The Dumaguete Federation of Parents-Teachers Association hosted a performance and seminar on good parenting at the Dumaguete City High School featuring Ahh Bakus, a musical play produced by the Youth Advocates through Theatre Arts to promote positive discipline.
The play was followed by an open forum with teachers and parents. The initiative was supported by the Department of Education Dumaguete Schools Division through Supt. Dr. Ramir Uytico and public schools District Supervisor Antonieta Vendiola.
Gracing the event was Cong. George Arnaiz, who expressed his gratitude to YATTA for opening people’s eyes to the situation of corporal punishment. He also lauded the DFPTA, led by its president Marez Ramirez, for its efforts to promote good parenting and for hosting the event.
About 500 parents, teachers and children from all the DepEd schools attended the event.
Aah Bakus! portrays several families in an urban poor setting, with teen pregnancies to worry about, some with children stealing, and some with irresponsible children. The viewer soon learns that the issues are not solely with the children, but with the parents and teachers as well. The parents have been absent or only present to yell and punish their children.
The pivotal scene in the performance is when news broke out about a teenage girl committing suicide because of her strained relationship with her mother, and the overwhelming pressures she faced. This led to an awakening of the community, with the young people, the teacher and the parents in the play realizing that corporal punishment is not a healthy way to discipline children, and that they must communicate with their children. The family at the end discusses their shared responsibilities as a family, and creates a list of guidelines for their family.
The open forum led by Earnest Hope Tinambacan after the performance proved powerful. Many parents testified that the performance showed them the error of their ways, and that they now know how to better love and care for their children. Other parents shared powerful testimonies about their own broken families, and the cycle that continues if no one makes an attempt to stop it.
Dr. Uytico emphasized that no one is perfect, and that all must work together to raise and care for our children.
Several parents and teachers have since asked YATTA for a repeat performance, perhaps with an inclusion of the issue of bullying. (Abby Kraft)
