Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip Na Fili (Last Shows/Extended Run) ;-(
5:25 AM, Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

October 2, 2008 at 7pm
October 3, 2008 at 1pm and 7pm
October 4, 2008 at 10am and 3pm

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, 2nd Flr., Palma Hall, UP Diliman

'Eto lang ang masasabi ko: I'm gonna miss them all!!! Drama mode na!!!

- Gian

Isang Linggong Bloopers Na Fili (3rd Week)
2:41 AM, Monday, September 29, 2008 | Link to this post | 1 comments

This is it pansit!!! The 3rd week Top 10 bloopers of Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip Na Fili! Thanks to JM, Kuya Franco, Arkel, Jihad, Kuya Onyl, (sa pag-amin sa kanilang mga bloopers =P) Jerson, and Ren! Haha! Some of these bloopers came from them. Enjoy! =)

10. MAGANDANG BALITA

Pepe: Et voila ang katapusan!!!
(Candy and Jihad enters from the secret door, excitedly. Stops. Realizing no one's following them. Panic panic panic!)
Pepe: Tunying!! (Snaps)
Donya Victorina: Magandang Balita!
(Everyone enters. Gian and Sabina laughing over Jihad and Candy's super early entrance.)

9. ANO ITONG MGA PANAGINIP PEPE RIZAL
Onyl: Sa kanyang kamay.... (seeing the kopita on his left hand).... sa 'kin nama'y kopita...

8. FINALE
Jeremy as Padre Florentino waiting for Kuya Onyl to give him the cue to throw the jewels
Jeremy: (waiting... waiting... waiting...)
Kuya Onyl: Blah.. blah... blah...
Jeremy: (waiting...)
Kuya Onyl: end of line. (no cue)
Jeremy: throws the jewels on his own cue. exits.
Jeremy: (backstage) nakalimutan nanaman ng lola mo ang linya nya!!!

7. MALAPIT NA
Everyone: Malapit Na! Malapit Na! Malapit Na!
Kuya Franco snaps, semi-blackout! Hindi namatay ang side lights!
The company stood onstage, frozen, hindi alam ang gagawin, waiting for the lights to totally fade out. Waiting waiting waiting...
Lights fade out. Applause!!!
Nakahinga na rin at naka-exit!

6. MAGANDANG BALITA
Featuring JM as Basilio and RJ Solis as Isagani
RJ: Matagal nang nangulimlim ang lahat sa buhay ko. Isinantabi ko si Paulita at ngayon, para na siya sa iba...
JM: Makinig ka... ang buong bulwagan ay sasabog BASILIO!!!

5. ARGUMENT OF PEPE AND TUNYING
Featuring Kuya Franco as Pepe and Kuya Onyl as Tunying
Kuya Onyl: Mga salita pepe... salita ng isang duwag na intelektwal ng inutil...
Kuya Franco: Aaaga.... (pause) Kung ang ating bayan ay magiging malaya.... (and kuya Franco totally forgot his line.)

4. IMUTHIS ANG NGALAN KO
Featuring Arkel as Imuthis
Taong Bayan: Bakit? Anong kasalanan?
Arkel: aaaaaahhhhhh..... aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.... (with the #%*$&#^?@!-nakalimutan-ko-nanaman-ang-lyrics expression at muntik pang mahulog sa steps) ng Pareng Mago... Kinaiingitan ako ng isang naririto...

3. BASILIO AND HERMANA BALE'S ARGUMENT
Featuring JM as Basilio and Tita Marili as Hermana Bale
Tita Marili: Pero... mananatili kami... (long pause)...
JM: (waiting for her to say the right words...)
Tita Marili: Dito! (end of argument!!!)

2. ARGUMENT OF PEPE AND TUNYING
Pepe: Kung ang ating bayan ay magiging malaya, hindi ito sa masamang hilig at pagkakasala...
Onyl: Aahhh.... Mga retorika pepe, retorika lang yang mga yan!!!
Pepe: ang pagtutubos ay manggagaling sa kabanalan, ang kabanalan ay manggagaking sa pagpapakasakit...
Onyl: Retorika! Retorika nga lang yan eh.... (ang kulit!!!)

At eto na ang pinakahihintay ng lahat!!!

Drum Roll please!!!

