Georcelle Dapat-Sy: Dancer, Mentor, Mother Teacher G talks about unlocking latent talent in young kids

Georcelle Dapat-Sy is first and foremost a dancer – mention “dance” and her name is bound to crop up in the entertainment circle of the local industry. Her dedication and commitment to her craft has earned her a niche in a saturated industry that will make room for someone who has worked hard to distinguish her talent. However, Georcelle’s talent in grace in motion is not confined to the stage or the studio alone; it spills over into her personal life, in her mothering, and ultimately in her mentoring of the next generation at large.

Once again, Georcelle gets involved in Promil’s Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp, which aims to tap the inert talents of the very young and to help them wield the potency that they hold inside.

“The Promil Pre-school program is about recognizing talent. When the potential is seen in a young person, it is categorized,” Georcelle says. Whether innate intelligence or a natural inclination for arts, the mother of three is keen on picking out kids who are naturals in dancing. And this is when the fun starts.

Georcelle knows the benefits of early intervention or starting the mentoring while they’re soft and pliant. She herself started out that way.

A strong sense of determination despite limitations
Contrary to popular notion, being well off is not necessarily a prerequisite to the proper developing of talent. Though many families are blessed to be able to send their children to the most expensive dance schools and hire top of the line instructors, Georcelle didn’t have that kind of privilege to start with. However, she was blessed with parents who were musically inclined.

Her parents quickly recognized her abilities and brought her to the dance program at the Metropolitan Theatre. She took up different styles like tap, jazz, ballet, folk, contemporary and Hawaiian. And because she didn’t come from a wealthy family, her mother was always looking to get her a scholarship while bringing her to auditions at the same time.

In the midst of diligent quests, divine intervention took place. Once, on a trip to UP Diliman to get into the dance program of Tony Fabella and Eddie Elejar, Georcelle and her mom made a mistake and ended up in Felicita Radaic’s class instead. “When we met her, akala niya (she thought) I was an aspiring ballerina, because I had the build. She then wrote a letter to Metropolitan Dance Theatre’s director to put me in the dance scholarship.” This was a heady lesson for the young dancer: Georcelle learned that where funds were lacking, a strong sense of determination would more than make up for it. And fate did the rest.

But the whole process was tedious, testing the young Georcelle’s patience. Nevertheless, Georcelle looks back now and realizes that not everyone gets a chance to study with the best. “My teachers were the best in the country (Agnes Locsin, Noordin Jumalon). They guided me. And true enough, once I started dancing, tuloy tuloy na from there.”

Georcelle was all of 10 years old when she began. At the age of 14, she had become a professional.

Nurturing her children through her passion for dance
Georcelle feels that dancing as a passion promotes closeness and love. As dancing is likewise a part of her, she used it to nurture her children, and not exclude them from an area that dominates her life.

Eventually she exposed her children to the best. “I show them performances, either in concert or ‘You Think You Can Dance’ or ‘America’s Best Dance Crew.’ Then I tell them that the performers trained hard before they reached the level of their performance. My point is that you have to train if you want to be the best. It’s achievable as long as you know the ABC’s and basics. And from there you take it to the next level.”

For Georcelle, the foundation of mentoring kids is love. “We do a lot of hugging, especially when the dancing mood strikes them. Outside of dance, it’s 24/7 parenting. I take my kids to school in the mornings. When I get home from a busy day, I hug them and kiss them even when they’re asleep.”

Does she see herself in them? “Teachers say my kids show qualities in leadership. They have a sense of command. That’s what they got from me.”

The top dance choreographer pays it forward
Not content with just being the top dance choreographer in the land, Georcelle has also had a hand in building G-Force as the leading dance company in the showbusiness today. This has been instrumental in her mentoring the next generation of dancers. Dance classes called ‘Me and My Little Force,’ are designed for the parent and child.

“I started dancing na wala akong pambili ng sapatos (when I had no money to buy shoes). I had a dream to give a chance to those who didn’t have the means.” For Georcelle, it was all about expressing her gratitude for having all those great teachers when she was young. “So now this is my way of paying it forward.”

