Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in partnership with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) shall present the special run of CareDivas: An Original Pinoy Musical to pay tribute to all overseas Filipino workers as the present-day heroes of our country with performances beginning June 24 until July 30, 2017 at The PETA Theater Center.
CareDivas is a disarmingly funny and candid musical drama about five transgender Overseas Filipino Workers in Israel who work as care givers in the morning and transform into glamorous drag queen performers at night. While desperate to make ends meet, they also struggle to search for acceptance in a foreign land.
As part of OWWA’s 35th anniversary celebration, the organization opens the special run of Care Divas on June 24 to signal it’s renewed our commitment in promoting and protecting the welfares of Overseas Filipino Workers.
Aside from this project, OWWA is also continuously providing social, education and training, workers welfare assistance and reintegration program attuned to the needs of OFWs and their families.
What really makes or breaks a caregiver?
Caregivers, also known as home health or personal care aides, give assistance to people who are sick, injured, mentally or physically disabled, or the elderly and fragile.
Caregivers must be compassionate, possess stamina, and very conscious of time management.
Their job descriptions include bathing and bathroom functions, walking and light exercise, plan and prepare meals, feeding, grooming, taking medication, and some housework like making beds and change linens, dusting and vacuuming, laundry and ironing.
Caregivers also make and keep appointments with doctors, provide or arrange transportation and serve as a companion for their clients. Caregivers might need to lift clients into the bathtub, cars and into bed, and need strength. They help their clients engage in activities (games, memory books) and most of all, companionship.
The theme of ‘caregiver’ as a job coupled with its ups and downs have been adopted with varying plots that center on the family in film, television, radio, print – novels, poetry, essays; visual arts and in theater.
CareDivas was produced and premiered in 2011. The musical dominated the 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay! Awards, bagging seven trophies including Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Musical Production and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical.
Hopefully, this forthcoming special run will entice our OFW heroes who have returned to our country to watch the musical together with their families because CareDivas is specially dedicated to them.
Theatergoers will meet our caregiver heroes as characterized by the kind and loving Chelsea, the often-sarcastic group leader Shai, the ditzy Thalia, the bubbly Kayla, and the ill-tempered Jonee.
Giving life to the major roles are well-respected theater actors Melvin Lee (Chelsea), Vincent De Jesus and Ron Alfonso (Shai), Dudz Teraña and Jason Barcial (Thalia), Gio Gahol, Jerald Napoles and Ricci Chan (Kayla), Thou Reyes and Phil Noble (Jonee).
The actors in their supporting roles are Myke Salomon (Faraj, David, Daniel), Paul Holme and Leo Rialp (Isaac, Moshe, Yaakov, Club owner), Joan Bugcat and Gold Villar (Nonah), Eric Dela Cruz and Dom Miclat-Janssen (Avi, Aryeh, Pulis), Sherry Lara (Sarah, Adara), Eko Baquial and Joseph Madriaga (ensemble).
The artistic team of CareDivas are as follows: Maribel Legarda (Director), Liza Magtoto (Playwright), Vincent De Jesus (Lyricist, Composer, Arranger, Musical Director), Leo Abaya (Set Designer), Jonjon Villareal (Lighting Designer), John Abul (Costume Designer), Carlo Pagunaling (Assistant Costume Designer), Carlon Matobato (Choreographer) and Gimbey dela Cruz (Vocal Coach).
The performance schedules of CareDivas are from Fridays (8 pm), Saturdays and Sundays (3 pm and 8 pm).
For inquiries and ticket reservations, contact PETA Marketing and Public Relations Office at Tel. No. 725-6244, petatheater@gmail.com or TicketWorld at 891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph.