1. KARSEL SCENE
Featuring Eric as Simoun
Eric: Ngayon, makalalaya ka na. Lumipad ka papuntang Laguna, AFTER non, gawin ang nararapat para kay Juli...
(Murmur murmur ang audience)

Sosyal pala si Simoun!! Haha!!

Ano na kaya ang mga mangyayari sa 4th week? Hmmm!!!

- Gian

Isang Linggong Bloopers Na Fili (3rd Week)

This is it pansit!!! The 3rd week Top 10 bloopers of Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip Na Fili! Thanks to JM, Kuya Franco, Arkel, Jihad, Kuya Onyl, (sa pag-amin sa kanilang mga bloopers =P) Jerson, and Ren! Haha! Some of these bloopers came from them. Enjoy! =)

10. MAGANDANG BALITA

Pepe: Et voila ang katapusan!!!
(Candy and Jihad enters from the secret door, excitedly. Stops. Realizing no one's following them. Panic panic panic!)
Pepe: Tunying!! (Snaps)
Donya Victorina: Magandang Balita!
(Everyone enters. Gian and Sabina laughing over Jihad and Candy's super early entrance.)

9. ANO ITONG MGA PANAGINIP PEPE RIZAL
Onyl: Sa kanyang kamay.... (seeing the kopita on his left hand).... sa 'kin nama'y kopita...

8. FINALE
Jeremy as Padre Florentino waiting for Kuya Onyl to give him the cue to throw the jewels
Jeremy: (waiting... waiting... waiting...)
Kuya Onyl: Blah.. blah... blah...
Jeremy: (waiting...)
Kuya Onyl: end of line. (no cue)
Jeremy: throws the jewels on his own cue. exits.
Jeremy: (backstage) nakalimutan nanaman ng lola mo ang linya nya!!!

7. MALAPIT NA
Everyone: Malapit Na! Malapit Na! Malapit Na!
Kuya Franco snaps, semi-blackout! Hindi namatay ang side lights!
The company stood onstage, frozen, hindi alam ang gagawin, waiting for the lights to totally fade out. Waiting waiting waiting...
Lights fade out. Applause!!!
Nakahinga na rin at naka-exit!

6. MAGANDANG BALITA
Featuring JM as Basilio and RJ Solis as Isagani
RJ: Matagal nang nangulimlim ang lahat sa buhay ko. Isinantabi ko si Paulita at ngayon, para na siya sa iba...
JM: Makinig ka... ang buong bulwagan ay sasabog BASILIO!!!

5. ARGUMENT OF PEPE AND TUNYING
Featuring Kuya Franco as Pepe and Kuya Onyl as Tunying
Kuya Onyl: Mga salita pepe... salita ng isang duwag na intelektwal ng inutil...
Kuya Franco: Aaaga.... (pause) Kung ang ating bayan ay magiging malaya.... (and kuya Franco totally forgot his line.)

4. IMUTHIS ANG NGALAN KO
Featuring Arkel as Imuthis
Taong Bayan: Bakit? Anong kasalanan?
Arkel: aaaaaahhhhhh..... aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.... (with the #%*$&#^?@!-nakalimutan-ko-nanaman-ang-lyrics expression at muntik pang mahulog sa steps) ng Pareng Mago... Kinaiingitan ako ng isang naririto...

3. BASILIO AND HERMANA BALE'S ARGUMENT
Featuring JM as Basilio and Tita Marili as Hermana Bale
Tita Marili: Pero... mananatili kami... (long pause)...
JM: (waiting for her to say the right words...)
Tita Marili: Dito! (end of argument!!!)

2. ARGUMENT OF PEPE AND TUNYING
Pepe: Kung ang ating bayan ay magiging malaya, hindi ito sa masamang hilig at pagkakasala...
Onyl: Aahhh.... Mga retorika pepe, retorika lang yang mga yan!!!
Pepe: ang pagtutubos ay manggagaling sa kabanalan, ang kabanalan ay manggagaking sa pagpapakasakit...
Onyl: Retorika! Retorika nga lang yan eh.... (ang kulit!!!)

At eto na ang pinakahihintay ng lahat!!!

Drum Roll please!!!

1. KARSEL SCENE
Featuring Eric as Simoun
Eric: Ngayon, makalalaya ka na. Lumipad ka papuntang Laguna, AFTER non, gawin ang nararapat para kay Juli...
(Murmur murmur ang audience)

Sosyal pala si Simoun!! Haha!!

