Under its LAMIGAS (Youth Development) PROGRAM, DAGWAY SIGMAHANON, simply aims to empower children and young people of Sigma by helping them discover their innate talents and become productive citizens of the community through the dynamics of theater. The rudiment of artistic trainings does not only raise the level of perfection of each of the members but made know and understand themselves more fu
lly. Theater urges them to be more attached to the world. The process has made them “totoong tao”. Most of the young people who joined the program comes from the marginalized sector. As a community theater, its foundational values are anchored on the philosophy that theater is not only for entertainment but also a tool for social transformation. Under the artistic direction of Mr. Tesoro since its inception, Dagway Sigmahanon members were nurtured not only with artistic trainings but also by inculcating the basic life skills. Managed like a household the members are given specific tasks. Members do the marketing, cooking, dishwashing, preparation of props, and other assignments during the rehearsal phase and actual mounting of a production. Team building activities, responsible teen sexuality classes, spiritual and values formation are part of capacity building programs for DSI members aside from their attendance to various artistic workshops. DSI’s engagement in advocacy has major effects in the community. It has elicited people’s participation in social concerns. It has intensified their sense of social responsiveness and cooperation. In every DSI production, community support is very apparent such as materials for props, carpentry works, and foods during rehearsals, and other logistics are contributed for free by the community. To date, DSI is an active partner of the Provincial Government of Capiz under the leadership of Governor Antonio Del Rosario whose support to the group has intensified its pursuit towards artistic excellence. Suffice to say, the community’s active participation, and support to the various endeavors of DSI; the appreciation of its theatrical aesthetics; and the recognition of DSI members’ artistic and leadership skills by various institutions and sectors are indicators that DSI’s existence is relevant in all aspects of community development.