Today, the G-Force Project is becoming more and more of a family event. It started out as morning classes for kids, until she eventually decided to put in the moms who were requesting for zumba classes with the kids.

“Me and my 4-year old son dance together, so that’s where I got the inspiration. In class the little ones would mimic their mommies and that’s a great way to develop motor skills and photographic memory. When they grow up they’ll remember the fun, the exercise and the bonding.”

It’s clear that being a mother has made Georcelle not just a better person, but a better mentor as well.

Promil Pre-School i-Shine 3 Talent Camp Hosts, Mentors, and Wildcard Voting… Revealed!

 Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is back on its third year with a bigger and better production, as Wyeth Nutrition and ABS-CBN go beyond the studio walls and expose the kids to real talent institutions that have nurtured and developed similar talents – of dancing, singing, and acting – throughout the years.

For over 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been advocating the development of the Filipino children’s talents with the help of their parents, proper care and proper nutrition. In line with this advocacy, the i-Shine Talent Camp aims to help exceptionally talented preschoolers develop their full potential. Aside from the extensive workshops, the roles of parents and proper nutrition will also play a big part in nurturing the preschoolers’ gifts to mastery.

 

Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp Year 3 TV hosts Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim were present during the event. All three hosts shared their memorable experiences in the past years, as well as their excitement for what’s new for the third season.

The top caliber mentors were also revealed – fierce mom and the artistic director of G-Force, Georcelle Dapat-Sy; Multi-platinum artist and the country’s music icon, Zsa Zsa Padilla; and critically acclaimed and world-class television and movie actress, Angel Locsin. These mentors will guide the i-Shiners through a series of workshops, sharing their knowledge as experts in their various fields. In the duration of the camp, the chosen preschoolers will be guided and given the opportunity to strengthen their talents.

This year, the audience was given the chance to vote for their favorite i-Shiner through the Wildcard voting. A shortlist of 30 finalists was revealed on the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp microsite. The audience chose their favorites through online voting – one for singing, one for dancing and one for acting. The three finalists per category with the most votes will join the nine finalists selected by Wyeth Philippines and ABS-CBN, and complete the top 12 i-Shiners.

These 12 i-Shiners will be taken to different institutions that played significant roles in nurturing the gifts of some of the country's icons for a series of workshops. The Grand Finale will stage a grand performance by the i-Shiners with the help of their moms and mentors. Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is also giving away over Php 1 million worth of prizes, and a contract from ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School to the Grand i-Shiner who will be receiving the highest score.

Previous Promil Pre-School grand i-Shiners Lukas Enrique Magallano in 2012 and Yesha Camille in 2013 have received numerous television appearances for their talents in singing and acting. Lukas was able to appear in Kapamilya shows such as ASAP, Little Champ and Muling Buksan ang Puso while Yesha is currently shooting for an upcoming series with her i-Shine mentor Piolo Pascual. These kids, having continuously shown much promise, are now on their way to become icons through the help of the i-Shine Talent Camp.

Hosted by Marie Lozano, guests were treated to performances by the current Promil Pre-School Ambassador, as well as Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp Year 2 Top i-Shine Singer, Nathan Bautista.

Promil Pre-School reveals this year’s Top 30 and gives the audience the chance to vote for their favorite i-Shiner

i-Shine Talent Camp, a reality TV program in search of exceptionally talented preschoolers in singing, dancing, and acting, is giving viewers the unique opportunity to vote for their favorite i-Shiner.

Promil Pre-School recently held workshops and auditions in Abreeza Mall in Davao, SM City in Cebu, and TriNoMa in Metro Manila. The mall events were attended by over 700 children ages 4-7 years old, along with their parents, to showcase their talents.. Hosts Dimples Romana, Xian Lim, and Matteo Guidicelli were also present during the events, with the latter two performing in TriNoMa for fans and mall goers.

