Earthsavers ensemble to compete in Italy

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople had announced that the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble, an integrated association of disabled, disadvantaged and tribal youngsters along with selected participants of the Kalahi Cultural Project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has been invited to participate at the International Dance Competition that will be held in Bologna, Italy this coming June 19 to 24. The Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble composed of "handicapable" artists already has the distinction and honor of having been cited by the UNESCO Sources Magazine of being "one of the most unique theater companies in existence".

The beauty of this invitation is that our disabled will be competing with able-bodied ballerinas, jazz dancers and folk artists from all over the world. It is living proof that they have not allowed their physical handicap to impair their natural talents. Instead, they used their handicaps to enhance their innate abilities.

Secretary Ople noted that the highly-acclaimed Earthsavers Dreams Academy is one of the finest examples of the private sector’s response to the government’s poverty alleviation program. They have been provided much more with just a respite from poverty, but the grand opportunity to promote a culture of peace, social development and substantial development. Last year, they were a smashing success as Goodwill Ambassadors of the country to the 2nd Cultural Olympiad in Denmark. They were given a warm send-off by President Macapagal-Arroyo and featured in all major newspapers. Nitin Desai, UN Undersecretary General in charge of the Commission of Sustainable Development, hailed their performance as "enthralling for its vigorous expression, compassionate in its message and powerful in its impact". US President Jimmy Carter saw them perform. So did Mrs. Kofi Annan, wife of the UN Secretary General and UNESCO Director General Matsuura.

The person who envisioned and made the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble a reality is Cecile Guidote Alvarez, a Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Artist for Public Service. She is also the producer-host of the award-winning drama serial Radyo Balintataw. This coming June 30, Alvarez’s friends and admirers will pay her a tribute in Raha Sulayman for her lifetime contribution to Philippine theatre. Originally, the theatre celebrated the gods. In Cecille’s world, it broods over the fate of our country. Cecille never knew her father. Her father died when she was still in her mother’s womb. Her father, a guerrillero, was killed by the Japanese. The only thing that Cecille loved more than theatre was her country. This is attested by the fact that she had to go into voluntary exile in the United States during the Marcos dictatorship. There, she and her husband Heherson Alvarez were two of the most active in the movement against Marcos’s dictatorial regime.

Cecille Alvarez is one of our greatest living patriots.