Thesis (BA Communication Arts) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, June 2015

Davao City ranked fifth among the country?s 17 regions in teenage fertility in the recent study current study conducted by the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Studies (YAFS) in 2013. Because of this increase , the local government of Davao especially the City Population Division of the city Health Office find the need to educate the youth about the consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex. This research study aims to utilize theater as a medium in response to the need of producing more strategic and interactive communication tools. Theater is a form of entertainment media but has been widely used as a tool for social change in several settings. This medium offers public communication and it has the capacity to establish dialogue and connection with the community. A three-part design process was mapped by the researcher which includes a theater workshop and theater play. The workshop and play was participated by third year and fourth year high school students of the University of the Immaculate Conception. After the workshop, the students were able to produce a 10 minute play entitled ?Rosa?. The results of the study implied that theater can be an effective communication tool in educating the youth of the consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex. With further development, the medium can be adapted by different organizations concerned with teenage fertility because of its capability to involve the community in the narrative and in the process of figuring out the solution. The use of participatory theater can also be used in addressing other social issues such as environment, human rights, health, and etc.