Children's groups launch talent search

CEBU, Philippines - As a way of promoting children’s rights and give them chance to showcase their talents, the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund, in partnership with Bidlisiw Foundation and the Ermita Barangay Council, launched the “Ermita Got Talent.”

Auditions for the talent search was held yesterday at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, on Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.

Children showcased their talents either as a group or on a solo performance. They presented their talents on singing, dancing, acting, playing of instruments, painting or drawing and other forms of creative art.

“These kids are very talented but no one has ever tapped into their talents because they seldom have the place to showcase it,” said Belle Fajardo, deputy executive director of DACF. “Now that they are given the chance to share it with everyone, it will really prove that Cebuanos are truly talented.”

During the audition, which was emceed by Jan Noel Canieso and Shari Julia Gonzalez of the Young Minds Academy (YMA) Youths, 25 presented their talents in singing, 13 in dancing, nine in theater and modeling, and 47 in music/orchestra. Also, there were audition jurors but no child was to be eliminated because their main role was only to affirm, recommend and inspire for talent enhancement.

The jurors were Celso Pepito of the Cebu Arts Association, Ian Zafra of the Artists and Musicians Marketing Cooperative, Emma Hagedorn, and Professor Gweendolyn Cresencio of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR)- College of Arts.

“What we want to create is a group that will really shine in the future because I think that undeveloped talent will just fade,” Fajardo said. “But even this little talent that is given a proper venue and proper guidance from our partnered teachers will really shine brighter in the future.”

After the audition, they will undergo formal trainings and workshops that will start sometime in June by different partner institutions and artists who are experts in their field at the USJR.

Fajardo pointed out that these children should be given a chance and should be appreciated for showcasing their talents because no matter how beautiful their talents are, if it is left unshared, it will be put to waste.

“Our children have very rich resources,” she adds. “They just need adults, like us, who will guide them and provide them the chance to be who they are and maximize their talents.”

In order to maximize their potential and divert the children from vices, the foundation was inspired to set up a Children’s Art Center in Barangay Ermita and organize different creative groups among the kids according to their interest/potential.

The Children’s Art Center is envisioned to be a breeding ground of Cebuano musicians, performing artists and visual artists particularly those children who are from depressed communities, out-of school and those victims/at risk of child abuse.

Functional Literacy programs will also be conducted in this center for holistic development of the children. The Art Center facility will be constructed inside the vicinity of the soon-to-rise Ermita Elementary School. — (FREEMAN)