In a time when hope is lost for peace, young people’s gifts and potentials are counted on to turn the tides and ignite action towards creating a better and habitable world. In response to this challenge, UNESCO Club of Metro Manila (UCMM) through the assistance of UNESCO Club of Lyceum, launched yet another innovative program to communicate peace and hope to communities in and outside Metro Manila through its Puppet for Peace Program. The program aims to involve young people in a pro-active campaign for co-existence, tolerance and creation of a culture of peace in communities combating the wars of poverty, hunger, sickness, violence and family break-ups.
The team composed of eleven (11) committed young individuals headed by UCMM’s Director General Frederick B. Epistola and Youth without Barriers Movement‘s Chairperson Rea J. Uy. The rest of the team, or Puppeteers as they are called, come from Lyceum of the Philippines. Here are the accounts of three Puppeteers, relaying their experiences during the Puppet for Peace Caravan.
FROM JASMINE’S JOURNAL
I never knew it would be possible to teach peace to children. But given the opportunity to do so, I never had second thoughts joining UCMM’s program when they first opened the Puppet for Peace team’s membership to our Club. And the rest is history. The next two weeks was my most hectic as we went through a blur of activities what with the writing of the script for the show, making of the puppets and countless rehearsals after every class, and all these while we were in our midterms week!
The team went to Baranggay 52, Zone 7, Quezon City and with the indulgence of Baranggay Captain Ruben Abello and his wife Dr. Asuncion Abello, we made our debut presentation. Not minding at all the scorching heat of the sun over our heads and that we were only using characters on sticks and a makeshift stage to boot, we gave our all in entertaining the hundred or so children who trooped to the Baranggay Hall for the puppet show. We ended the program with gift giving and short interaction with the kids. They were all smiles asking for a repeat performance from the puppeteers. Too bad, we had to head back to school for our class.
On our way back to school, I can see the fulfillment on my teammates’ faces albeit tired. I myself never felt happier in my life. Through this project, I realized that I have done something to make peace happen in the hearts and lives of those children at Baranggay 52, something I never thought I can do in this lifetime.
FROM JADE’S JOURNAL
My past stints with UNESCO Club of Metro Manila did not prepare me for the adventure during the Puppet for Peace Caravan. First, the program had no working budget, thus we pulled our resources in order to create decent puppets and present an educational and cultural puppet show for kids in depressed areas in Metro Manila. Second, most of the puppeteers were still in school so we tried our best to fit rehearsals in our academic calendar. Finally, our parents had not been too happy with our frequent no-show in our house except when we were asking for baon during our Saturday puppet shows.
Fortunately for the team, and following a successful debut presentation at Quezon City, Save the Children Federation – U.S., an international NGO, invited the Puppet for Peace team to be its partner in the conduct of one of its programs for sponsored children in the primary level. Eventually, the Puppet for Peace Program was adapted and integrated in their module. Such integration made it possible for the Puppet for Peace team to get a formal training on script-writing, puppet-making and performing, which was provided by UNESCO Club of Metro Manila; to create bigger and more presentable puppets; as well as to receive subsidy for our transportation and meal expenses during puppet shows. This time too, we were able to cater to a bigger number of kids, reaching to about 2,000 in five communities in Parañaque City. In each of our show, there was always the apprehension that what we wanted to convey would not be absorbed by the kids but I think the beauty about puppet shows is that such medium can work the edge between entertainment and information. We puppets were used to communicate the message while the children are having fun and at the same time learning.
So, UNESCO Club of Metro Manila, thank you for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. I know that in joining the team I have touched the lives of kids who were just faces to me at the start of every puppet show but became a part of my being at every encore.
FROM REA’S JOURNAL
Next to Davao City, I consider Baguio City close to my heart. Thus, when the Puppet for Peace team got an invitation from SK Federation President Leonardo Bayan of Baguio City to conduct a puppet show at his hometown, I never had second thoughts in accepting the same. After all, this is the first time we will take our puppet show outside Metro Manila!
After two weeks of preparation, the eleven of us set for Baguio aboard Victory Liner 496. We arrived at 5:30 in the morning and were billeted at Pine Breeze which very much resembled the Pinoy Big Brother House. Since the puppet show was scheduled the next day, we first proceeded with the cultural tour prepared for us by youth leaders of Baguio City. We had a great time visiting Mine’s View Park, The Mansion, PMA Compound, and Camp John Hay. More interesting than the places we saw was the fact that our tour guides were young people like us, who were knowledgeable of their heritage. Finally, we made a raid for their local market were we literally shopped until we dropped, and this while in the midst of a heavy downpour! Perhaps as punishment for our overindulgence, Erick had us rehearse six times, which of course we didn’t mind as long as we were given time to tuck away our pasalubongs.
On the big day, we started our day early. We ate our breakfast, which by the way was as superb as the rest of the meals prepared for us, then had a last minute run through of the performance. After the practice we shopped for prizes and candies for the loot bags. We proceeded to the venue two hours early to set up the stage. And as the minute drew closer, the auditorium started to fill up with kids and adults alike, all wearing eager and excited expressions. Finally, Bitong and Bebang (our main characters) made its entrance, accompanied by wild cheers from the crowd. And the show began!
The show lasted for two hours, including the intervals for games and interaction of the kids with the puppets. Many signed up for the puppet-making workshop which was the follow-up activity of the Sanggunian Kabataan Federation of Baguio. Everyone had a good time and the puppeteers received much applause especially when they were introduced to the crowd as well as the characters they played.
After the show, while the adrenaline level was still high, the group went yet to another tour, this time braving the famous Diplomat Hotel which was rumored to be haunted by elementals and evil spirits. While inside the ruins of Diplomat, two of our puppeteers complained of lightheadedness so we immediately left the place. Instead of waiting until the fog cleared up, we walked the narrow road down. Perhaps, to wash off the negative energy which clung to the group after leaving Diplomat Hotel, we hiked another one hundred fifty steps going to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto.
After the adventure and misadventure, the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Baguio City invited us all for a dinner hosted by the federation. In return and to cap the night off, we invited the SK youth leaders who were with us to our "house" where we spent the night exchanging stories, laughter and numbers.
On our way back to Manila, despite lack of sleep, the puppeteers were non-stop in sharing their own experiences in Baguio. Although, most of us had to go directly to school to attend our class or our scheduled commitments, we didn’t mind the exhaustion of the travel and of the previous day’s activities. In our hearts we knew that not only did we share with the children a part of ourselves but also imparted to them the goal of UNESCO and the entire human race, which is to celebrate diversity and advocate tolerance and understanding.
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