Child's play

I got an invitation from my good friend Katrina Legarda to attend the blessing of Escuela Legarda, a school set up by her daughter Beia which is located at the Legarda Compound (No. 1 Sobriedad R. Balic Balic, Sampaloc, Manila). Kat’s daughter, Beia (Beatriz Legarda Santos) is graduating from De La Salle University with a Bachelor of Science Major in Early Childhood Education degree.

Escuela Legarda according to Beia is a school that believes play is a child’s work. It uses Developmentally Appropriate Literacy and Play Based Learning Approach. Beia wrote a few notes about her school. “The school believes children should be taught according to their developmental levels so that they will retain their natural love for learning without the feeling of being pressured. And through play, children gain self confidence and high self esteem as their ideas and efforts are made worthwhile. This feeling of confidence will motivate children reach a higher level of learning. Allowing children to engage in play-based learning opportunities will let them learn without making learning seem like a burden, but an enjoyable experience that they would like to repeat. Furthermore, the school focuses on literacy to revive the love for reading in children and uses this approach to ensure holistic learning through storytelling, rhymes and dramatic play.

The school is located in the Legarda compound surrounded by a virgin forest in the heart of Manila. It provides children with the type of outdoor play that is rare in today’s developing society; away from pollution and more focused on nature and the type of learning that brings the positive effects to all aspects of a child especially in the development of gross motor skills.

Escuela Legarda accepts children from ages one and one-and-a-half to five years old and provides them with individual instruction in reading and math, activities in art, storytelling and outdoor play. Summer programs are PlaySkool, Water Play and Writing, English and Reading Enrichment classes. Summer programs begin on April 20. Enrollment is ongoing for school year 2009 to 2010 with limited slots available. For details, call 0922-8306454 or 379-5034 or e-mail [email protected]

Joel Trinidad’s grand comeback

Joel Trinidad returns to the Philippine stage after conquering Singapore in the triple roles of Trekkie Monster/Nicky/Bad Idea Bear in the hit musical Avenue Q, where he earned solid notices from critics and audiences alike.

He now plays Vice Principal Panch in Atlantis Productions’ staging of the Tony Award Winning Musical the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which runs from March 20 to April 4 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Joel describes Vice Principal Panch as, “High strung, fastidious and socially inept.” He is the judge at the Spelling Bee competition who returns after a mysterious five-year absence.

In Spelling Bee, with music and lyrics by Tony Award winner William Finn (Falsettos, A New Brain) and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn twinning isn’t everything and losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. Spelling Bee has been hailed by Wall Street Journal as “perfect in every possible way — that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd pleaser.”

No two spelling bee shows will be alike, as Spelling Bee will feature “starring roles” each night for two volunteer audience members and some surprise celebrity guest spellers.

Also starring in Spelling Bee are Cathy Azanza-Dy, Pheona Baranda, Rycharde Everley, Johann dela Fuente, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Noel Rayos, Felix Rivera, and Thea Tadiar. It is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Chari Arespacochaga, set design by Tuxqs Rutaquio, costume design by Twinkle Zamora, lighting design by Johnsy Reyes, vocal coaching by ManMan Angsico and musical direction by Jojo Malferari.

For details, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.