While in Philippines at the Assumption College with the METTA Theatre Group this past week we had a chance to engage in many ways with our local communities. We created and shared a show called "Heal the World" where 4th graders up to College students preparing for over one year shared the message of compassion, love and unity through song and dance. We also visited and did beautiful workshops with many challenged communities including 2 Prisons, 2 slum communities and 1 amazing boarding school that holds 3500 girls from the poorest of the poor backgrounds in the Philippines at no charge. 

This song, Paraiso, sung by our girls in the show is my new favorite. Along with their voices, the message captures my beautiful experience in the amazing country of the Philippines with the Assumption College and all the communities we spent time with. 

It's originally by Smokey Mountain -- a Filipino singing group formed by musical director, composer, and conductor Ryan Cayabyab. And here are the lyrics ... 

Return to a land called paraiso,
A place where a dying river ends.
No birds there fly over paraiso,
No space allows them to endure.
The smoke that screens the air,
The grass that's never there.

And if i could see a single bird, what a joy.
I try to write some words and create
A simple song to be heard
By the rest of the world.

I live in this land called paraiso,
In a house made of cardboard floors and walls.
I learned to be free in paraiso,
Free to claim anything i see.
Matching rags for my clothes,
Plastic bags for the cold.

And if empty cans were all i have, what a joy.
I never fight to take someone
Else's coins and live with fear
Like the rest of the boys.

Paraiso, help me make a stand.
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
That if i could see a single bird, what a joy.
This tired and hungry land could expect
Some truth and hope and respect
From the rest of the world.