Lights, Camera, Action: Grade 8 Berea Students Showcase Original Trilingual Plays

In celebration of their Chinese-Filipino culture and heritage, the Grade 8 Berea students captivated the audiences with their original production, Buhay Tsinoy: Trilingual Plays, last May 9 and 10 in the school auditorium.

The Buhay Tsinoy: Trilingual Plays seamlessly integrated Chinese, Filipino, and English into the production of the play, emphasizing the importance of understanding the diverse Chinese-Filipino culture and the influence it holds. Other subjects such as Science, Araling Panlipunan, Math, Bible, Industrial Arts (Drafting), Writing Lab, and Information Communications Technology were also integrated into the play.

“Having been a teacher at MGCNL for a decade, I've had the privilege of witnessing the depth and diversity of this culture. I believe that this play can serve as a powerful tool for our students to connect with their heritage [meaningfully],” shared Darlyn Villanueva, the Grade 8 Level Coordinator and head of the Buhay Tsinoy: Trilingual Plays.

On the first day, Berea B and Berea D students took to the stage with impressive enthusiasm. Berea B presented "Panahon ng Kabataan," a narrative centered around a Chinese boy named Andy Lim and his journey through school. Berea D followed with "Teresa," which portrayed the experiences of Teresa, a Chinese immigrant starting a new life in the Philippines.

On the second day, Berea A introduced their play entitled ‘Hating Kapatid,’ which dwelled on Gwendolyn's struggles with family and sibling dynamics. In the afternoon, Berea C captivated the audience with ‘Pag-asa sa Dilim,’ the story of Kelly, a rebellious teenager learning to appreciate her heritage.

“From [this] experience, I learned the importance of unity and encouragement. Despite the challenges we faced, I’m glad to have been able to bond as a class and make fun memories together,” reflected Gwyneth Recato of Berea A.

Berea B’s Abigail Albano noted that she was able to learn more about her classmates and how to manage her tasks well throughout the past year. 

“I hope that, at the end of it all, the students [learned] a lot from the play. I hope that everyone [will not] just let it pass because it is something that they need to do for grades, but  I hope that they finish the play for the memories that they will leave behind once they enter Grade 9—or even, once they graduate high school,” commented Grade 8 English Language and Literature teacher Jerome Lim.

Grade 8 ICT teacher Wesley Mambiar added, “For this year's play, I only hope that there will be an increase [of] appreciation [for] [Chinese-Filipino] culture, especially among students. I hope that people will love all of Berea's effort and [simply] enjoy the show!”