A Life in the Theater

“OROSMAN at Zafira,” the 2008 reimagined dance theater production directed by Dexter Santos for Dulaang UP, based on the original text by Francisco Baltazar. Deviating from the standard komedya where the conflict is between theMoros and the Cristianos, this verse play is about warring kingdoms in the Middle East. A recent list by Entertainment Weekly of the best plays of the last 100 years prompted a timely question from the Script Analysis class I am conducting for the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company: Why is there no such list for Philippine theater? As a response, I hereby proffer a list of what I believe to be a representative sampling of 25 plays that can be considered as landmarks of Philippine theater. The list is arranged chronologically, and includes plays which were and are considered to have broken ground in local theater history, and/or plays which best represent particular theater movements or dramatic styles. I do not offer this as a definitive list, but...

Every year, the Virgin Labfest assembles an outstanding assortment of DIRECTORS and PERFORMERS, coming from various groups and persuasion, brought together by a shared desire to do theater. I have always been awed by the suprises I find in the Labfest, and I should like to think that the playwrights whose works are being performed for the first time as well as the audiences that watch the performances should only be too eager to rush to the CCP from June 25 to July 6, 2014. The names of the playwrights are in all of the posters and collaterals, but those who will be trooping to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the Virgin Labfest 10:The Harvest will also be seeing the works of any of the following Directors and Actors.     DIRECTORS JK Anicoche  Emman Dela Cruz  Law Fajardo  Audie Gemora  Rolando Inocencio  Jenny Jamora  Ed Lacson Jr.  Melvin Lee  Joshua Lim So   Dennis Marasigan  Chris Martinez ...

The Internet can sometimes unlock treasures of memories.  I was browsing for copies of films I did in my early years and found several of them uploaded to Youtube. Among them are Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo, directed by  Laurice Guillen   from a script by Nicanor Tiongson, starring Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon.  I did double duty, filling in for Jerry O'Hara as Assistant Director for two of the four weeks it took to shoot the film, and acting in a scene (with Christopher, Mitch Valdez (billed as "Maya Valdez" in the credits) and the late Tony Santos.  If the location looks familiar, it's the Ateneo de Manila University.   Others in the cast were Rolly Quizon, Susan Valdez, Tony Mabesa, Jonas Sebastian, Jon Arino, Rikki Jimenez, Joe Jardi, Estrella Kuenzler and Nina Lorenzo. Among those who had cameos were Bienvenido Lumbera, Sonia Roco and Doreen Fernandez as members of a thesis defense panel, and Armida Siguion Reyna, Johnny Delgado, Bibsy Carbal...

2013 began with a chance to direct for the 2nd Unit of GMA Network's television series INDIO and, looking back, I am thankful for all the opportunities to undertake creative work as varied as what I did in the year just past. My sincerest gratit ude to all those who entrusted me and journeyed with me in these projects: Theater/Dance: VIRGIN LABFEST 9 FELLOWSHIP STAGE READING VIRGIN LABFEST 9/10 PLAYWRITING FELLOWS STAGE READING ANG BUHAY AY PELIKULA EURIDICE A CHRISTMAS CAROL Television: INDIO PARTY PILIPINAS TEEN GEN 50 YEARS WITH THE MASTER SHOWMAN LOVE AND LIES GOT TO BELIEVE TITSER MARIA MERCEDES BUBBLE GANG 18TH ANNIVERSARY ADARNA AKIN PA RIN ANG BUKAS MAGPAKAILANMAN Film: GAYDAR CATTLEYA 10000 HOURS AUDIO VISUAL PRODUCTIONS : MERALCO BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Corporate/Events: PNB/ALLIED BANK APPRECIATION PARTY KALAP FESTIVAL 3M AUTO TINT OFF 2013: MASTER TINTERO SURVIVOR CHALLENGE 3 2013 MUTYA NG CORON  KUMON GOOD...