Avoiding another post-prod depression, thus I blabber about how crazy life will be after Sunday

After every production, there's the Post-Prod Depression. One would feel weird about having all the free time in the world after weeks of rehearsing everyday. Nostalgia will definitely be there pointing out the silly moments during rehearsals, laughing at playtime during shows and all those unexpected events that you wished never happen but still happened.

I don't think I'll be feeling that after Labfest. My life after Labfest consists of juggling rehearsals, mini rakets, Sipat Lawin work and researching for the JK-Isab project.

I do thank my parents for not pressuring me to find a "real" job or a regular job with regular hours and regular pay. Still, I feel the pressure from my college peers who often update their facebook status with "nkAkApAg0d w0rK".

I am not complaining. Hell, I don't mind if I don't get rich soon. But everything feels good at the moment. I might have my sudden rants on being tired and poor but nothing beats the excitement of waking up everyday and being able to do what you truly enjoy.

I still don't know how long I'd be able to keep up with this. I'm still enjoying the ride.

In the meantime, I savor extra moments I get to spend with friends talking like we haven't seen each other for weeks. Parang hindi kami nagkikita na sa totoo ay halos araw-araw kami nagkikita at nagkakamustahan. Hehehe.

Oh life! Oh reality! Oh happiness!

Topless Robot - Bonus! Rob's Transformers 2 F.A.Q.s!

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/06/bonus_robs_transformers_2_faqs.php?page=1#
Ahhh... Now I understand everything. Or not.

Virgin Labfest 5

http://www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/event.php?event_id=140
You can download the summary and schedule for Virgin Labfest 5 here.

VIRGIN LABFEST V -New Schedule

I deleted my entry containing the Labfest Schedule. Apparently, there have been changes on the schedule of the Stage Readings. So here it is.

VIRGIN LABFEST V

MAIN SELECTION

SET A - School of Life (Mga Dulang Walang Pinag-aralan)
June 23: 3pm, 8pm
July 4: 8pm
July 5: 3pm
 
MPC
by Job Pagsibigan, to be mounted by Sipat Lawin Ensemble

Humdrum pupil Felix Bakat is already the brightest student in the sub-standard Mababang Paaralan ng Caniogan or MPC. He and his two other friends, Erwin & Didai, had the misfortune of being the only three students to report to their class one stormy school day. Their teacher, the terrifying Miss Magnaye, prepares them for her teaching demo which she and her students are scheduled to present before their visiting school superintendent, Mr. Catacutan. On the day of the teaching demo, Erwin & Didai plan to steal from Miss Magnaye’s stock of canned goods; a business the teacher keeps to augment what she earn from the profession she herself despises. But just when Mr. Catacutan is already enjoying the teaching demo, Erwin and Didai are found out. Miss Magnaye points to Felix as the one behind the conspiracy. How the children are eventually cleared of the mischief is no small help from the school’s legendary ghost, Pilita and the violent storm that ties Pilita’s fate to that of Miss Magnaye.

Ang Huling Lektyur ni Misis Reyes
by Tim Dacanay, directed by Hazel Gutierrez

A high school music teacher at the crossroads of life decides to retire. She faces her class for one last session and improvises a lecture on a topic she considers most important for her audience: sex.

Isang Mukha ng Pandaraya
by Oggie Arcenas, directed by Roli Inocencio

Isadora, a student who is about to graduate summa cum laude from a prestigious university is accused of cheating during an examination. The accuser is Amor, an underachieving student, and the campus slut. The two face-off before the Student Disciplinary Tribunal which is hearing the cheating case. As the hearing unfolds, secrets are revealed, and a jaded society’s value system takes the spotlight.

______________________________________________________________________________
 
SET B - It's Complicated (The Buhul-Buhol Trilogy)
June 24: 3pm, 8pm
July 3: 8pm
July 4: 3pm
 
Salise
by J. Dennis Teodosio, directed by Roobak Valle

A laptop was stolen. In a desperate attempt to retrieve it, a soap opera writer discovers a life story that's stranger and juicier than the teleseryes he's been writing.

Ang Mamanugangin ni Rez
by Clarissa Estuar, directed by Paolo O'Hara

Enter Pinay’s world, which for most of the day is compressed into a small bag/shoe repair stall she manages at a mall. Here, even simple dreams seem out of reach, and simple Pinay constantly just fades into the background. She makes one last ditch effort for something she truly wants, or rather someone she truly wants only to question why she set her aspirations on that one man, of all people.

