A Life in the Theater

In these months nearing the elections and days following the recent typhoons, the terms “politics” and “governance” have moved beyond the vocabulary of politicians and the news media and into the lexicon of ordinary Filipinos. For most people, however, “politics” remains to be understood as the work done by politicians and “governance” as the functioning of government, exclusively. It is likely these perceptions that account for much of the blame being placed solely on the shoulders of government for the apparent breakdown of governance mechanisms in the case of recent disasters. The private sector and civil society are being hailed deservedly as heroes, though this perspective reveals the still-prevalent thinking that only government is responsible for governance. Yet governance transcends the state and includes civil society organisations and the private sector, because all three are involved in most activities, and politics is rightfully the concern of every citizen. “Governance,” a...

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued a resolution stopping Malacañang from conferring the Order of National Artists to seven individuals pending a petition filed before it. The high court issued a status quo order while it resolves a petition seeking to disqualify four of the seven National Artists, including movie director Carlo J. Caparas, selected by President Arroyo. "The court saw the urgency to issue the status quo order and stop the conferment of the awards. It has the same affect as a temporary restraining order," SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said in a press conference. Aside from the status quo order, the SC also directed the respondents to comment on the petition filed by several National Artists and cultural workers on August 19. Marquez said SC en banc came up with the resolution during its regular session Tuesday. Named respondents in the case were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Cultural Center of the...

Follow Artist selection process, Palace told - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos Shared via AddThis

The Editor PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER Dear Sir: This is a reaction to the column of Ms. Belinda Olivares Cunanan, Political Tidbits, which was published today with the title “Artist Protesters Should Work to Revoke EO 236.” Ms. Cunanan is correct in stating that the Committee on Honors was created by Executive Order No. 236 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sept. 19, 2003 and in identifying its members. In all other respects, she seems to be misinformed about the provisions of this Order (which was actually meant to rationalize all civil awards and decorations of the Philippines, not only the Order of the National Artists) and the specific function of the Committee. (It may be important to point out that in certain parts of EO 236, conferment is not a task that only the President is authorized to do, since the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and National Defense are also allowed to do so, in the name of the President, for certain honors.) First, EO 236 does not give the Comm...

In a show of unity, the artistic community led by National Artists Napoleon Abueva, Virgilio Almario, Salvador Bernal, Ben Cabrera, Bienvenido Lumbera, Arturo Luz, Eddie Romero, and F. Sionil Jose, together with Celeste Legaspi representing her father Cesar Legaspi, held “memorial services” for what they describe as “the demise of a meaningful National Artist Awards.”  In the program held on Friday, 07 August 2009 at the ramp of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City attended by hundreds of artists, cultural workers, students, professionals and civil society, National Artists Bernal, Cabrera, Almario and Lumbera delivered eulogies, offered prayers and read statements decrying the “subversion of the National Artists Awards process,” denouncing the insertion of four names that did not undergo the deliberative process and the removal of one that passed it. “It’s a mockery of the system,” according to Cabrera. “The awards have been debased.”  Lumbera read a manifesto stating ...

“Tanyag,” a production of award-winning plays about contemporary Philippine society, will be staged at the Philamlife Theater on August 28 (7 pm) and August 29-30 (3 pm), 2009. Performing the Palanca winning plays “Our Lady of Arlegui” by Chris Martinez (First Prize, 2007) J. Dennis Teodosio’s “Baka Sakali” (Second Prize, 2007) and “Ang Kalungkutan ng Mga Reyna” by Floy Quintos (First Prize, 2008) are 2009 Gawad Buháy Outstanding Actress Shamaine Buencamino, 2009 Cinemalaya Best Actor Lou Veloso, veteran actor Bodgie Pascua and actor/director/designer Tuxqs Rutaquio, together with Acey Aguilar, Abner Delina, Jerald Napoles, Martha Nikko Comia and Anna Deroca. The plays will be directed by Dennis Marasigan and Floy Quintos with set and costume design by Tuxqs Rutaquio. “Our Lady of Arlegui” is a rollicking comedy about a student who finds himself trapped with a Muslim woman who runs a DVD stall when authorities raid the premises in search of pirated discs. Their reluctant efforts to ove...

