Singapore, 12 June 2010 – In the hallowed halls of the Chamber of the Old Parliament (now called The Arts House) the hopes and aspirations of Singaporeans of a bygone era were elucidated, debated and eventually fulfilled. Come Saturday 19th June those same halls will resonate again with a new generation of the “Voices of Hope”. The Little Arts Academy, in collaboration with Gawad Kalinga Hope Initiative, will be staging a choral performance by the Gawad Kalinga Tatalon Performing Arts Choir (GK TaPA). Comprising of fourteen members, aged between 9 and 21, this choir hails from the Barangay Tatalon, a sprawling squatter area in Quezon City, known as "little Tondo" where petty criminals abound. Some of the choir members were former street children and delinquents before Gawad Kalinga was met. These 14 young people have, against all odds, worked hard to become a “Gold Class” Choir with an international reputation and a member of the INTERNATIONAL THEATER INSTITUTE Philippines Center. Commenting on the collaboration with Gawad Kalinga, Ms Adelina Ong, Centre Director of The Little Arts Academy said, ”The TaPA Choir affirms our belief: that the arts can be a tremendous force for good and that it can help to create a better future for children and young people who rise above their personal circumstances to attain a sense of achievement and self-respect. We are particularly keen for children in Singapore to come to this concert and be inspired by the determination and perseverence of the members of the Choir. Ms Ai Lin Ong, Chair of GK Hope Initiative, the regional hub of Gawad Kalinga in Singapore who first spotted the talents and inspired the Choir to come together in 2007 added, “Singapore provides a wonderful platform for showcasing artistic talents from the region. We are pleased to have the support from The Little Arts Academy and The Arts House in hosting the GK TaPA Choir for this performance on the 19th.” The talented group was spotted in April 2007 when Ms Ailin Ong visited Tatalon to start a feeding-program for malnourished young children, as a volunteer with Gawad Kalinga (GK), a non-partisan, anti-poverty movement which transforms slums into sustainable communities. She inspired the choir with a dream – that they would all visit Singapore, if they worked hard to become a ‘Gold-class’ Choir, in 6months. Under the care of GK-Coordinator Malou Orlina and direction of volunteer resident conductor, Peter Macrohon, a final year music undergraduate of St. Thomas University, they rehearsed ‘round the clock’ seven days a week to make this dream a reality. TaPA arrived in Singapore on Nov. 27th 2007, and for 6 days, performed in 12 engagements, leaving a lasting impression on all audiences. Since then, TaPA has achieved a string of accolades, singing in competitions and is often invited to represent their communities at national music- festivals. They are an inspiration to their own slum community as they tell the world that poverty is not a hindrance in dreaming big and holds no bars on talent. Tickets for “Voices of Hope” are priced at $35 nett and available from The Arts House Box Office, 1 Old Parliament Lane Tel: Tel: 65 6332 6919 or email at tickets@toph.com.sg. TaPA will also perform throughout the Gawad Kalinga Global Summit from 23 -25 June2 together with: -Mr. Ryan Cayabyab / Julia Abueva and Christopher Lee (6th finalist of the 1st Singapore Idol / Key Element / YOG soloists – Hardi Hartono and Lian Kim ### GK- TaPA: GAWAD KALINGA TATALON PERFORMING ARTS The GAWAD KALINGA TATALON PERFORMING ARTS Choir are from the Barangay Tatalon. They come from poor families in slum areas and are uncertain if they can complete their education. Though still young, many work, to contribute income in the family. Gawad Kalinga (GK) is a non-partisan, anti-poverty movement which transforms slums into sustainable communities. ### The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) Launched by The Old Parliament House Ltd (a not-for-profit organisation incorporated by the National Arts Council) and adopted by The Business Times in 2005, the BT BAF originated from a conviction that no child with strong interest and artistic potential should be deprived of the opportunity to develop his or her talents because of socio-economic circumstances. Since then, the BT BAF has reached out to more than 5,000 disadvantaged children between the ages of 5 and 12 years through a variety of programmes ranging from arts camps, workshops, and signature performance events. The funding from the BT BAF is critical in providing opportunities for disadvantaged children to discover hidden artistic talent and to develop their self worth. By focusing on the Arts, the BT BAF encourages the development of creativity amongst the young. ### The Little Arts Academy: Providing A Structured & Continuing Multidisciplinary Education in The Arts In order to ensure that its beneficiaries have access to a sustained and systematic education in the Arts, the BT BAF undertook a bold initiative to form The Little Arts Academy (LAA). The well-equipped facility at PoMo opened in November 2008 and is specially designed to support the LAA’s vibrant and modular multidisciplinary curriculum covering Music, Dance, Theatre, New Media, Culinary Arts and Visual Arts. The LAA has served close to 800 students since its inception, the overwhelming majority of who are BT BAF beneficiaries. Some of the key achievements of the BT BAF include: • Beneficiaries performing at major events including ChildAid concerts in 2007 and 2009. • 4 ballet students who have only received less than 2 year’s training at the LAA being awarded distinctions for their Grade 1 Royal Academy of Dance examinations • Working with sponsors and neighbourhood schools like Gan Eng Seng Primary and Macpherson Primary to provide students from low-income families the opportunity to train and perform in multi disciplinary Arts performances. • Making an impact on young lives like that of Mohd Mazwan who was specially mentioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as an example of how the community can come together to play a part to help those in need. • Creating platforms to showcase the work of talents like 9-year-old Siobhan Yeow who won the Highly Commended Award (Junior section) for the UOB Painting of the Year Award 2009. ### For MEDIA queries, please contact: Ms Adelina Ong Centre Director The Little Arts Academy PoMo Building, 1 Selegie Road #05-01/02, Singapore 188306 Tel: (65) 6513 3012 Email: Adelina_ong@toph.com.sg For BT BAF queries, please contact: Mr Aravind Vasu Head The Business Times Budding Artists Fund c/o The Little Arts Academy PoMo Building, 1 Selegie Road #05-01/02, Singapore 188306 Tel: (65) 6513 3016 Email: aravind_vasu@toph.com.sg For enquiries / more information on GAWAD KALINGA, please contact: Rina Sachdev Tel: GKHi – 6472226 OR Aileen Ong GKHi-Chairman Email ailin_ong53@yahoo.com.sg 
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
OUTREACH PROGRAM Jochelle Rosadeno Soprano Mas mainam ng ikaw ang namimigay kaysa sa ikaw ang binibigyan… Iyan ang kasabihan na ilang beses ko na ring narinig at... more
 Pambansang Dalangin- Voices of Hope.wmvVOICES OF HOPEGawad Kalinga Tatalon Performing Arts Concert The Chamber Arts House, Singapore June 19, 2010
 Challenges, Oppurtunities and Counter Measures for Cultural Development in the Context of International Economic Crisis ni Dr. Vilma L. Labrador sa pananaw ng isang miyembro ng GK-TaPA.Sa mahigit na apat na raang taon, tayo ay nasakop ng mga banyaga. Sa mahabang panahon ay tayo ay naipasailalim ng kolonya ng mga bansang Espanya,Amerika, at Hapon. Gayunpaman, sa kabila ng mga dala nilang kultura at paniniwala ay napanatili pa rin... more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
