EDITED NEWSLETTER VOLUME 5 A.Y. 2024-2025 (3)

NEWS | VOLUME V

Have you wondered how love, longing, and nature might look through the eyes of a bird? On February 7, 2025, the musical Mission from Gondwana brought this vision to life. Immersing its audience in heartfelt acts, the cast and production team did not just entertain; they spread their wings to perform and their purpose on stage.

Brielle

Rodriguez

Bonhyeon

Koo and of International Baccalaureate conceptualized this initiative with a purpose of helping Save the Children and Prosperity

• Outreach for Underprivileged
• Children
• (POUCh)

Program realize their advocacy. This inspiring collaboration among Save the Children Club, Red Cross

Youth Club, Stage Club, and selected

K-12 and IB students made this event possible.

Among these students and clubs, Mr.

Joseph

Asoy directed the production, along with Mr. Jimbo Caraan IV (affectionally known as Mr.

DJ) director.

as the musical

The cast may have shown true confidence and artistry during the show, but in every colorful production are the directors and production team, the challenges, and the unforgettable moments. In an interview, Mr. Joseph, Mr. DJ, and one of the student leaders shared their insights during the preproduction.

Mr. Joseph shared that in order to balance the artistry of the students with their advocacy, he reminded them that they t sang and every line they delivered had a “price tag” of hope.

He added, “We weren’t just performing for applause;

we were performing for a cause (Save the Children). I told them, ‘The better your artistry, the louder the advocacy’. When they understood that their talent could actually help provide a better future for other children, their performances shifted from being 'rehearsed' to being 'felt.' We focused on the 5Cs, especially

Character and Commitment, to ensure they stayed grounded mission”

in the Mr. DJ made sure that Mr. Joseph’s vision was reflected in directing the vocalists and musicians. He considered the talent, commitment and passion, and the humility to learn as the factors in choosing their cast. He said “Commitment is important because when students give focused attention and set their ego aside, improvement naturally follows. I’ve also worked with students who are unwilling to listen and who take my advice personally, even when the feedback is intended to help them grow. This affects both their performance and their stage skills, which is why being humble and open to guidance matters so much.

When asked about the challenges they experienced, Mr. Joseph, Mr. DJ, and Yeseo Her, one of the student leaders, shared different perspectives.

For Mr. Joseph, the final production was his biggest challenge of all. He stated, “The Prologue was definitely the "final boss"

of this production! It had to set the entire tone of Gondwana while managing a large cast with diverse skill sets. Coordinating the movement of students from different grade levels— some who are seasoned