During the past two weeks, I was saddened to hear about the demise of three people who were a part of my life in ways that they or those close to them may never have imagined. What exacerbated the feeling of loss was that I got to learn about their passing after their remains had been brought to their final resting place, and thus made me unable to pay my last respects to them. Through this note, I hope to make up for the failure. Dr. Ledivina Carino was only my professor in one subject at the then UP College of Public Administration, and one which I was not even able to complete. It was a always a pleasure, unlikely as it may seem, to engage in discussions with her in class as it was always stimulating and enervating. Beyond that, I got to meet here several times thereafter during the CCP’s attempt to come up with a law prescribing an Artists Career Service. Representing the University in our discussions, she would guide our proceedings with efficiency in ways that were warm and convi...

Instead of selecting what I thought was the best play or best actors or best production in the Virgin Labfest 5, I decided to write about the memories I still carry around in my head, one week after watching the performances. Most disturbing plot twist - DOC RESURRECCION, GAGAMUTIN ANG BAYAN provided the most unexpected twist among the VLF5 performances. As I had described to anyone who cares to listen, the play can be characterized by laughter through two-thirds of the play, punctuated by a loud, collective gasp, followed by a long silence til the end of the play. The images (both seen and imagined) remained with me way after the performance ended (and persist until now.) A great collective effort among all involved – playwright Layeta Bucoy and director Tuxqs Rutaquio (maybe they should let others benefit from their individual genius next time around), and actors Crispin Pineda, Peewee O’Hara and Angeli Bayani (all of whom showed restraint in what could have been scene-stealing r...

The INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR FILM AND ARTS (IIFA) announces its summer line-up of courses at its Makati venue (LAB 315, EVEKAL Building, 855 Arnaiz Avenue, Legazpi Village, Makati City) to be handled by an impressive list of Workshop Mentors which include award-winning writer Armando "Bing" Lao, broadcaster and Center for Sports Communicator founder Noel Zarate, animation specialist Jet Legaspi, and singer-actor Roeder Camanag, together with IIFA Directors Dodos de la Cruz, Nap Jamir, Dennis Marasigan and Cris Mojica. The IIFA 2009 Summer Program includes workshops in Acting for Camera, Acting for Kids, Broadcast Performance, Computer Graphics for Film and Animation, Corporate and Documentary Directing, Musical Theater Performance and Writing for Film. In addition, IIFA will hold a live-in Film and Cinematography and Advanced TV Commercials Directing Summer Camp in Villa Antonio, Pansol, Los Banos, Laguna from May 17t 31, 2009. Beginning the second half of 2009, IIFA will...

The International Institute for Film and Arts will conduct an ACTING FOR CAMERA workshop on March 30 to April 3, 2009 from 9am to 6pm, at LAB 315, Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Avenue, Legazpi Village, Makati City. With IIFA Cris Mojica as Workshop Master, ACTING FOR CAMERA participants will be introduced to the rudiments of acting for television and film.  They will also meet award-winning actors such as Ricky Davao and Ronnie Lazaro who will share experiences and provide career advice.  No previous experience in film or television is required.   A fee of P 10,000.00 will be charged which will cover workshop materials and meals. Limited scholarships are still available. For inquiries and applications, contact IIFA at telephone 818-7201 (10am-5pm, Mondays thru Fridays), mobile 09276063388, 0917-9182592 or 0916-5918815, or email filmarts.manila@gmail.com.

Do you have what it takes to be a news anchor?  Are you ready to battle it out as a field correspondent?  Do you think you can be better than Larry King?   Are you ready to rumble with the best in broadcasting? Join the International Institute for Film and Arts (IIFA)'S BROADCAST PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP and jump start your career! With sportscaster and Center for Sports Communication founder NOEL ZARATE as Workshop Master, IIFA's BROADCAST PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP will be held on March 25-27, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at LAB 315, Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.   Ideal for anyone who wants to improve their skills in broadcast performance, the workshop will take participants through a grueling retinue that includes lectures on TV and radio journalism complemented by simulated interviews, beat reporting and news anchoring. Workshop fee is P8000.00 per participant which covers workshop materials and meals. Limited scholarship slots are available. For inquiries an...

Last Sunday, I went to Cebu for a worskhop in Arts Marketing for the Arts Council of Cebu.  I was welcomed by Council President Petite Garcia with a column written for The Freeman by Joseph Gonzales, a batchmate/classmate from the UP College of Law Class 1991. His column was headlined "A Congressman for Culture?" and is about the email post I circulated over a month ago about the possibility of having a party list for artists and cultural workers. Joseph's column is here (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=440504)

Thanks to the wisdom of the PHILSTAGE Board that decided to push through with it and the dedication of the Jury members, the first Gawad Buhay! (PHILSTAGE Award for the Performing Arts) for achievements by and in productions of PHILSTAGE members will take place on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 7:30 P.M., at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). The complete list of nominees are in www.philippinetheater.blogspot.com and  http://gibbscadiz.blogspot.com/2009/philstages-gawadbuhay-nominees-bared.html.