Ano na kaya ang mga mangyayari sa 4th week? Hmmm!!!













- Gian

Fili Friends Help!!!
4:03 AM, Sunday, September 28, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

Kulang pa ang list ng top 10 bloopers ko for the 3rd week. Meron pa ba kayong ibang alam?

- Gian

The Greatest Show We've Had So Far! We're Off To Our 4th Week!
7:10 AM, Friday, September 26, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

Friday. September 26, 2008. There are only two things I have in mind upon waking up: I need to do something for my undergrad paper completion and I have two shows today. So there! I woke up 6am (I barely had enough sleep) to get myself going. I planned to finish my ME 136 project (for make-up labwork na rin since I was super duper late for the deadline of that project) at an earlier time because we have a calltime at 11am but our instructor won't allow me to use the shop equipment. Another class is going to use it during that time. So nasayang lang ang paggising ko ng maaga. Anyway, I went straight to the Eng'g library instead to research for my undergrad paper. Et Voila! Medyo na-distract ako sa phone ko sa pagdidiscover ko ng mga features nito. Haha! Kaya wala rin ako masyadong na-research. I found a few useful information though for my paper.

11am. Konti palang ang tao pagdating ko sa Guerrero. I overheard Angela and some other Fili people talking about last night's performance. Medyo low energy kasi last night. So we had negative feedback for last night's performance. Award ito! Before the company prayer for the 1pm extra show, Ma'am Ces and Sir Jacques tolds us about the negative feedback we got the night before and gave us some reminders on how we can get ourselves in the right shape to perform. Thank God natapos din ang 1pm show. Sobrang pagod talaga ako after. We had 1 hour pa before the calltime for the regular 7pm show kaya nakatulog ako kahit sandali lang. First time kong natulog sa audience area. Thanks to Louie and EJ! =) So warm up then vocalize then make-up then costume then company call.

I think the company call we had kanina before the 7pm show was the longest so far. Na-open up kasi yung nangyari last night. So a few of the senior actors in the production gave us some notes and reminders for the show to be better than what we did during the previous week. To tell you honestly, andami kong natutunan from them. They might be giving us words of discipline but it was a pleasure to be taught by these big people in the production. Intimidating as they may seem, they do their best to reach out to us and give us pieces of advice which can help us master the craft.

The 7pm show had an energetic opening and we got the loudest applause for it so far. So tinuloy na namin hanggang matapos ang show. If Sir Floy would put it into his words: Adik adik na tayo! Super buhay ang audience! They were a combination of high school and college students. The best audience we got so far. =) During the curtain call, I was surprised to see almost all of the people watching standing on their feet clapping, shouting, and cheering for us. Astig! It was the greatest feeling ever! I was super blessed by the performance last night! Praise GOD!!! I want to thank Sir Jacques, Ma'am Ces, Kuya Franco, Sir Peter, Ma'am Stella, Kuya Meynard, and Kuya Eric for giving us those pieces of advice. It did help a lot in our performance. I hope that I would give the same amount of energy in the remaining shows. God bless us all!

Week 4, Here we come!

- Gian

LAST SHOW OPEN!!!
4:12 AM, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

To those who aren't affected by spoilers and who still plan to watch the show (and if you love me... ), mark October 2 on your calendars. Don't miss this magical show!

Last show open:
October 2, 2008
7pm
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, 2nd Flr., Palma Hall, UP Diliman

Tickets at Php250
Php150 for UP students
Php180 for paying guests

- Gian

Isang Linggong Bloopers Na Fili (2nd Week)
2:17 AM, Sunday, September 21, 2008 | Link to this post | 1 comments

Tulad ng pagiging hit ng Isang Panaginip Na Fili, naging hit din ang Top 10 bloopers ko during the first week. Kaya guys, ituloy natin ang ligaya. Drum roll please....

Presenting the 2nd Week Top 10 Bloopers of Isang Panaginip Na Fili!!!

Applause!!! Applause!!!

