Young Mandauehanons make waves abroad

Though he was not at all born well off, Jay Marc Garcia, who is blessed with above-average artistic skills, plus a promising voice that with proper training and guidance can challenge world-class sopranos, has proven that his God-given talents could bring him to greater heights.

The 13-year-old boy awed the members of the media in a press conference for the Mandaue City School for the Arts held recently at the Mandaue City Hall with a Josh Groban song number and tales of adventures he and fellow students at the only existing school for arts development in the country experienced during their first-ever trip abroad as the city's goodwill ambassadors.

A son of ordinary working class folks, the 13-year-old lad is just one of the many gifted students from the Mandaue City School for the Arts. Jay Marc, whose talents were honed and developed by the school for almost seven years now, plays the piano, violin and the double base for the rondalla group and has been a consistent soloist for his distinct soprano vocal range. He shared that his rigorous training from the school and exposure to theater arts has stirred a passion in him to play his part in promoting the rich culture of our country.

The Mandaue City School for the Arts was established eight years ago in 1998; a project that was started by former Mayor Alfredo Ouano and continued by Mayor Thadeo Ouano. The first-of-its-kind in the country, it was built to provide underprivileged but talented and deserving students the opportunity to maximize their potentials in both aspects of arts and academics through a dual curriculum, which focuses on academics in the morning and art classes in the afternoons. When it started, it covered elementary education only, but now it has expanded to include secondary level to continue the learning process of the students. The school's fund relies heavily on donations and local government support, hence, students are very carefully selected. There is a strict process of enrolment for incoming students: applicants are screened both in their academic capabilities and aesthetic performance. Regular students are required to maintain 85% average grade every end of school year to be accepted again for the next level.

After one year and six months of rigorous training and constant exposure, a select group of students recently made their first-ever US concert tour were they performed in four different places namely: Fort Collins and Denver in Colorado, Salt Lake City in Utah and Los Angeles in California. And Jay Marc is among the 39 students from the Mandaue City School for the Arts children's choir and dance troupe who entertained and astounded Filipinos and foreigners alike by their impressive repertoire of song and dance performances. These varied from inspirational and religious songs, traditional Philippine folk songs and dances, western songs like Broadway music to popular contemporary hits here in the country.

The tour was adjudged successful since the group received overwhelming reception from spectators who gave them standing ovations every after performance. The children and the rest of the delegates of the tour also attested how warmly they were welcomed by the Filipino communities in the different cities that they visited. Proof was their earnest hospitality when they welcomed the delegates into their homes and when they became foster parents to the kids and entertained them throughout their stay. According to the group's artistic director, Jose Rodrigo Aviles, this was one reason why the children did not feel homesick during the tour's entire duration despite the fact that they have been in the states for almost a month since it started from March 31 until April 23.

Mandaue City Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Lorna Rances, who also headed the delegation, told the press that the tour's main aim was to promote the rich heritage of Mandaue City since "Mandauehanons" have so much to offer in the realm of arts. And because of their topnotch performances, the tour has had several fruitful gains. The Filipino-Americans who watched their show were so deeply moved by the music that called to mind memories of their homeland; and consequently, they expressed their intentions of coming home to the Philippines next year to witness the Mantawi festivities.

There is absolutely no denying that the group has achieved so much for themselves, for their school and for the city that they represented. Aside from their recent success in their US tour, according to Mayor Ouano, they have had reaped several recognitions both on the local and national scale.

In 2004, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, they were hailed as the first prizewinner of the National Music Competition for Young Artists (choir category), which is regarded as the most prestigious competition for fresh talents in the whole country. They were also named by the province of Cebu as "Garbo sa Sugbo (Pride of Cebu)" in December 2004. February of this year, they received the PERLAS Award, the highest honor for performing arts in Cebu. They also had the rare chance to perform onstage with the country's very own internationally acclaimed performing artist Lea Salonga at the Advertising Congress last November 2005.

Overall, the tour made the children experience things like no other. But not only were they lucky to be able to go abroad, visit Disneyland and enjoy playing with snow; but it made them realize how very fortunate they have been to be given chance to make the most of their individual abilities. And like every student at the Mandaue School for the Arts, Jay Marc also feels utterly blessed and thankful to his beloved institution for opening the doors to a brighter future for him.

After the tour, Jay Marc was offered a full scholarship grant from his foster parent, Frances Campbell, who also sits as the president of the Filipino-American Community of Colorado. Campbell was thoroughly impressed by his achievements both in the academics and the arts. Jay Marc enthused that these marvelous things that have happened early in his life were the least things he had expected to achieve.

Definitely the recent tour will not be the school's last since invitations have been pouring in for them to perform abroad again.

The whole trip not only exposed how artistically gifted the children of Mandaue City School for the Arts are. In a way, it also opened eyes of foreigners and Filipinos alike that there's a whole lot more to the Philippines than its recent socio-political and economic crises. And these bright, young voices, indeed, deserve a standing ovation for becoming a source of pride to their fellowmen.