Philippine High School for the Arts Online!

Gifted tweeners and teenagers, all 119 of them, were invited to take part but 99 sent back their Reply Form.

By May 18, only 73 were physically present in the biggest arts event in Mt. Makiling, Laguna.

Twelve are creative writers, eight are ballet dancers, sixteen are folk dancers, eleven are musicians, nine are theater artists, and seventeen are visual artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
For four days, they lived the life of reality television contestants.

“No, this is not Bahay ni Tata,” PHSA Director Fernando “Nanding” Josef explained, “but Tayo na sa Makiling or the second phase of adjudication activities for PHSA scholarship hopefuls after more than a 100 participants were screened during the 2009 Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS) held in sixteen Regional Audition Centers (RAC).”

In PHSA history, it is only recently that it is able to offer unique type of training program facilitated by PHSA’s resident teachers like Cecilia Martinez (Psychoeducational), Victor Ursabia (Classical Ballet), Emma Izon (Filipino Language), Marza Palentino (English Language), Ernestina de Guzman (Theater Arts), Frances Niduaza (Music), Karla Diño (Music ), Gerardo Leonardo (Visual Arts), Marc Vincent Cosico (Visual Arts), Robert Stephen Biadoma (Philippine Folk Dance), and Victor Flor (Philippine Folk Dance), to name a few.

We, as guest artist/educator, conducted workshops, or should we say playshops, in poetry and prose that were graded!

Aside from further assessing skills (or proficiency in at least three literary genres; excellent command of English and Filipino; wide vocabulary), their motivation (or the enthusiasm, focus, and perseverance) as well as creativity (or expressiveness, originality, fluency, and flexibility) were measured through such writing.

There were sessions, too, on time management, study and library skills, dormitory living, nature walks, and talks on such topics as Psychology of Artistically Gifted Filipino Children by Dr Erlinda Camara.

At the end of the day, the main aim of Tayo na sa Makiling is to identify the most eligible aspirants who are entitled to full Special Secondary Education scholarship for the School Year 2009-2010 which includes, free dormitory accommodation, free meals, and a monthly stipend.

On the other hand, those who will not qualify will be placed in the Waitlist Category as probable replacements for those who will eventually decide not to accept the scholarship award.

And for the parents and legal guardians accompanying the participants – a separate orientation on School Mandate, Scholarship Agreement, Manual for Scholars, Academic Support and Behavior Management Programs, Foster Care and Family Programs, and other support mechanisms was be given.

As Advisory Council member, we approved as early as July 2008 of the ANSYAS team’s plan that would allow PHSA scholarship applicants to have their artistic ability screened preliminarily by alternative means via submission of a DVD/VCD of performances or portfolio of works while the usual means of auditioning live at a RAC remains unchanged.

However, feeling the need to have an event that would gather all applicants shortlisted from both means for more individualized and in-depth assessments, Mr. Wong, the ANSYAS head, volunteered his vision: “There should be an array of fun-filled learning experiences, art workshops, educational tour, psychoeducational assessment, and physical acculturation sessions, all aimed at introducing the young artists to life amidst the forest of Mt. Makiling and to living in a boarding school away from families and the bustles of city life.”

Eventually, after fulfilling the historic PHSA’s dream project, Mr. Josef has this say: “On the one hand, it has given the participants the opportunity to get acquainted with other children who, like them, are inclined towards the arts and have dreams of becoming a PHSA scholar someday. On the other hand, the parents of applicants have come to know the culture of the school face-to-face, enabling them to make informed decision on the impending separation between them and their child who has the chance to make it to the roster of PHSA scholars. On the part of the PHSA teachers, Tayo na sa Makiling has afforded them the occasion to get acquainted with would-be scholars of the school up close and personal and choose the ones most artistically talented, psychologically fit, and internally driven to pursue art as a course of study in high school on the strength of the assessment results.”

Last May 22, after a halfday of discussions and debates, not necessarily heated, the registrar revealed its most-awaited secret.

