"A Gift for A Gift" variety show. This was how an entire community responded to a child in need of bone marrow transplantation that would cost an amount way beyond her parents' means. In a full show of collective kindness, compassion and love for life, the students, faculty and staff of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) in Mati, Davao Oriental raised funds for an 11 year old girl diagnosed of acute myelogenous leukemia. It was not a coincidence that the show was done on the girl's second day in the hospital.
It wasn't also by chance that a cross-section of the community was involved as a good number of people in the community helped make the show successful. School children from the nearby Christian Learning School, under the leadership of Pastor Eugene Lopez helped by presenting several numbers. The different churches in town helped promote the show in their churches and lent equipment that made the technical aspects of the show better. These are Pujada Bay Community Church, Jesus Is Lord Fellowship, and Faith Tabernacle. DOSCST lent chairs and a vehicle that were used to ferry materials and equipment.
The members of Pagdungawan Theatre Guild, the State Modifiers, DOSCST chorale, and Psychology 10 students were the main performers. All these groups gave their all for the show. The visual artists group, Kwadro, made the backdrop which consisted of four paintings all in all. After the show, several people bidded for the painting.
While the show started, the hall wasn't filled up as expected. But as the show was going on, more and more came until the Mati Socio Cultural Center was filled with people. Tickets were sold at P10 (for high schoolers), P20, P100, P500, and P1,000.
A good number of people in the community bought tickets or just donated money and did not come to the show. There were several who came AFTER the show to buy tickets just for the purpose of donating for the cause.
Many reported that they were so touched and many cried - touched by a young girl whose life hang in the balance but whose life can be saved because many gave their gift to a gift.
