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II. Membership

 

 

A.                 Experience has taught Dulaang Sibol two things. First, that it cannot take too many members without losing the personal touch that has been the reason for its success in the past. Second, that what we should look for in an applicant should not be merely his personal excellence as an artist; but his potential excellence as a person as well.

 

B.                 Outside of a considerable manifestation of talent for the various jobs in Dulaang Sibol, from play writing to janitoring, from acting to bookkeeping, from directing to ushering, these are the qualities Dulaang Sibol seeks in an applicant:

1.      a Christian perspective of life

2.      an understanding of and a loyalty to the vision and objectives of Dulaang Sibol

Dulaang Sibol accepts and rejoices over the fact that there are many visions and obsessions that a person can dedicate himself to and respects an individual’s choice. At the same time, Dulaang Sibol strongly reaffirms that if a small theatre group like Dulaang Sibol is to get anywhere, its members must share one vision, one obsession. Experience has taught us, that if people with opposite obsessions insist on boarding one bus, the result could be chaos.

At this point, a quote from Robert Fulghum would also be helpful: “As the wagon driver said when they came to a long, hard hill, ‘Them that’s going on with us, get out and push. Them that ain’t, get out of the way.’ ”

3.      a spirit of generosity, a willingness to share what one has, what one is, even what one aspires to be

4.      a strong sense of Christian friendship and personal loyalty towards each and every member

5.      the humility and the self-discipline that are necessary if one is to learn

6.      the determination and the willingness to work hard that are necessary if one is to persevere

7.      a spirit of teamwork, the willingness to work selflessly with others to achieve a common goal, at big jobs or small, at major roles or minor

The metaphor of the members of a rowing team in a scull is appropriate at this point. Under the direction of the coxswain, the team members row the scull onwards. When each member gives his utmost and all move as one, the team experiences a “high”—the moment of lift when the scull seems to sail out of the water and, for a moment, seems to fly. This is teamwork at its peak. The rower who isn’t there or rows out of the beat not only does not help move the scull forward, he impedes the forward thrust.

8.      the sense of responsibility and dependability that are necessary for a performing group

9.      an appreciation of the dignity of manual labor

10.  a sense of joy with which even difficult jobs will seem easy; but without which, even easy jobs will seem difficult

 

C.                 The Sibol Aspirant

Before an applicant is accepted as a regular member of the performing group of Dulaang Sibol, he goes through a year as an aspirant. For a year, the aspirant is able to study how Sibol operates, and the Managing-Director is able to study how the aspirant develops. Thus, after a year of mutual observation, the aspirant can make wiser decisions as to whether or not he wishes to pursue regular membership, and by the Managing-Director as to whether or not the aspirant should be accepted as a regular member.

Applications for aspirancy are accepted at the start of the school year. Even as the posters go up announcing try-outs for Sibol, Sibolistas go into a triduum of Masses and prayer sessions asking God’s blessings for a good crop of future members.

During the three-day try-outs that follow, the Sibol Constitution is explained to the applicants; the applicants are requested to give a short elocution piece in English or in Filipino; they are likewise requested to sing a short song. They are also requested to fill out a data sheet and to submit two essays on these two topics: “Me” and “Why I want to join Dulaang Sibol in spite of difficulties.”

All current Sibolistas then sit down to deliberation sessions, during which, guided by the Sibol Constitution, they pray and think and exchange ideas and, finally, choose which applicants are to be accepted as aspirants into Sibol.

On the day the results of the try-outs are made known, Sibolistas go to the morning Mass to pray for the applicants that they may be able to accept with grace the outcome of the deliberations. All those who tried out receive letters of gratitude for their time spent on Sibol. The letter contains a list of all those who are accepted as aspirants. Aspirants who have been chosen are asked to submit letters from their parents, expressing their parents’ consent regarding their son’s aspirancy into Sibol.

The Sibol aspirant is expected to attend the 7:10 a.m. Mass at the High School Chapel every Wednesday during the school year, a weekly one hour meeting during the activity periods, the Friday 2:00 p.m. choir practice and the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the della Strada Parish Church every first Sunday. He may observe Sibol rehearsals, attend and/or serve as an usher during Sibol performances. The culminating activity for the Sibol aspirants is their Unang Lipad during which their theatrical talents are put to a test under the direction of the juniors in the performing group.