From that mystical mountain, watch out for them bringing back the slippery glory of Philippine arts and culture in the same of league with this year’s National Artists namely Federico Alcuaz (visual arts); Manuel Conde (cinema); Lazaro Francisco (literature); and Ramon Santos (music) to be honored on June 11 at the Malacanang Palace and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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Source URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/206257/tayo-na-sa-makiling
Copyright 2009. Manila Bulletin | All Rights Reserved

Batch 1994 graduates of Class Hernandez-Legaspi has been working with the PHSA Ibarang Alumni Association to put up a fundraising concert in behalf of class members Christine Ely Nuevo-Diego (Creative Writing) and Juanito Torres’ (Visual Arts) baby girl. The amount that will be raised will help cover the costs of their hospitalization and medication.

The fundraising concert entitled MP3: Musikang Pinoy Plus, Palabas! will be held at the Philamlife Theater along UN Ave., Ermita, Manila on October 26, Sunday, at 3:00 p.m. It's an afternoon showcase of kundiman tunes, classic Pinoy movie themes and major compositions by Filipino masters, with shadowplay by the ANINO Shadowplay Collective.

Violin virtuoso Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata and cellist Renato Lucas, mentors to several PHSA violin and cello scholars, topbill the show. A special participation from soprano Alexis Edralin, herself in remission from acute myelogenous leukemia is expected.

Other featured artists are Segundo Vasquez (guitar), Conrad Dondi Ong (tenor) and PHSA alumni Naomi Sison (soprano) and Gemma Malicdem (piano), Abelardo-Amorosolo '81, Harold Galang (piano), Ocampo '85, Miguel Castro (piano) and Jonathan Arevalo Coo (piano), Hidalgo '92, GJ Herman Gomez (flute), Abueva '96, and from the ANINO Shadowplay Collective, Don Salubayba, Avellana-Brocka '95, Datu Arellano, Bukaneg-San Pedro '98, and Laya Roman, Edades-Fuentes '99.

All of the abovenamed artists have agreed to waive their fees to perform for this cause.

Tickets to the benefit concert are at P800 and P500 for orchestra and loge seats, respectively. First come, first served within designated sections. Student prices are at P600 and P300. For ticket inquiries and reservations, contact 09228226501 (Hazel), 09193671910 (Wilford), 09153097123 (Kim) or e-mail mp3benefit@gmail.com

In order to reach a much wider audience, Philippine High School for the Arts launches La Danza Filipiniana: Glimpses of Selected Philippine Folk Dances and Music on VCD format. Originally, La Danza is an instructional album in DVD format and comes in two volumes. The album was produced, manufactured, and distributed by Tech to Sound Records Trade International in Makati in collaboration with the PHSA.

Both albums are now on sale at the PHSA library. For enquiries, please contact Ms Helen Jimena at phsa@laguna.net.

The PHSA administration continues to upgrade the facilities and equipment used by the students, teachers, and staff in the dormitory and school area before CY2008 ends. This was confirmed by Budget Officer Lilibeth A Carbos who also estimated the purchases at P2.5M. The funds will be sourced from the school's allotment from the government for FY2008.

PHSA ballet scholars Jeiel Hernandez, IV; Luis Cabrera, IV; Erl Sorilla, IV; Abbey Carlos, IV; Aizel Dolom, III; Ella Dator, III; and Sam Barangan, II, have all made it to the audition for Ballet Philippines' production of Coppelia held at the CCP on October 3, 2008.

Other details are still unavailable as at this news release. Congratulations to all of them!

Pottery, Computer Graphics classes exhibit recent works

Visiting Master Teacher Hadrian Mendoza has announced the opening of the pottery exhibition by Visual Arts scholars from the I and II levels this October 16, 2008. The exhibit will feature large works created by his students this First Semester of SY2008-09.

Fresh from their 7-day exchange grant experiences at the Fukuoka Museum of Art in Japan, Visual Arts resident instructor Marc Cosico and five Junior Visual Arts scholars, together with the rest of the members of Computer Graphics class this First Semester of SY2008-09 will also exhibit their recent explorations in digital and computer animation on October 16, 2008.

The venue for both exhibitions will be announced later. Everyone is invited. Admission is free.

Folkdance scholars perform at Techno Fest

Folkdance scholars from the I and II levels will render a special dance number on the occasion of the Field Day and Techno Festival of the Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Banos on 10 October 2008 at 8am. They will delight their audience with their rendition of Arco de Pañao and Jota Ybanag choroegraphed by Mr Victor L Flor, resident dance instructor.

