When Martin Nievera joined 143 children at a Christmas show at Solaire
Concert King” Martin Nievera brought the house down recently at a mini-concert by The Bridge School at the Theatre at Solaire. But he wasn’t the star of the show.
The show belonged to The Bridge Grade School children, between the ages of three and 12, composed of an orchestra of 60 and a choir of 41 dancers and singers. They stole the show, and Martin didn’t mind.
And a good time was had by all.
The Bridge School (TBS) in BF Homes Parañaque set the bar high for their annual Christmas show this year, entitled, “The Story of Christmas: Celebrating the Season… and the Savior.”
Not only because it officially kicked off TBS’ 25th year anniversary celebration as a school, but also because The Bridge School is “shining its Christmas spotlight” on the Mayapa Elementary School, in Barangay Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna—its “Bridge Buddy.”
“The Bridge School has always extended itself to the community especially during Christmas,” says TBS founder and principal Tere Tabuena del Rosario. “Every Christmas, the whole school is mobilized to help a community or community workers as a school.”
This year, TBS identified its “Bridge Buddy.”
“Through funds raised through this year’s Christmas show, the school went all the way and identified an elementary school — not far from them — to be their ‘buddy school.’ TBS set out to provide essential resources to their Bridge Buddy, like provide a classroom library for every level from Kinder to sixth grade, art and various school supplies for every classroom, some structural repair,” adds Tere.
Tere says their project does not have a December shelf life — it will extend through the rest of TBS’ anniversary year.
The Christmas show has been the highlight of every school year, since TBS first opened. “It has always brought the whole community together – celebrating the one holiday that every child understands and cherishes,” shares Tere.
Katrina Tabuena del Rosario, curriculum director of TBS, was the show’s overall director. She had cheerful help from her team of 30 teachers and school support staff who “transformed” into dance choreographers, set designers, painters, working with the students weeks before the show. Everything on stage was made in school by the children, the teachers, and support staff.
And on D-Day itself, Martin Nievera surprised the audience of the morning show (he was unable to perform at the afternoon show because he had a recording) by just walking casually onstage, singing “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” followed by two more numbers. Then the curtains parted and showed The Bridge School orchestra and choir in position with their opening salvo, “Firework” and “Roar” mash-up by Katy Perry; followed by “You Will Be Found” with soloists Ethan Vera Cruz, Rafa Lim and Martin; with backup singers Aniela Arroyo, Olivia Crisologo and Lana Caronongan.
The orchestra was led by musical director Monel Mari Herrera, who made beautiful music with 31 performers on the violin, 15 on melodihorns, three on electric guitars, one on acoustic guitar, one on bass, one on drums, four on percussion drums, and four on the keyboards. An additional 29 preschool and kindergarten singers and dancers between the ages of three and six came out to join the grade school orchestra and ended with “How Great is Our God,” as videos and photos of all past Christmas shows played behind them on a big LED screen.
“Pang Broadway!” someone in the audience gasped.
After the opening numbers, all 143 bridge students performed a 95-minute musical that had a repertoire of 26 song and dance numbers – revolving around the Biblical story of Christmas!
TBS, a preschool and elementary school, is proud to be “a small school with big achievers.
“It is a foundational school and our sixth-grade graduates have successfully been accepted wherever they have chosen to apply to. Our students are strong academic learners, but more important, they are avid readers and critical and independent thinkers. There is also school-wide focus and awareness on Character Education classes across all levels,” says Tere.
Classes are small, with a small teacher-student ratio.
Indeed, a small school with a big purpose. *
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