The San Diego Filipino

My friend sent me a link to this article created by the Earth Day network:

SAN DIEGO, 03/11/10 — The Children of Mother Earth will be coming to San Diego on Saturday, April 11th to perform at Jasmine Restaurant at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the performance are $50.00 each which includes an 8-course dinner banquet.

The young artists are residents of Smokey Mountain in Tondo, once the site of Metro Manila’s overflowing garbage dump. Smokey Mountain refers to the smoke of the burning mountain of refuse that would often veil the dumpsite. Before the site overflowed and was eventually abandoned, residents and their children made a living salvaging what could be recycled from the garbage site. Since then, a portion of the site had been cleared to make way for housing for squatters in the area.

Today, the children of the city’s dumpsite have become the children of mother earth, and the champions of ecological stewardship and conservation. As the first to feel the effects of what trash can do to the environment, they continue to draw awareness to the issue through the performing arts. These artists rose above the rubble of their environment and found meaning in their lives through their talents and creativity. Through their songs, interpretative dance and stage drama depicting the importance of taking care of our environment, they aim to move the conscience of people regarding environmental degradation and possible ecological disaster resulting from ravaging Earth, our planet.

The funds raised from the tour are used to finance educational programs and college scholarships for the young residents, alternative livelihood and job training programs, and the continuing rehabilitation of the living conditions of the poorest of the slums in Manila.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Group rates at $450 for a table of ten are likewise available. To order tickets, please contact Blessie Trott 858.837.2322, Fr. Cecilio Moraga 619.944.7330, Dr Allen Chan 858.717.7708, Elsa Sieverts 619.757.9415 or Gen Silverio 619.851.9547.

Please make out the checks to the Escondido Host Lions Club, a 501(3)c non-profit organization.

Jasmine Restaurant is located at 4609 Convoy Street, San Diego CA 92111. From I-163 or I-805, take the Clairemont Mesa Blvd exit and go north on Convoy. The restaurant is one block north of Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

To learn more, view the KCET PBS Feed: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globaltribe/countries/phi_payatas.html.

A slideshow about the Children of Mother Earth may be found at : http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globaltribe/countries/smokey_slideshow2.html