The PHSA Facilites Unit has on Tuesday, 30 September, succesfully installed a 50 kva generator set in the school area at a cost of P1.5M. The facility will ease the burden experienced by teachers, students, and nonteaching personnel everytime power failure occurs due to inclement weather in Makiling or maintenance. The genset automatically switches on in case of a power failure bringing electricity to the entire school area, including the music rehearsal cabins and all offices. From now on, classes will go on unhampered by power shutdown or failure.

Another genset will be installed soon at the Vargas Area to supply electricity to the Visual Arts and Folkdance studios.

In related development, the PHSA administration has also succesfully replaced the old and obsolete XLPE cable system that conveys electricity in the dormitory area. The project was undertaken at a cost of P250,000.00 to improve power supply in the area.

Mrs Corazon I Lapitan, SC Moderator and Iza Borlaza, III, and Miguel delos Santos, III, SC President and Sports Coordinator, respectively, will participate in the First National Student Leaders Congress in Iloilo City on September 25 to 28, 2008. The theme of the congress is "Student Leaders: Taking the Front Line in Responsibility".

Choreographed by PHSA Alumna (Batch 1994-Ballet) Ma Veronique C Duma-Berdin, the Aquinas University of Legazpi (AUL) Dance Troupe performs "ABAKA" at the NAC Theater, Philippine High School for the Arts at 10am on 18 September 2008. Abaka is the Aquinas University's Center for Culture and the Arts entry to Lusong-Gapasan: Luzon Theater Festival to be held at U.P. Los Baños Umali Hall on 16-18 September 2008.

The PHSA Student Council will spearhead the Palarong Ibarang 2008 slated on October 9-16, 2008 at the NAC Theater. Aimed at uniting the members of the PHSA community through sports diplomacy, the yearly event will be participated in by parents, teachers, and nonteaching and agency-hired personnel of the school.

Five students namely, Genavee A. Lazaro, Maria Monika A. Gamaro, Jasmin T. Gonzales, Jeanne Arielle E. Rodriguez and Maria Angela C. Simbajon together with their Visual Arts teacher Mr. Marc Vincent P. Cosico, was invited to the FUKUOKA ASIAN ART MUSEUM (FAAM) OUTREACH FOR TEACHERS and STUDENTS 2008. They will embark on a 7-day educational exchange program which includes an educational tour, community service, arts workshops and training at the FUKUOKA ASIAN ART MUSEUM, Fukuoka Japan from August 20-26, 2008.

The Department of Education has chosen the Philippine High School for the Arts to organize the 1st Sining Pambansa Festival which will be held in Baguio City from February 28 to March 1, 2008. To be participated in by sixteen (16) Special Program for the Arts (SPA) schools in the country, the festival will showcase the best of what the SPA schools have produced in the eight years of operation of the special DepED program.

Also featured in the 3-day celebration are select students of the Mandaue City School for the Arts and the Philippine High School for the Arts.

While in Singapore for the Art and Cultural Education Exchange Program with Regent Secondary School from 3 to 12 July 2008, Assistant Director Reynaldo O. Wong toured the Singapore Polytechnic's Digital Animation Studio, Digital Music Studio, and Applied Drama and Psychology Departments. Director Wong's visit was arranged by Regent Secondary School's Mohana Ratnam and was aimed at informing the PHSA on how Singapore Polytechnic combines arts and technology in today's creative economy boom.

In recognition of their contribution to Philippine education that led to the birth of the Baguio Teachers’ Camp (BTC), the Department of Education (DepEd) held a “Tribute to the Thomasites”. This is one of the centennial activities of BTC, which marks 2008 as its 100th year. The county’s public school system owes much to the Thomasites – young idealistic American teachers --who came in waves in 1901 to introduce the American brand of education to Filipinos emerging from the shadow of centuries of Spanish colonization. The event today was highlighted by a reenactment of BTC’s Foundation at the BTC Grounds with performances by the students of Baguio City National High School and the Philippine High School for the Arts.

PHSA director, educators train MAPEH and MSEP teachers in DepED's Division of Aklan

PHSA Assistant Director Reynaldo O Wong, together with Ms Yanna V Acosta (Creative Writing), Ms Catherine Racsag (Theater Arts), Mr Marc Vincent P Cosico (Visual Arts), Ms Frances Niduaza (Music), and Mr Victor L Flor (Dance), trained a total of 180 MSEP and MAPEH teachers in the DepED Division of Aklan in Kalibo last May 13 to 17, 2008.

