IN a move to develop the Filipino youth’s appreciation for the arts, Pioneer Insurance recently launched the “Pioneer Stories of Hope Playwriting Competition.”
“Pioneer has always been inspired by the arts, and with this, we are honored that Tanghalang Pilipino, Cultural Center of the Philippines [CCP] and Writer’s Bloc Inc. have partnered with us in our Stories of Hope campaign,” Pioneer Marketing Head Len Pozon said in a recent media briefing. “Through this partnership, we want to spark the curiosity and understanding of the theater community, as well as heighten the appreciation of Filipino culture among students,” Pozon said.
Pozon added that Pioneer also took the opportunity to collaborate with these groups to help in uplifting the awareness of the youth on the theater arts. “We have noticed there is a low appreciation of the youth on theater plays.” Veteran actor Fernando Josef cited the important role in promoting values, patriotism and hope. “We want to promote theater as vehicle for social change in Philippine society.” The contest is open to college students nationwide. It requires them to write a one-act play that can be written in English, Filipino, or “Taglish.” Submission of scripts is from September 1 to November 6.
The winner will be announced on December 14 . A P25,000 cash prize plus insurance coverage from Pioneer await the winning entry. Pioneer has covered theater plays such as Miss Saigon, The Little Mermaid and Trumpet’s NOAH.
Last year Pioneer rolled out the Stories of Friendship Video Competition that encouraged participants to share their take on friendship through a three-minute video. Ateneo de Davao’s My Friends Who Ran took home the first prize. Pioneer has also sponsored the Virgin Labfest Cast Party held on July 12 at the CCP Bay Terminal, where outstanding stage plays were recognized. To further give recognition to these exceptional stage plays and playwrights, Pioneer has organized the Virgin Labfest Campus Tour. The winning plays will be showcased to select universities and colleges in the Metro and an open forum with their respective directors and playwrights will take place to address questions from the audience. Virgin Labfest Campus Tour is set to visit University of Makati on October 5 and De La Salle University’s College of Saint Benilde on October 13.