So Sangibo A Ranon Na Piyatay O Satiman A Tadman
by Rogelio Braga directed by Riki Benedicto

Braga, Written by a Filipino playwright as an ars poetica to a Bangsa Moro freedom fighter Abdul Rahman Macaapar is a story of love, lost and remembrance. Stella, a hooker from the university belt during the Martial Law years remembers the 1971 Tacub Massacre in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, Abdul Rahman who longs for a Ranao he left to pursue a dream in Manila, and Aling Ella a spinster who remembers a lost love that haunts her like a ghost. So Sanggibo a Ranon na Piyatay o Satiman a
Tadman is both a story of how ordinary people struggle for love, self-respect,freedom and maratabat amid a nation that harbors a dark past and an invitation to a journey in one of the sordid histories of Filipino Nationalism against the Bangsa Moro people.
 
______________________________________________________________________________
SET C - Blood Sports (Trilohiyang Dinuguan)
June 25: 3pm, 8pm
July 3, 3pm
July 5: 8pm
 
Kitchen Medea
by Kiyokazu Yamamoto directed by Yoshida Toshihisa

Doc Resurrecion: Gagamutin ang Bayan
by Layeta Bucoy, directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio

With the desire to introduce positive changes to his community, Doc Resureccion ran for Mayor. Unfortunately, his cousin, Boy Pogi Resureccion ran as a nuisance candidate challenging Doc Resureccion's chances. Bearing gifts and promises of a better future, he tries persuading his cousin to withdraw his candidacy only to find out that the community he so wanted to help desires a different path for itself.

Asawa/Kabit
by George de Jesus III, directed by George de Jesus III

Two middle-aged women Via and Vanessa confront each other about the man, they both loved for more than 25 years. Through a scathing conversation, resentments and regrets surface like land mines forcing both women to evaluate the immutable choices they made in the name of love, the unbearable burden of hope, and the contentiousness of believing in a man's fidelity.

______________________________________________________________________________
SET D - The Family That _______s Together (Tatlong Dulang Walang Diyos)
June 26: 3pm, 8pm
June 30: 3pm
July 2: 8pm
 
Boy-Girl ang Gelpren ni Mommy
by Sheilfa Alojamiento, directed by Carlo Pacolor Garcia

Two kids, caught in adult infidelity games, took time off away from their errant father's house and spend a vacation one summer in their divorced mother's place in another city and get to know her and her girlfriend.

Maliw
by Reuel Molina Aguila, directed by Edna Vida

How does one close a chapter still to be written? Five years after the forced disappearance of her eldest daughter, a mother confronts this question. The play is set after her family celebrates her eldest daughter’s 30th birthday.

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
by George Vail Kabristante, directed by Paul Santiago

This is a document of the times when club entertainers in Japan used to pick yen from the walls of clubs to be remitted to their families back home for saving or for squandering. It zeroes in on former entertainers husband and wife Jay-Ar and Leizl and their dream to go back to Japan which has become an impossibility, given that the Japanese government has absolutely made it difficult now for anyone to work there as club entertainer. Hinting at Chekovian absurdities & humor, the characters continue dreaming and role-playing to relive the good old days. In laughing at themselves and acting “up” and “out” the dark humors and their memorable past in Japan, these two characters find their plight less painful to bear.

______________________________________________________________________________
SET E - Life is a Trap (Three Plays in Search of Escape)
June 27: 3pm, 8pm
June 30: 8pm
July 1: 3pm
 
Isang Araw sa Peryahan
by Nicolas B. Pichay, directed by Chris Millado

Zaldy and Toni, two friends whose family members have been the victims of forced disappearances, amble along a jologs Peryahan. They grope in the dark shadow of a world weighed by uncertainties and fear. Engaged in the ritual of forgetting, the two friends' undefined relationship adds a nagging ambiguity in their lives making it difficult for them to define a future. Hope, for them can be a tricky sleight of hand; a slow and treacherous rickety ride to hell.

Paigan
by Liza Magtoto, directed by Sigrid Bernardo

Fagen ("Paigan"), an Afro-American soldier who deserted his camp to fight side-byside with the Filipino revolutionaries, is wanted by the Americans for the price of $600-- a hefty sum at the time. Desperate for money, Pedring captures Fagen and is set to behead him when Tacio, a former comrade, and the Filipina wife of the captive beseech him. The play explores a possible scenario posed by historical essays on the true-to-life story of the guerilla fighter who defected to our side during the Filipino-American War.