The training programs zeroed in on arts and culture pedagogy for teachers and were made possible upon the invitation of Superintendent Dr Victorina Lariosa of the DepED Region VI Division of Aklan.

Philippine High School for the Arts proudly presents La Danza Filipiniana: Glimpses of Selected Philippine Folk Dances and Music to the public. La Danza is an instructional album in DVD format and comes in two volumes. The album was produced, manufactured, and distributed by Tech to Sound Records Trade International in Makati in collaboration with the PHSA.

Twenty seven Sanghiyas Pangkat Mananayaw members participated in the production with Mr Victor L. Flor as the choreographer and Director Rey Wong as production manager.

The album is now on sale at the PHSA library. For enquiries, please contact Ms Helen Jimena at 09185013574 or email phsa@laguna.net.

Principal Rebecca Chew of the newly-established Singapore School of the Arts (SOTA) visited the PHSA on 18 to 20 August 2008. SOTA is Singapore's first national pre-tertiary specialised arts school to offer a 6-year curriculum for youths aged 13-18 years of age. Ms Rebecca Chew was accompanied by Director for Corporate Planning and Services, Mr Roland Tan and Head of Dance, Ms Cheah Mei Sing.

PHSA and SOTA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to jumpstart the cooperation between the two arts schools in the following areas:

Project Philippines aspires to bring six (6) dancers from the Juilliard School of Dance in New York City to the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) to provide dance education for PHSA students. The collaborative program includes participation in PHSA dance classes as well as providing PHSA dance scholars with in-depth contemporary dance technique workshops. Project Philippines also aims to expose the students of PHSA to contemporary dance and movement through free accessible arts education. This involves interactive dance lessons and improvisation approaches as means to self-expression. The project takes place from 22 July to 02 August 2008.

The PAMANA ng Luzviminda Philippine Folkloric Dance Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to the propagation and showcasing of the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines in North America. In its three years of existence, PAMANA has quickly earned acclaim from Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike in Canada and the United States. To experience first hand what the fore parents of PAMANA members have been trying to pass on to their children, PAMANA has organized a return to the land of their ancestors.

The members, comprised mostly of youth, are even more excited to share what they know about performing arts within the context of their beloved heritage. They are so eager to meet and learn from fellow youths of the Philippine High School for the Arts who have dedicated themselves to developing excellence with their discipline. Through a letter of request, PAMANA appealed for formal assistance from the Philippine High School for the Arts and the Philippine High School for the Arts Employees Association in behalf of its 61 members who will travel to the Philippines from July 17, 2008 to July 23, 2008.

Specifically, PAMANA has sought assistance in regard transport, interaction, meals, and technical and stage production assistance. PAMANA has expressed interest to share their skills and interact wit the students of the Philippine High School for the Arts and stage a production for free with the proceeds going to the Philippine High School for the Arts and the Philippine High School for the Arts Employees Association.

It is envisioned that this journey to the PHSA would be a means to represent Canada on the international stage, as well as afford PAMANA members the opportunity to enrich themselves with the knowledge and experience on Filipino traditions and culture that it so passionately endeavours to preserve and share with the rest of the Filipinos residing in North America thru the help of the Philippine High School for the Arts.

The 32-strong PHSA delegation is back from its 10-day journey to the Lion City - Singapore. The group's itinerary in Singapore included performances at the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Center for the Cultural Night hosted by the Regent Secondary School (RGT) and the Crescent Girls School where PHSA scholars performed a dance-drama of the Ramayana (The Abduction of Sita) for the 2008 National Literature Festival. The delegation also interacted with their counterparts at the Singapore School for the Arts, watched a concert by the Anglo-Chinese Junior College Chorale at the Esplanade Concert Hall and rode the world's largest observation wheel - the Singapore Flyer! The entourage also toured the Singapore Polytechnic, the Alapana Indian Fine Arts School, Sentosa Island, Bukit Chandu, Vivo City, Night Safari, Singapore Zoo, and Singapore's School of the Future - Jurong Secondary School.

PHSA has acquired a brand new 15-seater van to augment the school's transport capability. It was delivered last Friday, April 4 by Nissan Alabang. Up and coming are a brand new motorcycle, a 50-Kv generator set for the entire academic area, a 15-Kv generator set for the entire Vargas area, and a brand new engine for Hino bus. The two coasters are undergoing major repair.