No, don’t go up the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) till the official call time,” Teacher Noli Magbalot, member of the stage design committee, told me. “It’s a surprise!” he beamed.
At 12 noon, Teacher Jeffrey D.C. Manarang and I climbed seven floors to go up to the MPH. It was a blazing noon day and it was hot and humid. I panted and perspired. But it was worth the climb.
Indeed, the stage design was a delightful surprise. It was a celebration of youth and summer as well as growth and beauty.
Between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m., the kid and teen performers streamed into two air-conditioned dressing rooms accompanied by their personal assistants who carried their costumes and personal props.
By 1:00 p.m., the air-conditioners were turned on in the big hall and guests started coming in. Friendly teacher-ushers welcomed everyone.
At 1:45 p.m., one student reminded me to pray. So all of us in the dressing room formed a circle, held hands, and asked for God’s grace.
Promptly at 2:00 p.m, student Stephanie C. Calugas strode to the emcee’s podium, picked up a wireless microphone with a firm hand, and in a powerful and joyful voice, asked the audience to rise and sing the Philippine National Anthem.
Edwin D. Gumba, Jr., a 10-year old boy, introduced with impeccable composure the School Director, Teacher Angie C. Cadungog,
who gave the welcome remarks.
Nicole Mariane M. Sapitula, 8 years old, declared in a strong and compelling voice, “Let the Speech and Drama Showcase begin!”
Four little girls – (from left) Galathea V. Bautista, Samantha Nicole Franco, Lindsay Angela F. Azura, and Riz Althea Buen, – performed a cute and entertaining jazz chant entitled, “I Went to Costa Rica.”
Kim Seung Yeon, as the rabbit, and Riz Althea Buen, as the turtle, taunted each other at first. In the end, they both declared that they will run, not for a prize, but for honor and glory.
Kyle Arrvy Torres, an awkward tweener in the classroom, won the audience with his handsome attire and skillful interpretation of Cyrano de Bergerac’s humorous monologue poking fun at his cucumber-sized nose.
Clad in a business suit, Patricia Alana C. Rivera, a nine-year old would-be lawyer, delivered a speech against bullying. Knowing how she struggled to overcome audience anxiety in the classroom, the teaching team marveled at her perfect posture, graceful gestures, and quiet confidence.
I can go on and on, but this column has a space limit.
All the showcase performers broke through their cocoons and flapped their wings, no matter how tentatively during the actual showcase.
It was a showcase, not a contest. Admittedly, some performers did better than the others. But knowing each student camper’s entry level skill and confidence, we the teaching team felt proud of everyone.
Most of all, we felt grateful that they finished the race and completed the run, not for any prize, but for that elusive life-empowering currency – self-confidence.