10. MALAPIT NA/CUIDAO KAYO DYAN
During the chaotic scene with Tales, Basilio, Tulisanes, and the Taongbayans with the tampipis...
Gian: Inay, Inay? (To Candy) Nasaan si Inay?
Candy: Hindi ko alam? Nandyan na ba ang lahat? (Opening the tampipi)
Gian: Walang laman...
Candy: Natatawa ako... (giggles)
Gian: Saan na tayo pupunta PURIFICACION?
Gian and Candy: (turned away from the audience... giggles...)

9. ANO ITONG MGA PANAGINIP (OPENING NUMBER)
Onyl: Masarap pang makipag-harutan kaysa makipag-TANGGALIAN!!!
Mara: (backstage) Ano raw?

8. MAY BAGONG KATATAKUTAN/CUIDAO KAYO DYAN!
Taongbayan: Cuidao Cuidao Cuidao kayo dyan! Taongbayan ba may dapat katakutan!?
Gelo: Cuidao Cuidao Cuidao kayo dyan! MAY BAGONG TULISAN na dapat katakutan!

7. MAY TIWALA AKO
Juli: ...Ama sa piling mo...
Ate Marili: Juli!!!
Kuya Meynard: Juli... (drooling drooling drooling... na-Juli na sa cue... Mental block? =P ) ang anak ng kinatatakutang Kabesang Tales na ngayon ay si Matanglawin na...

6. OPENING OF ACT 2
Donya Victorina: ...Pero kung si Juanito ang iyong makakasama...
Paulita: ...siya na nga Tiya.... Juanito!!!
Allen: Ano yon mahal kong PAOLITA!!! (with his Doraemon voice)

5. HUDYAT SCENE
EJ: MATANGLAWIN!!!!
Kuya Greg: Bababa....bakit?? Nanana...nandito ako!!!

4. OPENING OF ACT 2
RJ C.: Ang akademiya natn pinayagan na!
JM: O eh anong problema?
RJ C.: Pinayagan na nga ng Gobernador Heneral, pero ang magpapalakad nito ay ang mga PRAYLI!!! Bale wala din!

3. SA KARSEL
Onyl: Hindi mo ako naiintindihan Basilio! Naiintindihan mo ako hindi ba???

2. MAY BAGONG KATATAKUTAN/CUIDAO KAYO DYAN!
Onyl: Lahat ng kombento?
Arkel: Oo.
Onyl: Pati ang kombento ng Sta. Clara?
Arkel: EWAN!

At ang award-winning blooper of the week...

drum roll please....

1. ANG NGALAN KO'Y IMUTHIS
Arkel: Imuthis ang ngalan, hanap ko'y kalaban. Isang saserdoteng mapaglinlang. Pareng manloloko... aaaahhhhhhh... aaaaahhhhhhh... (and the chanting continues...)
Taongbayan: Bakit? Anong kasalanan?
Arkel: aaaaahhhhh...... aaaaaahhhhhhh...... (and the chanting continues)
Taongbayan: Siya mismo?
Arkel: aaaaahhhhhh..... aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.....
Taongbayan: At bakit siya naiinggit sa'yo? Dali, ituloy ang kwento? (Anong kwento?)

Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip Na Fili EXTENDED RUN: October 2, 2008, 7pm October 4, 2008, 10am and 3pm Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, 2nd Flr., Palma Hall, U.P. Diliman, Q.C. Buy your tickets now!!!


- Gian

Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip Na Fili Extended Run

Due to insistent public demand and the overflowing energy of everyone in the production, we will be extending our run! Yeah!!! Here are the skeds:

October 2, 2008, Thursday, 7pm
October 4, 2008, Saturday, 10am and 3pm

Hindi pa kasama diyan yung mga additional shows na exclusive para sa iba't ibang schools. All in all, we have 5 additional shows. But there are rumors that we might go into week 5. Wow!! Kaadikan na ito!! Haha!!!

Kaya guys, bili na kayo ng tickets! Nagkakaubusan na! Daig pa ang NFA rice!!!

Tickets at Php250
for UP students: Php150
for paying guests: Php180

P.S. If interested to be a paying guest, just PM me.

- Gian

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!
11:33 AM, Friday, September 19, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

As of 6AM this morning (September 20, 2008), I'm officially sick!!! =( Tinamaan din ng sakit si Higad Man! Whoever happens to drop by this announcement, please pray for me. I have 4 shows this weekend and I have loads of schoolwork to do.

