Good day, fellow writers in Hive! Your cup-bearer is about to fill your minds with a new interesting event of my life. I hope you'll find time to read this.
In every school activity there is always a decorator involved. Others may think of it as easy, but the reality will speak on behalf of the decorators like me.
Every School Year, the Department of Education lists recommended activities to be conducted and facilitated by the teachers. There are big events that need to be done on stage with aesthetic designs. The working committee will not be complete without the person in charge of the stage decoration. The decorator will conceptualize the whole view of the stage with the different materials to be utilized based on the motif of the program. Together with the team members, they will work hand in hand with every detail of the design.
Different factors could affect the execution of its layout. One of the biggest factors is the budget. But once we are assigned to it, we will not let the expectations down. We will tap all the resources even personal cash. In crafting designs we must be passionate and consider the liking of our audience. It must suit the preference of the majority.
Teacher/Decorator
The altar during our Culmination of the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Our entry during the San Isidro Labrador Parish Belen Making Contest which we won 3rd placer.
Altar during the School Fiesta Celebration.
In my seven years of service in the Department, I have been assigned on different occasions as a decorator. At first, I was struggling since I was not into it when I was still studying in college. But once we use our wide imagination and apply the elements of art, it will make our job easy and speedy. I always consider the following; line, shape, space, value, color, and texture. These elements are essential in creating the layout during the conceptualization.
School Sports Fest.
Many of us would easily criticize the crafts of others but we were not able to think of their collaborative efforts upon doing it. Appreciating small things will help us become an open-minded and optimistic individual. It will also help us to have a wide range of ideas in creating preliminary sketches of our project.
One of the Completion and Graduation Ceremonies stage decor.
Hosting a Regional Event
Last February 2024, our District was assigned to host the Regional Matatag Curriculum Exhibit. It was a big event that was expected to have lots of visitors coming from different Division Offices of the Department of Education. The exhibit was held at Tabogon Central School where the District Office was located. Tabogon Central School was one of the participating schools that showed their best practices of the new curriculum of the Department.
After our School Head attended the planning conference, he shared with us teachers that our school would be in charge of the stage decoration of the said event. We were worried about the expenses and where to get the resources for the decoration since it was not included in the budget. Without hesitation, I accepted the challenge by our School Head to lead the assigned task given to our school.
We only had days to prepare and I started the conceptualization of the design to be done. I visited the area and personally checked so that I could visualize the possible result. At first, I find it hard to start the plan since they have demands on what to be seen. They want to have a talk show set with a variety of fresh plants to display the beauty of nature.
I shared my plan with my colleagues so that they could help me begin the preparations. Since we already have the newly made backdrops which we used during our school feast, I added Filipino Learners and mushroom standees. We asked the tarpaulin printing shop to print it as soon as possible for us to cut and attach it to plywood. I also suggested renting an artificial Bermuda grass carpet to cover the entire flooring of the stage.
I told our School Head that I would begin doing the decoration 3 days before the exhibit so that I could still do the final touches before other participating schools arrived during the weekend. Our Administrative Staff and school watchman were my team members together with two Grade 12 learners who were eager to learn about decor.
The Making of the Magical Stage Begins
Our Administrative Staff and School Watchman.
We went to the venue on Friday morning. Our Administrative Staff and watchman started making the standees while I arranged the backdrops and the carpet with the help of the two learners. We covered the backdrops with black cloth to achieve the LED wall effect once we put the 5 ft by 8 ft tarpaulin on it. I also brought artificial flowers though the committee wanted fresh plants to cover the areas with a garden aura.
The two learners with our school watchman having their lunch.
We had our lunch before we finished our goal of the day. We look forward to having 80% accomplishment of our design since we were still waiting for some fresh plants and other decor materials from the Municipality of Tabogon Tourism Office to be displayed. I went to the Tourism Office storage to borrow props from the Sanggi Festival of the Town. We showcased what they should expect from our humble Municipality. We were grateful to the Tourism Department Head for his support and dedication in helping the education sector's activity.
80% Accomplished
I thought I could not get busy on Saturday. But there were preparations which I am still part of. The table set up was assigned to the TLE teachers of all Secondary Schools. I was so tired but it's a call of duty as one of the TLE teachers in our District. I was lucky to have the help of two teachers from other schools and my co-teachers and learners. I finished one table skirting and they followed for the other 4 tables.
I also did the final touches on the stage set-up. I accomplished 100% of our design and is ready for the big day. I visited it on Sunday to check if there's a need for improvement. But instead, I got another task. The table set-up for the receiving and snacks areas. I still made it, thanks to my one and only supporter. My wife helped me to do the other tasks though they were also busy preparing for the exhibit.
100% Accomplished.
Participating Schools' Arrival
San Fernando District on their Matatag Curriculum Exhibit.
Other participating schools arrived to display their best practices. They brought the best from their Districts to show the Region 7 DepEd Officials the progress on their Matatag Curriculum journey. I met my college classmate who is now teaching at Liloan, Cebu with her School Head who happened to be my co-worker before in the private school.
Over time on Sunday Evening.
The set-up made by the Morning Star Catering Service for the guests added the vibrant ambience of the Gabaldon Building. When they put some lights on the stage it resulted in what I had imagined. The "LED wall effect" attracted everyone who could see it. The whole appearance of the venue was appreciated by the DepEd Regional Director Jimenez and our very own Schools Division Superintendent Paulin.
Positive Outcomes Got Rewarded
It's a fulfilment hearing the commendable reactions from the people who witnessed our hard work in creating the magical stage. They appreciated our efforts as we did our best to satisfy the desire of the planning committee and the higher officials of the Region. Their gratifying words were the rewards of our commitment to our job. I have been thankful to God who bestowed me with the knowledge and skills. This would lead me to a lot of opportunities to improve and serve the people in the community.
With the efforts of my team and the support
of our School Head and my co-teachers,
we made it the best.
I am your Aquarian, the cup-bearer.
Thank you for your time.