To have an open exchange of ideas, information, and ways of life with students in the Philippines. Through free accessible arts education we will conduct interactive classes, interdisciplinary performances, and create new works as a means to self-expression.
Goals and Benefits
For our students:
- Expose young children to dance/music/visual arts through free and accessible arts classes and workshops.
- Empower self-confidence within the children and teenagers by teaching to express individuality through learned artistic outlets.
- Produce performance programming in communities.
As teachers:
- Share, network/collaborate with other Filipino Artists, specifically in Manila.
- Develop our own artistic skills as future teachers.
For the future:
- Leave traces of inspiration and our shared knowledge with the communities.
- Motivate both American and Filipino students to pursue outreach programs, with benefits to spread a constructive perspective on the arts.
- Annual outreach; ex: book drive program, raise money and supplies for children in need.
- Blog/Website; create a source for online communication and strengthening relationships.
Why bring dance, music and visual arts to the Philippines?
Due to the poor Philippine economy, many Filipino households are trying so hard to translate their hard-earned money into filling meals for their huge families. The average Filipino cannot afford to pay for arts education or to spend money to see in-theatre performances.
Due to lack of arts education, children in the Philippines need various ways to express themselves in order to provide them with self-confidence. We believe dance, music and visual arts would help heighten his or her senses to their body in relation to their emotions and surroundings.
The common Filipino is not exposed to contemporary dance, nor do they know of its existence. Dance is only known through the traditional Filipino Folk dances, commercials, and television shows.
Catarman
Catarman
The contemporary dance movement and improvisation has yet to reach Catarman, Northern Samar. They have neither dance educators nor accessible performing arts facilities working consistently in their community.Among the few contemporary dance and ballet companies in Manila City, none ever tour in Catarman; thus having no connection between performers in Manila and Catarman.
There are hardly ever live music performances. If there are they certainly do not include and oboe or clarinet. We believe that including these instruments will be important for the students to broaden their understanding of music.
Quoted from Project Philippines contact through Catarman, Chris Bech,(Project Philippines sponsor) “minors in Catarman are left home alone while parents are away” (also referred to as a “latchkey” child), and “spend their after school time on the streets.” By providing accessible arts education, we strive to empower the confidence and the full potential of talent that these children are capable of achieving.
Manila
Manila
Although arts education is more available in Manila and there are more prominent artists residing there, the prominent artist struggles to survive and support his or her family. According to Filipino dance journalist, Basilio Esteban S. Villaruz: “many Filipino artists, dancers and musicians, divide their time between legitimate work and what they call ‘racket’ as part of ‘surviving.’ But in the process they compromise their total work as artists. Their multiplicity of commitments that keeps them busy making money sidetracks them from their original vision, away from their dreams for which some had to defy parents and friends.”
Los Baños
Los Baños
As a former graduate student of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), Kendra Samson discovered that only a few students of the High School pursue their careers as artists. The performing artists need a boost of inspiration and self-confidence to recognize their full potential to persevere and become responsible influential citizens of society through a career in art.