Dulaang UP's
ISANG PANAGINIP NA FILI

Written and Directed by Floy C. Quintos Music by CJ Javier Arranged by Jason Quitane Choral Master: Cholo C. Gino Artistic Consultant: Tony Mabesa

September 10-28, 2008 Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, 2nd Flr., Palma Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City

Tickets at Php 250 Php 180 for paying guests Php 150 for UP students


- Gian

13 More Shows To Go Plus 5 More! DUP's ISANG PANAGINIP NA FILI Is A Hit!
3:05 PM, Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

Yes you heard it right! We have 5 additional shows as requested by different schools! Yeba!! And that includes a 3pm show and a 7pm show on a single day! Congrats to all of us! By the way, I heard that HINABING PAKPAK NG ATING MGA ANAK, DUP's season opener this year, will be brought to a theatre festival somewhere in Europe. Congrats Hinabing Pakpak people! Ang Fili kaya saan dadalhin? Hmmmm...

- Gian

Isang Linggong Bloopers Na Fili
1:28 AM, Sunday, September 14, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

After Fili's first week, eto, pagod ako at malat. Haaayyy... I was kinda frustrated with my performances this week. At siyempre, meron din akong award from Sir Tony! Haha!!! I was doing that thing since the opening tapos ngayon ko lang nalaman na hindi pala ganon. Haaayyy... Ka-award-award talaga! Anyway, since malungkot ako ngayon dahil sa mga nangyari, ishe-share ko na lang ang Top 10 award-winning bloopers and playtimes during the first week of Isang Panaginip na Fili.

10. MALAPIT NA!!!
Company: Malapit na! Malapit na! Malapit na!
Black out
Sounds: tug tug tug... (the mic bouncing on one of the windows because one chorus member pushed on the balcony frame. I think it's Joy. Haha!)

9. MALAPIT NA!!!
TaongBayan(enetring the balcony): Ooooohhhh... oooooohhhhh... oooooohhhhh....
Joy: Malapit Naoooooohhhhh.... ooooooohhhh... oooooooohhhh....

8. CUIDAO KAYO DIYAN
Slow motion to the staircase...
Jihad: (showing the Akademiya ng Wikang Kastila Poster to ate Mary Jane)
Mary Jane: Shut up!!!
Jihad: giggles...

7. MAY BAGONG KATATAKUTAN
Sa middle window with Gelo, Aljuri, Jihad, and RJ Solis.
Gelo: Paano na ang bayan?
Jihad: Paano na ang kababaihan?
Gian: Paano na ang kabaklaan?!?
Jihad: Huwag kayong magpatawa ng ganyan, mahihirapan tayong mag-act! (in character pa rin)

6. MAY BAGONG KATATAKUTAN
While Kabesang Tales (Sir Greg) is singing to them...
Jerson(to Carlito): Sino ba yan?
Carlito: Bakla!?!
Jerson(turning back): giggles...

5. Opening of Act 2
Tita Emy: (as Donya Victorina) Magalit ka na kung magagalit ka sa akin Paulita pero hinding hindi ako papayag na manood ka sa palabas na Espinghe na yan kung ang makakasama mo ay si Isagani, pero kung si Paulito... aaaaayyyyy.... Juanito ang makakasama mo...

4. CUIDAO KAYO DIYAN
Gian:(after the 2nd bar upon entering the balcony) URONG SULONG ANG BAPOR WALANG KATIYAKAN!!! (looks to the others...)
Others:(after the 4TH BAR!) Urong sulong ang bapor walang katiyakan....
(in short, nag-solo ako sa part na yun na sobrang nakakahiya at ang lakas pa ng boses ko... Wahahahaha!!!)

3. PAGSUBOK AT PAGPILI
Onyl(as Simoun): Siya nga pala, wala ba kayong mga lumang alahas na maaaring ibenta o isangla? O di kaya'y ipagpalit?
Jeremy(as Tata Selo): (handing out the relikwaryo/jewel to Simoun)
Onyl: Ano ito?

2. MAY BAGONG KATATAKUTAN
Tulisanes: (singing) Sa labas ng batas may kapangyarihan. Sa likod ng armas ang aming kaganapan. Sa batas ni Matanglawin,
Christian: LAHAT NG BUWAYA'Y ALI-ALIPIN!!!
Tulisanes: WALANG ALI-ALIPIN!!!

at ang nasa top ng list...

drum roll!!!!

