A Life in the Theater

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...

Here is the final installment of theater productions I have watched that have stayed with me through the years, inspired by Guelan Luarca’s own list of productions that stuck with him. Excluded are those where I was a member of the cast or the production staff, or later became involved in subsequent stagings (which, definitely, will be material for another list). 11.    Fili  by Floy Quintos (Dulaang U.P., Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, directed by Tony Mabesa, 1992) Floy Quintos reimagines Jose Rizal’s second novel as it is being told by Pepe to his friend Tunying, and the actor who plays this then goes on to play Simoun.  That’s just the beginning.  Add students on roller skates, the Governor General and his mistress as sado-masochist lovers, and other eye-popping theatrical devices  (e.g. tarot-card inspired periaktoi panels) that only serve to remind audiences that the novel might as well be about us in the present day.  Oh, and I have not tou...

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...