PWDs to hold concert in Dumaguete

By Jennifer C. Tilos

Wednesday 16th of May 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- A group of musicians with physical disabilities from Quezon City, the Rondalla On Wheels (ROW) will perform in Dumaguete City on May 25 to June 2.

According to Great Physician Rehabilitation (GPRehab) coordinator Rolando Villamero Jr., the week-long concert of ROW presents will showcase the talents of persons with disabilities’ (PWDs).

GPRehab executive director Analou Suan said, “We take pride in inviting ROW to be in Dumaguete City to raise the awareness of the community about the capabilities of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and to generate funds for GPRehab’s CHILD (Caring Hands to Inspire and Link with Differently-Abled Children) project.”

The ROW is a small orchestra with instruments like bandurias, octavinas, laud, guitars and contra-bass, as well as drums for rhythm.

The music serves as therapy, spiritual, and creative formation of ROW’s members outside their schooling in Elementary and High School.

The ROW has performed in various occasions in Metro Manila as well as Northern and Southern Philippines. They have also played in Europe, Japan and Hongkong.

In order to make their stay in Dumaguete City more meaningful, ROW, through GPRehab, has set activities which will allow them to showcase their talents to the community.

A mini concert will be held on May 27, 6 p.m. at Quezon Park. There will be a presentation on May 30 in Bayawan City. On May 31, 7 p.m., a major concert will be held at Bethel Guest House. A farewell concert at the Main Atrium of Robinson’s Place Dumaguete will be held on June 1 at 4:30 p.m.

Aside from the concerts, ROW will also be doing television and radio exposures, courtesy call, field trip, and interaction activity with Persons with Disabilities in Metro Dumaguete.

“We hope that our group will inspire Dumaguete City to be more accepting to Persons with Disabilities. We hope that our concerts will change the community’s negative perception towards disability,” expressed Richard Cepeda, ROW member. (MBCN/JCT-PIA Negros Oriental)