1. Opening of Act 2
Carlo:(as Ben Zayb): Donya Victorina, mukhang pumpayat ka?
Sir Cholo(as Donya Victorina): Oo naman, araw--araw yata akong nag-EEXERCISE!!!

Guys, watch Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip na Fili at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, UP Diliman. We'll be running 'til the 28th. Wednesday to Friday at 7pm and Saturday and Sunday at 10am and 3pm. Tickets at Php250. Php150 for UP students currently enrolled this semester. Php180 for paying guests. Just text me if you want to be a paying guest(recommended for people not enrolled in UP). See you there!

- Gian

A Night To Remember: DUP's Isang Panaginip na Fili Opening Night
6:25 AM, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

We had the house full. We got our standing ovation. We made history. We'll do it again tomorrow.

Every moment on stage was an opportunity to tell stories. Stories on how we put up the show. Stories on how difficult it was to wear that costume. Stories on how the illustrados feel and act during the time of Fili. Stories that can lead to other stories. It was the magic of Fili that brought those stories altogether into one great story. A story of revenge, revolution, greed, hope, and most of all, love. The story won't be a story without that last element.

"It's a pandemonium outside!" according to Sir Floy during our company call before the show. (I got the chance to ask Gelo what pandemonium means during our standby backstage. Haha!! All I know is that it was used as a tagline for Kung Fu Panda! Haha!!!) Well indeed it was. We heard people murmuring and laughing and clapping (yes, ang ingay nila!) while we were on standby backstage. And it got us really excited! The opening number was a blast! Ang galing! Our escalating energies brought chills to the audience. We owe everything to them! They're just super responsive during each scene. It was the magic of theatre indeed!

For me, it was a night to remember having my first opening night on the DUP stage. Let's continue to bring more magic on the stage of Guerrero in the coming days. God bless us all! Break a leg guys!!!


- Gian

Fili Preview
6:01 AM, Tuesday, September 09, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

After 2 months of hard work, the real work begins. Yeah! Isang Panaginip na Fili had a preview run earlier this evening, September 9, 2008, at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre. Praise God for a nice show! Everyone really worked hard to make this show a hit. Oh, did I just say a hit? 'Coz it definitely will! Combine the genius of Mr. Floy Quintos and the extraordinary musical talents of CJ Javier and Cholo C. Gino and you will get intense chills upon leaving Guerrero. The best talaga! The lights, the costumes, the set, and the actors, put them all together and you will have a great show that can be brought either to a Broadway or a West End stage. (Ayan Sir Cholo, pwede nang mag-International Cast Recording. Haha!)

Kudos to the cast and production team of Isang Panaginip na Fili! May God bless our upcoming shows!

- Gian

Living In A New World, Longing For The Old One
7:20 AM, Saturday, September 06, 2008 | Link to this post | 0 comments

Before getting into the real thing, I just wanna share these excerpts from the song The New World from the musical Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown.

A new world calls across the ocean
A new world calls across the sky
A new world whispers in the shadows
Time to fly, time to fly...


And you're suddenly a stranger

There's no explaining where you stand

And you didn't know
That you sometimes have to go

‘Round an unexpected bend

And the road will end
In a new world ...

It's about one moment

That moment you think you know where you stand

And in that one moment
The things that you're sure of slip from your hand

And you've got one second

To try to be clear, to try to stand tall

But nothing's the same
And the wind starts to blow


And you're suddenly a stranger

In some completely different land

And you thought you knew

But you didn't have a clue

That the surface sometimes cracks

To reveal the tracks
To a new world...


Ano nanaman 'to? Haha! Ayan siguro iisipin ng ibang makakabasa nito. Pathetic talaga si Gian!!! Haha! Anyway, it's 2am in the morning at kagagaling ko lang sa rehearsal. Yeah! 2am na! Actually we had dinner pa at Shakey's Katipunan. Ren's treat for his 26th. Yeah! Pizza and chicken galore! Most of the cast members were there kaya super saya and ingay! And it's all for free! Yeba!! Thanks Ren! Next year ulit ha!?