Hate Restaurants
by David Finnigan, directed by J. Victor Villareal

Hate Restaurants is a command. Hate restaurants. Hate them. This play follows the trials and tribulations of a small pancake restaurant during the biggest breakfast of the year. Head chef and restaurateur Louise is incapacitated after an unfortunate encounter with a giant rat, leaving waiters Louise and Billy and mild-mannered kitchen-hand Toby to handle a booking of 70 businessmen who are suspiciously picky in their requirements


______________________________________________________________________________
The Virgin Labfest 4 Revisited
June 28: 3pm, 8pm
July 1: 8pm
July 2: 3pm
 
 
Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna
by Floy Quintos, directed by Floy Quintos

Megalomania is witnessed by Marcel, a hairdresser who accedes to the leader of the land’s Yolanda Cadiz. The empty, vacuous preoccupation with hair and beauty is after all the most important ingredient to governance The elegance of decadence all, governance. and its inevitable slide into self-destruction introduces one of the Labfest’s most endearing/terrifying characters.

Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao at ang Habal-Habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte
By Rogelio Braga directed by Nick Olanka

An unusual rendezvous of two beautiful and sharp-tongue outspoken creatures living at the margins of our society. Take a peak on their engagement as they courageously travel— devoid of any inhibitions, political correctness, and social graces—that rough and ‘older than history’ roads of discrimination, hypocrisy,bigotry, social divides, corruption and unspoken violence to arrive in a decent friendship. Ang Bayot, ang Meranao, at ang Habal-Habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte is a bitter yet funky peppered with a Radio Active Sago Project kick-ass take on the cruelties of our society that condones discrimination which is definitely not so cool.

Uuwi na ang Nanay kong si Darna
Job Pagsibingan’s adaptation of Uuwi na ang Nanay Kong si Darna by Edgar Samar, directed by Catherine Racsag
 
____________________________________________________________________
STAGED READINGS
Bulwagang Amado Hernandez (Conference room)

June 25, 6pm
Kataksilan
Tim Dacanay’s adaptation of Harold Pinter's Betrayal, directed by himself

June 27, 6pm
Breakups and Breakdowns
by Joel Trinidad, directed by himself

June 30, 6pm
Dingdong! Death Is At The Door!
SPIT

July 2, 6pm
Noong Minsan May Nanungkulan sa San Lazaro
Joshua Lim So’s adaptation of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi
Directed by Dennis Marasigan

July 3, 6pm (Tanghalang Manuel Conde)
American Huangup
directed by Chris Millado

July 5, 6pm
Creative Writing Workshop showcase
Facilitator: Glenn Sevilla Mas


 
____________________________________________________________________
BOOK LAUNCHING

VIRGIN LABFEST ANTHOLOGY
June 23, 6pm Little Theater
The anthology, which includes 15 plays from years 1-4 of the Virgin Labfest, will be launched on the opening day of the Virgin Labfest.

The following plays are included:
Year 1
Rite of Passage by Glenn Sevilla Mas
Geegee at Waterina by J. Dennis Teodosio

Year 2
Ang Unang Aswang by Rody Vera
The Palanca In My Mind by Job Pagsibigan
Tres Ataques de Corazon (The Angina Monologues) by Nicolas Pichay
Hubad by Liza Magtoto and Rody Vera

Year 3
Mga Obra ni Maestra by Njel de Mesa
Three Sisters: Isang Noh by Yoji Sakate
Teroristang Labandera by Debbie Ann Tan
Ellas Inosentes by Layeta Bucoy

Year 4
Pamantasang Hirang by Tim Dacanay
Dong-Ao by F. Sionil Jose
Masaganang Ekonomiya by Allan Lopez
Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao at ang Habal-Habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte by Rogelio Braga
Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna by Floy Quintos
 


Tickets to the Virgin Labfest are at P200 for main exhibition sets, P100 for the symposium and "Pay What You Can" for play readings. For more details, please contact Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661, or the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.

Catharsis

I felt stuck. I felt pretentious and mediocre.

It was very frustrating because I was keeping everything to myself. Yet, I was not aware that I had all these bottled up inside. It was like a flesh eating disease consuming me from the inside without me knowing but still affecting everything that I did. After some point, I wanted to talk to people how I was feeling but I did not want to be a burden to anyone knowing that they were feeling stressed with everything that was going on.

Then there came a time that I felt nothing right when I needed to feel everything. It scared me because I did not know what to do.

Until this morning, out of nowhere, I was able to release what I have been keeping inside me. All of my frustrations out in the open. I was allowed to cry until there were no more tears to cry. As I let my tired body release the toxic feeling that have been torturing me for the past month, I was comforted by some of my closest friends.

Finally, catharsis.


Sila na alam kong hindi ako iiwan kahit pagbalibaliktarin ang langit, lupa at impyerno. Sila na handang magbigay ng yakap kahit hindi hinihingi. Sila na tanggap ang lahat ng pagkakamali ko at lahat ng mali sa akin. Hindi man ako maligo ng isang linggo, sila ang unang magsasabi na mabaho ako pero mamahalin pa rin ako. Sila na mga alibi ko kung kailangan. Mag-iba man ako ng buhok, pananamit, ilong, trabaho at mangingibig, alam kong hindi nila ako iiwanan ng basta-basta.

