SYNOPSIS

For 2007, Teatro Akebono is presenting the musical play titled “The Gift.”

The story is a tableau of various scenes in the lives of three Japanese-Filipino children (JFCs) – from the meeting of their parents to their separation, their present situations, and their hopes and ambitions for the future.

Taki, Aya and Yuki are friends. Taki goes to school, while Aya and Yuki are unable to go to school due to financial difficulties. Aya is hopeful that she will see her Japanese father. Yuki, on the other hand, is angry with his father for abandoning them and for the hardships that they are undergoing now.

While the three friends are talking, a package for Aya from Japan arrived. The three friends speculated on what is inside the box. The box of gift symbolizes the hopes, wishes and dreams of these JFCs.

Yuki, Aya and Taki are only three of the JFCs that DAWN helps. They share common wishes of seeing their father again. Just like the other JFCs in the Philippines, they have their problems. But young as they are, they are strong and full of ambitions. They know that they will realize their dreams and ambitions if they study well, and with the support of their family and organizations like DAWN.

The main casts of the musical play are Aya Nishi, Takaaki Oyama, Masayuki Ise. They are supported by Nicole Andrade, Chieko Ise, Takeshi Ozawa, Seizuya Isihara and Shoyoko Ishihara.

From May 18 to June 5, 2007 these JFCs toured Japan for a series of presentations of the musical play. Performances were held at the Cocone Kami Fukuoka in Saitama on May 19; in Kawasaki, Yokohama on May 20; at the Urawa Church in Saitama on May 23; at the Tsubame-shi Kinroshi Fukushi Center in Niigata on May 26; at the Nagoya International Center on May 27; at the Vivre Hall in Osaka on May 29; and, at the Kasuga Clover Hall in Fukuoka on June 3. On May 22, the JFCs visited the Sangiinkaikan and met with five Members of the House of Councilors of Japan. They sang for them the song “Faith of a Child.”