This year, a shortlist of 30 finalists will be revealed on the Promil Pre-school i-Shine Talent Camp’s microsite on May m24, 2014. The audience will choose 3 finalists – 1 for singing, 1 for dancing, and 1 for acting – through online voting. The 3 finalists per category with the most votes will join the 9 finalists selected by Wyeth Philippines and ABS-CBN, and complete the top 12 i-shiners.

Under the tutelage of high-caliber mentors, these twelve finalists will undergo a series of comprehensive workshops to nurture their talents and reach their full potential.

To vote, viewers must log on to http://ishine.abs-cbn.com, visit the Top 30 finalists’ profile pages and click on the vote button for their favorite I-Shiner. Voting will run from May 24 to June 3, 2014. Only one vote per day is allowed.

Watch out for this exciting twist! You may be part of this year’s Grand I-shiner’s journey! Keep visiting http://ishine.abs-cbn.com and watch interviews and behind the scene footages throughout the season!

Promil Pre-School’s i-Shine Talent Camp is on the look out for exceptionally talented preschoolers

When the curtain goes up and the lights come down, will your child be the star that shines the brightest?

Let the i-Shine Talent Camp, a reality TV program that follows the journey of exceptionally talented preschoolers as they go through a series of workshops and challenges to nurture their talents, be the stage for your child’s shining moment. Now on its 3rd season with ABS CBN, the i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is back with an even bigger and more exciting program.

“We’re really excited for this year’s i-Shine Talent Camp. We know there are a lot of parents who really nurture their children’s talents, and we want to continue providing an opportunity for these talented kids to shine.” says Dian Yu, Promil Pre-School Product Manager

The i-Shine Talent Camp will search the country for twelve exceptionally talented preschoolers, ages 4 to 7,. Under the tutelage of some of the country’s most prominent mentors from ABS-CBN and performing arts institutions, the top twelve i-Shiners will undergo a series of workshops to nurture their talents.

Hosted by Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim, for the third year in row, i-Shine continues to provide a platform to recognize, nurture, and develop the talents of young children.

This year’s i-Shine Talent Camp will also feature the moms of the i-Shiners, and how they helped their kids develop their innate talents to reach their full potential. Another element that was added to this year’s i-Shine is the Wild Card selection. The audience will determine the fourth finalists for singing, dancing, and acting, through online voting, to complete the Top 12.

For a minimum purchase of P300 worth of Promil Pre-School products, talented kids can make their way to the following mall events to audition: April 27 at Abreeza Mall Davao, May 3 at SM City Cebu, and May 10 at TriNoMa.

Through the i-Shine Talent Camp, Promil Pre-School aims to nurture young talents and to inspire parents to be an active part in discovering what it takes to bring out the best in their kids.

Unleash the art prodigy in your child

Did you miss Promil Pre-School’s biggest co-created hand-painted masterpiece? Now, here is your chance to let your child share in outstanding child artist Hamzah Marbella’s exceptional talent in painting.

Hamzah Marbella, 12 years old, is making a famous name in the art industry both here and abroad. Not only is he representing Filipino art on the global stage, he has also won more than 50 national and international accolades, including a Special Citation from the National Commission for Culture, an Outstanding Artist Award and the Arts (NCCA) and a Certificate of Recognition at the United Nation International Children’s Art Competition.

Hamzah is the youngest member of the Artists Association of the Philippines and was recently named Promil Pre-School’s Outstanding Child Artist. There is no stopping this child prodigy from showing the world his exceptional talent in painting and achieving his ultimate dream – to become the country’s future National Artist.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that a big reason behind Hamzah's success is the invaluable support of his family. At an age when most young kids are just beginning to walk and talk, Hamzah was already painting and producing what his father, Renato, described as art forms.

"Two years old siya noon at nasa kuna pa lang lagi na niya akong pinapanood magpinta, (He was just two years old then when he started watching me paint while in his crib),” relays Renato who is also an artist himself.

