“Aegis”

Collaborating for the second time due to the impact caused by YFP Tanghal-Dangal to the schools and on the community, it has decided to have a second theatrical project between the Youth for Peace Movement and the Cabiao National High School be extended, partnering with the MAPEH Department, another theatrical play depicting the life of a student-turned-activist and her father who had fought for the freedom and sovereignty of the country against rebel groups and its followers. The program has launched through a basic acting workshop and screening for roles last December 1, 2018 at Sotto Gymnasium, Cabiao NHS. 19 participants which all came from Grade 10 have selected to represent the organization in this project-based activity.

A total number of 37 participants joined the cast of characters and production staff on the project that was staged last February 13, 2019 at Sotto Gymnasium, Cabiao National High School.

“Aegis” roots from the Greek word (προστασία – [prostasia]) meaning “protection”. It shows in the theatrical play the everlasting love of a father to his only daughter, no matter what it takes. It also showed the sacrifices of the soldiers-on-duty in protecting our country against the rebels who had terrorized the peaceful lives of the Filipino people and their recruitment on the members of the youth in state universities impacted them in general, affecting their academic development and family relationships in the latter.

According to the theatrical coordinator of YFP Tanghal-Dangal for Cabiao NHS, Mrs. Shirley S. Santiago, the total ticket turnout for the two shows are 2,272, surpassing the target quota of the show to help benefit the school’s funding for priority development projects in support to the Federated Parents & Teachers Association of the said school.

The spectators are amazed in the simple but extravagant kind of production “Aegis” has produced this school year and brought another kind of theatrical performance that will deliver a direct message to the audience and to show that the talent of the youth of Cabiao is that excellent and competitive.

The stakeholders that supported the production are Heartnet.Com Enterprises, providing the event supplies like souvenirs, trophies, t-shirt for production staff and the photo services for the photoshoot and on the event proper, Nueva Ecija TV48 for another event coverage and provincial documentation of the activity, Atomix Mobile System of Paniqui, Tarlac, for the 3rd time, provided the event technical supplies and Dondon Video Services provided the full theatrical video coverage of the event.

The theatrical event “Aegis” is the shortest production period of 5 weeks including the preparation part, the marketing part, the photoshoot part, general rehearsals until the staging day. The theatrical show also showcases a theatrical trailer for the spectators to see a teaser of what will happen during the theatrical show. The production is considered the strictest, most time-constrained and the most time-managed theatrical production ever produced so far.

6 collaborators have tied up on this production including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Northern Luzon Command of AFP, Civil-Military Operations Group of Philippine Army, the Office of the J7, AFP, in cooperation of the Youth for Peace Movement as the prime implementor, and Cabiao National High School as the partner school for the theatrical collaborative activity.

Even though the collaboration between the school and the prime implementor is successful, the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has not convinced on the power of the actors who had portrayed the theatrical show due to various circumstances, and now putting up an effort to find suitable actors and production staff to deliver one-of-a-kind theatrical piece, production, and a theatrical show that will fit on the requirements as stated on the 2028 AFP Transformation Roadmap.

However, the movement is still positive to get YES responses from the command in its future activities and theatrical shows, planning to write another theatrical play that will suit the needs, expectations, and moralistic values needed to get along with the 2028 AFP vision & mission.

The theatrical production has delivered its best to at least made the mother organization recognize the effort of the youth in nation-building, and will continue the support bestowed to the organization in teaching talented members of the youth in theatrical and performing arts as mandated by the core values of the mother organization.