DAVAO CITY — For Vincent, Yoseph, and Remy, survival comes before dreams. Their stories—marked by poverty, sacrifice, and difficult choices—mirror the lived realities of many young people growing up on the margins.
These stories take center stage in “Kadalanan sa Paglaum” (Pathways to Hope), a community theater production that transforms hardship into powerful storytelling.
Vincent, 14, grew up without his parents and left school in Grade 5, torn between studying and helping run a small barbecue stall. Overwhelmed, he ran away and took on odd jobs, including construction work, where he experienced child labor firsthand.
Yoseph, meanwhile, was raised by his sick grandfather after his mother died during childbirth. Forced to quit school in grade 9, he learned shoemaking to keep them afloat. For him, living in an urban poor community was never a choice but a consequence of poverty.
Remy, a Grade 12 student, chose to stop schooling so her older sister could finish college. While helping run her family’s small business and caring for her younger siblings, she faced another blow when her sister disclosed an unplanned pregnancy, shaking their already fragile household.
Bound by friendship, the three navigate life on the streets—spaces that double as refuge and escape. Here, they find fleeting relief from hunger, conflict, and uncertainty, often relying on peers for food, comfort, and survival.
Their intertwined stories reveal a common thread: deprivation rooted in poverty and the lack of consistent community support. Yet amid these struggles, resilience emerges—not as a grand gesture, but in small, everyday acts of endurance and hope.
What makes “Kadalanan sa Paglaum” even more compelling is that it is performed by those who know these realities best.
The production is staged by IDOL (I Dream Of Light), the children’s theater collective of Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights, Inc., with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Composed of children in street situations, the group has undergone arts training and participated in advocacy-driven productions centered on children’s rights.
Through theater, they reclaim their narratives—turning personal hardship into a collective call for awareness and action.
From May 4 to 13, 2026, “Kadalanan sa Paglaum” will be staged in Barangays 21, 22, 23, 76-A, and Talomo, as well as selected colleges and universities across Davao City, bringing the performance closer to communities that share similar struggles.
More than a play, it is a mirror and a message: that even in the most difficult circumstances, there remains a pathway to hope.
Signed consent has been secured from parents/guardians and children for all featured photos.