World Theatre celebration promoting Women, Water, Forest and Fire Protection
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March is an auspicious month to persuade the world that we can win the war against poverty and pollution, drugs and disability, crime and corruption, terrorism and tyranny, ignorance and injustice not by compulsion and force of arms but by persuasion through the power of arts. We must reach every citizen. The most effective tool to touch the hearts and minds of people is through the theatre, the meeting ground of all of the arts and its multiplication through its electronic offspring. Cultural highways must be paved within our nation and among continents to parallel infrastructure for economic growth that will bridge interfaith, intercultural, inclusive dialogue for peace and sustainable development.
People must be informed through cultural symbols that they can relate to, empathize and not be alienated, involved and not disinterested, to understand the issues connected to their daily existence. They must be motivated to respond to act and do something to shift the balance from a passive state to being passionate in solving their problems. More than speeches – a painting, a poem, a song, a play, a dance piece, animated legends inspiring stories of love, heroism and courage of commitment --- CAN BRING THE MESSAGE ACROSS and carry the cries of children especially orphans and widows to stop violence against mankind and Mother Earth.
Quadruple concerns converge in March: Observance of International Women’s Day on March 8, World Forest and Water Day on March 21 st -22 nd , World Theatre Week from March 21 st to the 27 th , and our local Fire Prevention Month. The four themes serendipitously are interlocked in a vision that affirms life focused on protecting bio-cultural diversity endangered by species loss and threatened indigenous communities.
Women’s Rights
Consider the woman as the womb that brings forth and nourishes life serving as the first teacher of a child and the pillar to hold a family together. The battle cry for women has been gender equity, equal opportunities for education, work and health care.
Water and Forest as Carbon Sinks
An average of 20 liters of water a day over 6 kilometers are carried by females in developing countries. Survival without water is impossible. There are many ways of using and celebrating water as there are varied cultural traditions. Water is sacred and central to many religious rituals and ceremonies. The scarcity and pollution of water, the responsible use and conservation of water, the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation is the heart of the declaration of a Decade of Water is Life from 2005 to 2015 by the United Nations (UN). For the past years, the UN is calling attention to the waters that cross borders and link countries. Rather than give rise to conflict as what we face now in the West Philippine Sea/ China Sea, what is stressed is efficient, equitable management of international watercourse agreements for cooperation built on respect, understanding and trust particularly adherence to the Law of the Sea. Among some of the river basins are the Mekong, the Jordan, the Nile and the Niger in Africa.
The Earthsavers founded by late Senator Heherson Alvarez led the 45-day rally in Makati to protect the Pacific Ocean from nuclear testing. More so now, archipelagic nations and small islands states have to synergize efforts to mitigate extreme climate change impact on water resources. Our oceans together with our forests are carbon sinks. Deforestation has greatly caused the overheating of earth causing super typhoons or drought, landslides and floods. The emergency action required to prevent further devastation and death is decarbonization by utilizing clean alternative energy. There is a global call to keep the 1.5°C temperature so as not to reach the tipping point of Armageddon. Utilitarian Use of Fire
Fire is essential to generate heat and light so that we can cook. Fire is the symbol of energy so crucial to living. Yet fire, as detailed by Homer has also been used in warfare where the Greek commandos hid in wooden horse to burn Troy. Flame throwers were also used by infantries and incendiary bombs were used by the axis and the allies alike during World War II. So, fire can also, besides its utilitarian value be the source of destruction and devastation. We have seen the latest images of forest fires in the Amazon of Brazil, Australia, California even Indonesia which caused haze to cover our region.
The safety tips like using smoke alarms, escape plans, fire drills, sprinklers and warnings about hazardous activities like carelessness with cigarette butts, electrical wiring, appliances, firecrackers and burning candles must go beyond consciousness-raising into implementation.
Through culture and arts, the mindset can be changed with re-oriented attitudes and values emphasized through diverse manifestations in performance, literary, visual and media arts.
“We live in an unfair and cruel world. We must create a better world because we know it’s possible. But it is up to us, by acting on the stage and in our own life. We are all actors: being citizens is not only living in society, it is changing it.” This was underscored by Augusto Boal, pioneer of the Theatre of the Oppressed.
ITI World Theatre observance
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1948 to promote cultural exchange and deepening mutual understanding between nations participating in the promotion of peace. World Theatre Day on March 27 annually focuses on a message by an outstanding international figure which is translated in many languages. This year’s epistle comes from Helen Mirren, multi-awarded actress of stage, screen and television from the United Kingdom who states “present insecurity has made artists more able to survive this pandemic with wit and courage. Their imagination has already translated itself, in these new circumstances, into inventive, entertaining and moving ways to communicate, thanks of course in large part to the internet. Indeed, World Theatre Day is a wonderful global platform of connectivity amidst the isolation caused by the pandemic where artists creativity, innovation, flexibility and passion cannot be restricted by the lockdown.
A proclamation by President Macapagal-Arroyo has expanded the UNESCO-ITI celebration of World Theatre Day to a week from March 21 st to the 27 th for the gathering of artists to enhance the creative empowerment of people for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. It authorizes a public-private inter-agency action led by NCCA, currently chaired by CCP President Nick Lizaso in partnership with the Philippine Center of the International Theatre Institute now headed by former Senator Joey Lina, a tenor and broadcast journalist with playwright Sonny Valencia as Secretary-General.
Our Philippine Center of the ITI for the whole month of March is holding a Broadcast Theatre Festival on DZRH-Radyo Balintataw highlighting creative pieces on the value of memory by Western Visayas women writers and directors. Ermel by August Andong and Medusa by a Chilean woman writer, directed by Tanya Lopez. From Luzon, after a trilogy of Malou Jacob Plays were broadcast last year, Ateneo Players present the Greek classic Oedipus Rex in Pilipino translation by Rolando Tinio directed by Ron Capinding. A play written by Rey de la Cruz in confronting poverty, first presented 50 years ago at Fort Santiago is still relevant as reprised by Tanghalang Banuhay directed by Roderick Alo, while PETA Kalinangan Ensemble features a radio adaptation of a play on women’s health, Libby Manaog written by Liza Magtoto and directed by Maribel Legarda. Advance drama about Jose Rizal in exiled life in Dapitan and his farewell gift of lampara to Patricia with a scenario by Basilidas Pilapil directed by Peter Macrohon. The Festival will end with a Webinar of distinguished women in theatre actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Online workshops for monodrama and children’s theatre are arranged as we conclude with the Awarding Ceremony of the Lampara ng Kultura at Sining honoring lifetime achievement in Public Service through the Arts.
The Filipino talent is second to none. We are a rich nation with a wealth of heritage and natural resources that must be equitably distributed with a gold mine of artistic expertise that can be utilized to confront and turn around whatever socio-economic environmental and health crisis our nation is facing. Instead of gloomily tiring ourselves about our problems, pointing accusing fingers, we should rather confidently look for solutions. As Shakespeare reminds us “The fault is not in our stars that we are underlings but in ourselves.” Indeed, destiny is in our hands to transform and triumph with discipline, compassion and Esprit de Corps.
Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez is a TOWNS Outstanding Woman honoree. She is a Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Laureate for Public Service as founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Philippine Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), where she serves as president of the Global Social Change Network. She is director of Earthsavers, honored as UNESCO Artist for Peace and is the producing-director of the multi-awarded DZRH Radyo Balintataw by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Catholic Mass Media Awards. (CMMA). Cecile G. Alvarez is Freedom Awardee of the EDSA People Power Commission.