Centrestage in the Philippines
Paul Mathieson co-Director of Kilmarnock’s Centrestage Music Theatre Ltd has given up his Christmas break to answer a charity call from friend and former Centrestage teacher Joanna Domingo, in order to build a new stage for the Philippines Community Fund (PCF).
Jo has dedicated over three years to supporting PCF on Manila’s largest dumpsite in Tondo, where she and her husband Ron, who also taught at Centrestage, set up a facility to help the children of the Shanty Towns who live and labour on Manila’s largest populated dumpsite. The foundation helps feed over 350 children daily here and, in addition to providing food and sanctuary to the children and families of the community, Jo and Ron have also set up many musical and artistic activities, including a youth choir which is gaining recognition for its excellent work throughout the Philippines and now, over 600 children a week from the ages of 6 months to 18 years are being helped through their work.
Jo and Ron’s project is not funded by PCF and this poses a real challenge to them as they have to continually work with a very small budget and rely heavily on donations and the skills and assistance of volunteers.
When Jo was home just before Christmas, she explained to Centrestage that PCF had been donated a small amount of money which they really wanted to use to replacing their broken stage area, which had been damaged by floods and vermin but they were unable to carry out the work themselves. Centrestage took up the challenge and Paul left for the Philippines on 23 rd December. He will stay there until he and his team of teenagers from the dump site complete the new stage early in the New Year.
Fiona McKenzie, Centrestage’s co-director said “Jo and Ron were such a vital part of our team when we started Centrestage that we were excited to think that Paul’s skills and talents could be of such great benefit to them. The work they do, in such appalling circumstances is an inspiration to us and we really look forward to hearing how their work will continue to make a difference to so many lives.”
Centrestage students won’t have too long to miss Paul though- all classes will begin again on Saturday 9 th January with new members welcome to all groups and Paul hopes to be back before the first CS production of the year- “Oklahoma”, staged by the S1/2 Music Theatre class on January 30 th and 31 st.
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| Paul being given a tour of the dumpsite by one of the young residents |
Joanna with a group of children in one of the residential areas |
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One of the child workers on the site |
Paul on the roof of the school, with the shanty town behind |
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| The dumpsite with the school and church facility on the right |
Paul and his team hard at work |
