Around 60 young residents from low-income households in various parts of the Bicol Region took part in a workshop that allowed them to explore their innate creativity.
Aldrin Belisario, one of the organizers of the three-day Dawani Project in Barangay Sogod, Bacacay, Albay, said their goal was twofold.
"Una po ay yung gustong matuto, at pangalawa po hinahanap po namin yung artist na wala pong machinery or wala pong kakayahan na mapalago yung kanilang creativity, sila po usually yung mga teens [o] mga kabataan na galing po sa low income households," he said.
Held from July 21 to 23, 2024 the camp focused on key areas such as songwriting, dancing, playwriting, and visual arts.
"First time ko na mag-perform gamit yung gawa kong kanta, and of course nabigyan din ng platform yung ibang artists para maishare yung gawa nila," Trisha, a participant, said.
The Dawani Creative Camp, co-presented by Sining Banwa PH and the Provincial Government of Albay under Governor Grex Lagman, was a collaborative effort supported by numerous sponsors and benefactors through the "Adopt an Artist" initiative.
CAMP
On July 21, participants from various parts of the Bicol Region, including Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate, gathered to begin their intensive classes. The focus was on "breaking barriers" and emphasizing the importance of collaboration.
On July 22, the campers were introduced to their headline mentors:
- OPM luminary, Gary Granada, for songwriting,
- Direk Monster and Mario for film,
- Dingdong Novenario, the playwright of “Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical” for playwriting,
- Jobert Lachica for dance; and,
- Tof Zapanta for visual and digital arts.
The day was filled with lessons on techniques, foundations, tips, and personal consultations. Campers worked on their pieces for the upcoming recital.
On July 23, the campers polished and rehearsed their outputs, receiving final tips and critiques from their mentors. The day culminated in a recital showcasing their hard work.
The recital included an art exhibit and stage design from the visual and digital arts class, three different choreographies from the dance class, two plays presented through a moving stage reading from the playwriting class, two short films from the film class, and eight musical performances from the songwriting class.
“It's the recital for me [that is the most memorable], during the last day of the camp. It's where the campers showcased the fruits of their three-day workshop with the mentors. It's memorable for me [because] this is the first time that [the] Dawani opened the playwriting category, thus the first time also that we have a staged reading at the recital,” Jobert Grey, a Junior Mentor, said.
Notable attendees included representatives from the office of the governor, parents, neighbors, artists, enthusiasts, and Dawani alums.
The camp's success was attributed to the support of the Provincial Government of Albay, the host barangay and various sponsors and individuals who contributed to the project.
The Dawani Project and Sining Banwa PH collaboration highlighted the potential of young artists in the Bicol Region and aimed to create a sustainable creative industry.
The organization hopes to find more opportunities in the future to create more workshops and continue nurturing young Bicolano talents.
“Hopefully, we'll have a much wider support next year, so we can better prepare. The turnout of this year's audition is double our last. It would be nice if we can cater more campers next time,” Andrea Karlsan Zapanta, the Vice President and Creative Director of the Dawani Project, said.
The Dawani Project is a non-profit organization that supports and develops young creatives in the Bicol region.
(with reports from GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia)