The 2nd INTRODUCTION TO TV COMMERCIALS DIRECTING WORKSHOP offered  by the International Institute for Film and Arts (IIFA) will be held from February 24 to March 7, 2009.  Participants will get a chance to learn from some of the most-sought after commercial directors in the country (Sid Maderazo, Raymond Red, Mark Meilly, Raul Jorolan, Sockie Fernandez, Mark Querubin, Henry Frejas, Mike Alcazaren, among others) and try their hands in the production of TV commercials.  IIFA President and Commercials Directors Club of the Philippines founder Cris Mojica is Workshop Master. Those who wish to participate are required to have had prior production experience (school/amateur or professional) in any capacity and will be tasked to participate in the production of a TV commercial as their workshop output.  Classes will  be held Tuesday to Saturdays, 5-10pm, at LAB 315 Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Road), Makati City.  Course Fee is P15,000 for Filipinos and US$35o (exclusive of accommo...

In a forum among artists, cultural workers, and LGU representatives in Cebu just recently, talk shifted to how Congress is a battle ground for legislation and budgetary support for culture and the arts. Thus, the participants were advised to lobby with senators and congressmen to ensure that the cultural sector is not left out in the national policy and budget discussions. As a reaction, the following question was posed: instead of knocking at the doors of possible patrons and advocates, would it be possible (and possibly easier) and preferable to work for the election of artists or artists' sector representatives? Would it be feasible to have a political party for artists and cultural workers and therefore work for the election of at least a party-list representative in Congress by 2010? What do you think?

I have just realized that I have not shared Noel Vera's review of "Tukso" with whoever may be viewing this site. Noel referenced it again in his 2008 yearender prompting me to look up what he had written about the film. Here are some excerpts: "I'd go so far as to say that "Tukso" is proof positive that Marasigan wasn't just coasting on the excellence of Perez's classic theatrical piece but possesses a talent for filmmaking all his own...All that said, the script is a clever enough construction ...kudos to Marasigan, then, for at least doing a decent execution, for keeping the whole complex plot coherent in his head, that he may transfer it with full clarity into ours." "But it's in the details of mood and tone and character that Marasigan excels--the way, say, Bal (Soliman Cruz), looks at his daughter Monica (Diana Malahay) in a manner that sends spiders crawling up your spine (Rashomon, meet Mike de Leon's in my opinion far...

In his annual listing of the best of Philippine theater for 2008, Gibbs Cadiz chose Tanghalang Pilipino's "Golden Child" as best full length play. "Best Play (Full-Length):“THE GOLDEN CHILD ” (David Henry Hwang; Loy Arcenas, dir.). A splendid production marked by eloquent staging and fluid direction, nearly flawless acting by a great cast, visually stunning scenery and costumes, and the sharp, epigrammatic richness of David Henry Hwang’s lines." I am happy to have been part of the production and to have programmed it as Tanghalang Pilipino's opening production for its 2008-2009. I am thankful that CCP and Nanding Josef ensured that the production would push through. I suppose I can be forgiven for feeling vindicated in my belief that it should be a Tanghalang Pilipino production and that it could do well critically and commercially. As far as the rest of Gibbs choices go, I am happy that a lot of what I considered to be outstanding productions and performanc...

Gibbs Cadiz listed down what he thought to be the 12 best theater performances of 2008. He begins his article with the following: "THIRTEEN, in fact, because one play featured a pair of performances so tightly woven into each other that to cite one actor without the other would be an injustice. In any case, whittling the choices down to 12 is quite a task, considering the good harvest this year of great theater moments. The Old Guard had a run of plum parts, while some young ’uns showed they are fierce talents to be reckoned with—beginning now. Here, in alphabetical order, are 13 names that defined first-class acting in Philippine theater in 2008. 1. Irma Adlawan (Tanghalang Pilipino’s "The Golden Child"). In a production boasting of excellent performances across the board, hers was the most fascinating--daringly contradictory and daringly played. As the tragically obstinate First Wife unable to cope with modernity in a feudal Chinese household, Adlawan was in top form,...