Maliban na lang siguro kung sinulot ko yung jowa nila na inibig ng sobra sobra. Pero ibang kuwento na iyun.


Dahil magsasampung taon na tayong magkakakilala bukas (maliban kay Eisa na nung Prep ko pa nakilala). Hindi ba kay galing kung paano tayo pinagsama-sama sa isang bundok sampung taon ang nakalilipas?


Mahal ko kayo ng walang humpay.

Habang Minumura ng Tag-init ang Tag-ulan...

minumura ko naman ang sakit na nararamdaman ko.

Hindi puso ang masakit kundi ang ngipin ko. Ngayon ko lang ulit maranasan ang umiiyak habang tumatawa. Umiiyak ako sa sakit pero natatawa ako dahil para akong tanga nakaupo sa harap ng dentista umuungol na parang nanganganak. Ang nanay ko tuloy, napapasok sa lakas ng ungol ko. Kaya noong mabunot yung ngipin, ang sabi ng dentista "Mommy, lola na kayo, lalaki!" Bwiset di ba! Pero natawa na lang ako. Siguro nahiya rin ako sa dentista na umiiyak ako sa sakit kaya ako natawa.

Ngayon, masakit ang tinahi. Lalong masakit noong hinihila yung ngipin. Pinangalanan ko na siyang Impakta. At pinauwi pa sa akin ng dentista para remembrance daw. Ang sweet di ba!


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At ngayon heto na. Natapos na naman ang isang produksyon. May isang linggo ang akong pahinga bago magsimula na naman ang isa pa. Talagang gusto kong magkaroon ng perfect attendance sa VLF.

Naalala ko noong tinawagan ko ni Herbie para sumali sa unang labfest. Ang sabi niya lang sa akin "I have this small role for you". At gusto niya ako kunin dahil nakapagsasalita ako ng Ilonggo. Hindi niya naman sinabi na may kama sutra pala yung role na ibibigay niya sa akin. Ang saya. Naloka ako. Pero mas naloka ang nanay ko at kuya ko nuong mapanuod nila. Wala pang bayad ng mga tao noon sa labfest. Biskwit at kape lang ang meron kami. Pero masaya. Lalong masaya nuong na re-stage kami at nanuod ang tatay ko. Inabangan ng lahat kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya. Proud si Papa. Kinongrats ako pati si Kuya Noel. Panalo yun!

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Ang dami kong gustong sabihin. Ang dami kong gustong pasalamatan. Pero parang hindi maayos ang pag-iisip ko ngayon para isulat ang lahat. Siguro dahil umiikot pa ang utak ko sa pain killer na ininom ko para sa ngipin ko.

Kaya heto na lang.

Napagod ako ng sobra. Napuyat at nasubok ang aking pasensiya. Pero masaya ako. Masayang masaya sa takbo ng buhay ko. Alam kong ilang beses ko na itong nasabi. Masarap kasing sabihin.

WATCH WO(E)MEN

"Dalawang babaeng gurong akusadong nag-iibigan"

"Dalawang lalakeng presong nagtalik sa salita"WO(E)MEN

It is 1934. In an all girls’ boarding school, a rumour spreads like a plague about two headmistresses having a lesbian affair. Meanwhile in Berlin, in a struggle to keep themselves sane, male homosexuals make love through words in a concentration camp under the watchful eye of the Nazis.

The woe of men, the woe of women, the woe of mankind. This summer, with two plays set in 1934, the Sipat Lawin Ensemble looks back on age-old taboos and examines the woe of men and women as they struggle in the midst of our sexually challenged and sexually changing world.
Acclaimed director, actor and production designer Tuxqs Rutaquio leads the theatre alumni of the Philippine High School for the Arts in breathing life to Joel Saracho’s Kwentong Bata (an adaptation of Lillian Hellman’s Children’s Hour) and Martin Sherman’s Lihis (Emmanuel Canteras’ translation of Bent).

Children’s Hour was adapted to film in 1961 by William Wyler starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner, while Bent was filmed in 1997 by Sean Matthias starring Mick Jagger, Ian McKellen and Jude Law.


Show dates:
KUWENTONG BATA (Children's Hour):
3pm - May 20, 23
8pm - May 20, 21, 23

LIHIS (Bent):
3pm - May 21, 22

Tickets at P200

Contact me (Isab/Isabelle) at 09183092268 to reserve your tickets.

Nuod ka na.