“Sabaybayan,” an original musical play featuring 70 students of The Child’s World – A Growing Center, Inc., will be presented at Areté Theater of the Ateneo de Manila University on January 14, 2024 (Sunday) at 3 pm and 7 pm. The cast is composed of young individuals with different abilities who will sing and dance to tell the tale of two adventurous siblings who encounter Filipino folklore characters.
Collaborating with The Child’s World on this endeavor are theater community Eksena PH and the Ateneo Special Education Society (SPEED). Eksena PH Founder and CEO Karl Alexis Jingco directs from a libretto by Aldrich Alcantara, with original music composed by Barbie N. Dumlao.
Established in 1982, The Child’s World (TCW) is a school with a dedicated program to help individuals with different abilities cope and integrate into mainstream society.
At present, TCW teaches and nurtures 70 students (children and young adults) who have special needs such as autism, mental retardation, Down’s syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
TCW produces plays to provide a creative avenue for the students. In an interview, The Child’s World Co-Founder and Directress Ms. Evelina Tan explained, “We found out that when the students do come up on stage, they think it’s play. But actually, they are doing so much more.
They get to communicate. They get to move. They get to develop discipline. They socialize. They are happy. The stage play brings out the best in the students.”
“Sabaybayan” is TCW’s first production after the pandemic, and it is doubly significant, as proceeds from ticket sales will go to building a permanent home for the individuals with different abilities.