 

D. The Sibolista

1.      There should not be more than 36 members in the performing group per given year. Ideally, the spread should be thus: 12 seniors, 12 juniors and 12 sophomores. This will insure a smooth transition from year to year.

2.      Membership in Dulaang Sibol is on a one school year basis. At the end of the school year, each undergraduate member is asked to reflect prayerfully on whether he would seek re-admission into Dulaang Sibol next school year. In this reflection, he is advised to consider the Jesuit principle of “Tantum Quantum,” of using creatures insofar as they help one achieve his final goal.

3.      Sibolistas are taught to prioritize – academics before extra-curricular activities.

For Sibolistas who have had to do summer remedial work, continued membership in Dulaang Sibol would seem to put in jeopardy their fulfilling one of their primary duties, namely, to do well in their academic subjects.

Therefore, as a general rule, members who have had to do summer remedial studies are not re-accepted into Dulaang Sibol.

There can be an appeal to this ruling. The condition for granting of this appeal is that the applicant is re-activated as a regular member only if and when he merits at least an Honorable Mention Card in either the first or the second grading period.

This appeal may be used only once in the member’s stay in Dulaang Sibol. The senior members of the Sibol Council will assist the Managing-Director in enforcing this rule. Because the Managing-Director is privy to confidential information about Sibolistas, the final decision in this matter is his.

4.      One of the most important values Sibol espouses is how to make and live a commitment.

Therefore, as a general rule, members who have been grossly inconsistent in their attendance and/or punctuality and/or submission of letters of excuse are not re-accepted in Dulaang Sibol.

There can be an appeal to this rule. The errant member is accepted on probation. If and when he incurs more than seven absences on any scheduled activity, his membership in Dulaang Sibol is terminated. The Secretary-Treasurer is in charge of monitoring the attendance of the applicant.

This appeal may be used only once in the member’s stay in Dulaang Sibol. The senior members of the Sibol Council will assist the Managing-Director in enforcing this rule. Because the Managing-Director is privy to confidential information about Sibolistas, the final decision in this matter is his.

5.      Because Dulaang Sibol is one of the most time-consuming and energy-draining extra-curricular activities of the school, Sibolistas are not allowed to join other extra-curricular activities, lest they put in jeopardy the academic requirements of being Sibolistas.

6.      The procedure for application or re-application for membership into Dulaang Sibol is as follows:

a.       Those who decide to seek admission for the coming school year are asked:

                                                                                             i.                        to attend a meeting with the Managing-Director according to a pre-announced schedule

                                                                                           ii.                        to write an assessment of their membership in Dulaang Sibol in the current school year, according to the 10 qualities expected of all Sibolistas

                                                                                          iii.                        to write an essay on “Why I still want to join Dulaang Sibol in spite of difficulties”

                                                                                         iv.                        to submit the assessment and the essay personally to the Managing-Director according to a previously announced schedule

b.      The Managing-Director then reflects prayerfully on the data submitted and on the academic standings of the applicants. After much prayerful reflection, he announces the Sibol team for the next school year and calls for an organizational meeting.

c.       In the organizational meeting, the officers are elected or appointed according to the Sibol Constitution. The members of the previous Sibol company are the ones to elect the Sibol officers.

Plans are laid out for the coming school year. During this meeting, the new members are expected to submit a written letter of permission from their parents regarding their stay in Sibol.

d.      This organizational meeting is capped by the Sibolistas offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At this “Yes” Mass, each Sibolista responds in writing to our Lord’s invitation to grow Godwards by his membership in Dulaang Sibol.

 

E.                  A summer drama workshop is held for 4 to 6 weeks during the summer break, usually during the month of May. Therefore, Sibolistas are expected to reserve the entire month of May for Sibol. During the workshop, theatre lectures are given. Acting lessons are conducted. Music and visual arts workshops are likewise held. To further hone his theatrical talents, each Sibolista is asked to perform a new elocution piece and a new song. Each batch also presents a choreographed musical number. The year’s repertoire is discussed. The first productions for the school year are rehearsed and mounted. A final organizational meeting is held as the summer workshops come to a close with an org (organizational) night.

 

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