For most of my friends, naging 'aparisyon' na lang ako sa mga bonding activities and all that jazz these past few weeks. I was too busy with acads and of course, Fili rehearsals. We've been rehearsing for that show ever since July this year kaya I can say na naging close na rin ako sa mga cast members. Sila ba naman yung makasama mo everyday for two and a half months, hindi pa ba kayo magiging close nun? For two months, I would spend my nights with them learning new songs, putting on different characters, having late dinners, walking in UP at night time, etc. I never had a dull moment with them. Ang saya lagi! I was surprised na ganun ako kabilis na naging close sa kanila. And one more thing, I can be myself whenever I'm with them. Thank God I've found this crazy bunch of people. Yes, as in super crazy nila! May mga nilalang pala na ganun! Haha! New world talaga for me. I want to thank God for giving me this chance to know these people. Kahit two months pa lang kaming magkakakilala, parang we've known each other na since birth! (Just kidding! =P ) Actually, 3 weeks na lang kaming magkakasama-sama. Start na kasi ng run ng show. Kaya ayun! Kung ako lang, ayoko pa talagang mag-show not because I'm nervous or afraid of performing but because of the fact that we'll be living our own lives after the run.

This production really demands a lot of my time. I actually gave up a lot of things just for this. I even have to sacrifice spending my weekends with my family and attending weekly worship service and fellowship with my family-in-Christ. I miss doing those things. Whenever I'm alone, I really long to do those. I keep on telling myself that this might be God's way of diverting my attention to some other things and not to those silly struggles again. True enough, I was able to focus more on improving myself as a legitimate theatre actor and not as a person dealing with matters of the heart. I told myself that I've moved on now and I don't have time going back to where I was before. I'm a different person indeed.

Two (or three) nights ago, I was able to spend a little time with one of my families-in-Christ. I wasn't expecting him to be in that place since it's too late in the evening and he usually goes home at around 10pm. So ayun, kwentuhan kami. Tapos dumating sa point na tinanong niya ako na 'Bakit ka lumalayo sa amin? Hindi mo na ba kami mahal?' Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako dahil nami-miss nila ako or malulungkot ako dahil akala nila ay tuluyang lumayo na ako! I don't know what to say! Parang gusto kong mag-evaporate at that moment. So I keep on giving him reasons na kina-counter-attack niya. Na-frustrate yata siya sa mga reasons ko and I think medyo nagalit din siya. Ewan! Hindi ko ine-expect na ganun yung magiging attitude niya that night. Siya yung huling taong ineexpect ko to act that way. I wanna cry at that moment. Somehow, naging guilty din kasi ako na lumalayo ako sa kanila, especially sa kanya because we've had some misunderstandings earlier this sem. So I thought that being distant from him would do me good. Actually, it did. It's just that nawala yung fellowship namin.

He made me realize that I'm important to him. Not just to him but to every person in our family. Honestly speaking, hindi ko naman kasi talaga naramdaman na ganun talaga ako ka-importante. I feel like na kahit na hindi ako magparamdam sa kanila ng ilang weeks, wala lang sa kanila. Besides, marami na rin naman silang bagong kilala. So they won't bother looking for me. Pero, na-miss ko rin naman sila. Promise! Everytime na kasama ko yung mga friends ko sa DUP, hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip kung ano ginagawa nila at that very moment na nag-eenjoy ako with my new friends. Sila kaya? Once in a while be iniisip nila kung ano ginagawa ko at tinatanong ba nila kung nasaan ako? Haha! Funny! Super sentimental ko talaga. Hindi na yata maaalis sa akin 'to. I think this is how God made me. And I'm thankful for that. I hope that someday, I would really find a good reason to be sentimental.

Since three weeks na lang kaming magkakasama-sama sa DUP, lulubus-lubusin ko na ang mga sandali. Sobrang mami-miss ko talaga 'tong mga taong 'to na nakakasabay ko pag-uwi sa dis oras ng gabi. If I were to choose, sana sa November (or next year) pa ang show namin. Haha! Hindi ko alam kung pa'no ako tatanggapin ng mga tinuring kong pamilya dito sa Q.C. after ng run ng show namin. My plan was to really go back in fellowship with them after the run. Na-miss ko kasi sila eh. Tanggapin pa kaya nila ako just like before? Or baka magbago na tingin nila sa akin? Feeling ko kasi marami na ring nagbago sa kanila. Things change. People change most especially. If God found favor in me joining DUP, let me be His special guest! If not, then let me be where I should be.

- Gian