“Humahanap siya ng kung anu-anong mga bagay – tansan, bato, sipit ng damit – maya-maya magiging mga art form na. Makakabuo na siya ng mga hayop, paru-paro, bulaklak, at iba pa (He would look for different things like stones, bottle caps, clothespin, etc. and later on transform it into art. He’d be able to build animals, butterflies, flowers and many others things).”

Meanwhile, his mother Elma remembers the time when she bought Hamzah a "magic slate" and how this served as his first canvas. "Doon siya nagsusulat at nagdo-drawing pero dahil ang dami-dami nyang ginagawa, ang bilis nasisira ng magic slate kasi bura siya nang bura. Kaya ang ginawa ko, binilhan ko na siya ng crayon at sketch pad– yun na ang naging libangan at laruan niya (That is where he writes and draws but because of the many things he illustrates the magic slate is quick to get damaged. That’s why I bought him crayons and sketchpads, which became his toys and hobby).”

It came to a point though when Hamzah's parents realized that art was more than just a hobby for Hamzah. "Pati ako nagugulat at nagtataka sa kanyang mga ginagawa (Even I am was amazed and was wondering what he was doing),” shares Elma.

“Instead of discouraging his talent, we did everything we can to make sure that Hamzah's gift flourished. Binibilhan ko siya lagi ng children's books at kanya itong tinitingnan at kinokopya (I often buy him children’s books and he’d use it as an inspiration).”

“I always commend his improvement as well as give him rewards like toys. We want to make sure that he feels our support and has everything he needs at home. One of the important things I make sure Hamzah gets is superior nutrition. As a mother, I understand that my role in nurturing his talent is essential, but I still need a partner who does just the same to make sure his mind absorbs what we are teaching and that he is healthy to support his activities. This is the kind of partnership I have found with Promil Pre-School."

Promil Pre-School is a powdered mild drink for children 4 – 7 years old designed to help them achieve optimal growth and development. It contains a unique combination of essential nutrients, like vitamin A that supports healthy eye development, Iodine and & Iron that support brain development, Biotin and Zinc that support normal growth and help maintain a healthy immune system, Niacin that aids in healthy digestion and promotes normal appetite as well Potassium that promotes healthy muscles to support various activities of your children – all these are found in Promil Pre-School’s Nutrissentials. Plus it has DHA, an important nutrient for cognitive and eye development and AA which helps your child’s body absorb DHA better.

Hamzah Marbella, the youngest member of the Art Association of the Philippines with mom Elma and dad Renato Marbella at the ceremonial first painting of Promil Pre-School’s first co-created hand-painted masterpiece in the recent Imagine-nation event held at Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global. 


“We believe that the interests and talent of a child begin to emerge at their pre-school age. It is the perfect time to start nurturing them with the right activities. As a partner of mothers in nurturing, Promil Pre-School is very happy to launch the Paint like Hamzah promo,” says Rhea Villareal, Promil Pre-School Product Manager, Wyeth Nutrition.

Consumers will receive limited edition canvas bags inspired by Hamzah Marbella’s artworks and art materials with every purchase of Promil Pre-School 1.6kg and 180g packs in leading stores nationwide. Canvas bags are available in three collectible designs. Promo runs from February 1 – March 31, 2014.

We hope that in sharing Hamzah’s exceptional talent in painting we can help mothers nurture their child’s creativity and talent so that it may become exceptional as well,” adds Villareal.

Every purchase of Promil Pre-School 1.6kg and 180g packs, mothers will be equipped with tools to help their child develop their talent in art.

For more information visit our Facebook fan page, www.Facebook.com/PromilPreSchool. Per DOH-FDA-CFRR permit no. 0518 Series of 2013.

Hamzah Marbella: Child prodigy, global Filipino artist, nurtured by Promil Pre-School

Try searching “Hamzah Marbella” on Google and chances are you’ll see an article entitled The World’s Youngest Art Prodigies (Artists who got their start when they were still in diapers). In the article, he’s mentioned in the same breath as Kieron Williamson from UK who’s touted to be the next Monet; Akiane Kammarick whose realist religious art began fetching millions when she was just 4 years old; and Wang Yani, the youngest ever artist who had a solo exhibit at the Smithsonian.

What this shows us is that Hamzah – at 12 years old— is already representing Filipino art on the global stage.

Twelve-year-old Hamzah Marbella, Promil Pre-School’s Outstanding Child Artist, shares his gift in painting by creating this beautiful artwork as the inspiration for Promil Pre-School’s first co-created, hand-painted masterpiece.


A gift from within

At an age when most young kids are just beginning to walk and talk, Hamzah was already painting and producing what his father, Renato, described as ‘art forms’. “Two years old siya noon at asa kuna pa lang lagi na niya akong pinapanood magpinta (When he was two years old in his crib, he would always watch me paint),”relays Renato who is also an artist himself. “Humahanap siya ng kung anu-anong mga bagay – tansan, bato, sipit ng damit – maya-maya magiging mga art form na. Makakabuo na siya ng mga hayop, paru-paro, bulaklak, at iba pa (He looks for anything – bottle caps, stones, clothespins – later on they become art forms).”

And from there, the rest became history.

At the age of 5, his artwork ‘Bounty’ was auctioned off for a whopping HK$60,000 (the 3rd highest at the charity auction of the International Care Ministries (ICM) in Hong Kong – a feat considering that his work was auctioned off together with that of National Artists from all over Asia.

Besides being a proud recipient and receiver of more than fifty national and international accolades and awards including Special Citation from the National Commission for Culture, an Outstanding Artist Award and the Arts (NCCA) and a Certificate of Recognition at the UN International Children’s Art Competition, Hamzah is the youngest member of the Artists Association of the Philippines. He has produced approximately 300 artworks, some of which have been featured at the Asian exhibitions and have been appeared at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

It’s a little known fact that Hamzah actually has a photographic memory and that he translates the everyday things he encounters into striking works of art. “Dito sa amin sa Cavite, maraming nagtitinda ng isda – may mga naglalako, yung iba naka-kariton (Here in Cavite, there are a lot of fishes sold on the streets, some in crates),” shares his father in explaining the predominantly pastoral setting in Hamzah’s art. Fisher folk with cats, fish, flowers and Hamzah’s signature image of the sun, prompt art lovers to enter Hamzah’s wonderful visualization of the world. In his own words, Hamzah shares: “sa painting nasasabi ng kamay ko ang hindi nasasabi ng bibig ko (with paintings, my hands are able to say things that my mouth can’t).”

Nourishing the gift

With its long-standing thrust of encouraging Filipino children who have exceptional talent, Promil Pre-School recognized Hamzah as an Outstanding Child Artist in an event held at the Activity Pods 1 and 2 of Bonifacio Highstreet in Taguig. Hamzah will be joining fellow painter CJ de Silva and a select group of exceptionally talented children, all of which are walking testaments not only of Filipino talent, but of the Promil Pre-School heritage in nurturing gifts as well.


During the event, attendees experienced Hamzah’s artistic world firsthand by joining him in painting the biggest children’s collaborative masterpiece. Meanwhile, Wyeth Leadership team painted alongside Hamzah himself, CJ de Silva, Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 2 host Dimples Romana and her husband Boyet Ahmee. This first co-created, hand-painted masterpiece will be displayed in different venues in the metro. First stop will be at the left entrance of Eastwood Mall Open Park in Quezon City, starting November 11 to November 24, 2013. For details on the next venues, visit Promil Pre-School’s Facebook fan page.

“We’re glad that parents continue to take an active role in developing their children’s gifts to excellence. Through Hamzah’s story and his achievements, we hope to inspire and encourage even more Filipino parents to nurture their children’s talents,” says Rhea Villareal, Promil Pre-School Product Manager, Wyeth Nutrition. “We hope that by recognizing Hamzah, we can continue to inspire a new generation to develop their talent and potential towards excellence.”

 

2013 Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp Grand i-Shiner Yesha Camile, enjoys painting with other kids