Not a Phuket junket

Nightly parties with free booze? No alcohol for me, thanks. A room with a swimming pool by the doorstep. No time for a dip. It's all work for me.

More photos here: Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. And a couple of photos of me on the CB blog. Naks!

One year, one week, one hour

It's the second time I see K and the second time I get asked if I want to make the move. The first time was definitely a joke. But this time, I feel it could be half-serious.

In the past five days I have brought up the idea of a sabbatical for my 30th thrice. No objections from anyone yet. I think I might just go for it.

Modern family

When Atlantic Productions announced its 2011 season, musical theater geeks must have screamed collectively (I did, by myself, in front of the computer). Never has there been a musical lineup this strong, at least on these shores.

Of the four musicals, I thought that the first one, Next to Normal, would be the one I would skip. I was familiar with the songs of the four shows and I have to admit that NtN's soundtrack was my least favorite of them. I have a vivid memory of listening to it in the family car with my brother and parents on a rainy night in 2009, strong language and all. It was All Saint's Day. We were on the way to Manila Memorial Park to visit my uncle's grave. Could any setting be less normal?

Next to Normal is the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about a family coping with the mother's psychological state, an offshoot of the son's early death, which still haunts her 17 years later. It is not the usual storyline for musicals, but that is how contemporary musicals are. No longer the feel-good tuners of the 20th century, the new breed of musicals have unexpected subjects--in this case complicated family dynamics and how little we know about the human brain--and succeed without relying on big budgets and special effects.


NtN is definitely and acting piece as much as a singing one, and Atlantis Productions' impressive cast delivers. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Diana is, in a word, perfectly flawed. There is no one in town who can pull it together as a woman falling apart the way she can. I did have flashbacks of her as Aldonza in Rep's Man of La Mancha while I was watching, but more than all her previous roles (and she has had an amazing theatrical career), this must be among the most challenging, if not the most challenging role that she has done. I also have to mention that she directed an very touching production of Little Women last year, which I really should have written about.

Jett Pangan is incredibly forceful even without big gestures or reactions. Sniffles can be heard during "I Am the One (Reprise)". It was my first time to see him onstage and I immediately fell in love. Who says rock stars can't take on characters different from their band personas?

It is hard to find fault with Felix Rivera as Gabe, the son who wasn't there. I didn't think he had to show his well-toned upper body, but I'm sure that not a few were happy that he did. Bea Garcia as Natalie makes me think of a moodier version of Ellen Page in Juno. There was a scary moment in "Everything Else" but she is right on the mark all other times. Markki Stroem is a revelation as a sincerely loving Henry, with some Michael Cera-like movements. I hope he continues to do theater. It's a pity that Jake Macapagal has more spoken lines than sung because he has a great singing voice.

The cracks and the off-center lights of the set makes you feel that something is amiss. The musicians, led by Ceejay Javier, sound great. Bobby Garcia's direction doesn't call attention itself. Effective. Long before curtain call, it was obvious that the show would merit a standing ovation. I couldn't wait to get on my feet.

I watched the opening night through the kindness of M and M. I think I'll see it again. I'm willing to pay for it this time. As for the rest of the season, I will not miss In The Heights (September) for the world. Since STAGES will be doing The Light in the Piazza in July, I think I might not see Aida again (the theater budget is limited), though I would want to see it if they have an incredible title character. (The lead I had seen on Broadway massacred, and I mean seriously ruined what could have been a beautiful show. My brother and I were furious after it.) Not sure if I'd go see Disney's The Little Mermaid. The TRUMPETS version is enough for me, and since I had seen the other Disney shows (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), I'm good already with those experiences. But who knows, right? It's going to be a spectacular year for musicals and the theatergoers of Manila should congratulate Atlantis for giving us material of this quality, delivered very well.

Next to Normal runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, until March 27.

Looking at glass differently

That day will come...when a man actually makes your family scrambled eggs for breakfast and looks genuinely happy to see you when you get home. Well, that's part of it. Thinking about all the applications of technology on so many surfaces makes you want to live in the future.

What would Marcel ask?

He'd ask lots of slumbook questions.


This is Proust for the internet generation. Sure I'd like to answer big questions, but I'm not sure if I'd do that here. This is Formspring of a different sort. (And I don't see myself on Formspring. There are many questions I don't want to be faced with.)

www.proust.com

Mid-week inspiration

Aaron Rose: "Portrait of the Artist as a Beautiful Loser"

International Women's Day 2011

Spend two minutes with two actors I love: Daniel Craig and Judi Dench.

Kinetic type

Someday, I hope to deliver a meaningful speech that somebody would bother to do this to.



[via brandflakesforbreakfast]

Kasi iba talaga ang mga Hapon

WORLD ORDER


plus product


equals Streak Dance

Missing Oscar

I have not seen the Oscar-nominated films. And that is fine for now.

There are two reasons why I was rooting for The King's Speech. Here's one. And the other.

Not great, but there are so many musicals connected to this year's awards that it almost makes sense to post the clip that didn't make it to the ceremonies.

BONUS: Kenneth Branagh talking about the Short Film (Live Action) nominees. Not embeddable, so just click. My reason for including this? Here you go.

Ayyy, fan. (In terms of the post before this one, Group B.)

From an ex-TEDster

I had spent Saturday afternoon painting while listening to TED Talks. I thought, Chris Anderson, you are awesome.

Then I read this letter from a TechCruch reader and had second thoughts.

Because it's almost March

And the seniors can't wait to graduate.

For my friends in the Class of 2011.

QC Saturday

The work pile isn't getting any smaller and the canvas will be untouched this weekend. I want to scream, but thinking about it, no amount of lung exertion will make things better.

Still, I should be thankful that I was able to cross out a few work items from my list, that the EM AVP shoot went well, and that I was able to watch a play for free. Counting my blessings.

The last time I had a clapper in front of me? College.

The video, which will be used to promote Erasmus Mundus, was shot with a Canon 7D.

Location: Chef Tatung's, 17 Matipid St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Mr. Pagsi

Saw Sa Kaharian ng Araw, B's favorite play, courtesy of a free ticket from K, who bought 10 tickets and just wanted to give them away. And he wants to treat us again. Sweet. (Reminds you of "Adeu, Barcelona!" in the post below this one, no?) It gives me hope that there are people out there who are giving without expecting anything in return.

Alright, back to work. Time to transcribe the untranscribe-able.

Another rollercoaster ride

The bitter before the sweet.

The Botero in the lobby

Resorts World Manila

18 again (then 22 then 25...)

A*Teens: "Sugar Rush"

Addictive pop music that takes me a decade back, courtesy of R. That it can still make me giddy is incredible. Happy times.

[UPDATE] An hour after posting the above came the spectacular crash. An intense wave of emotion took me through the next four years. To be 22 and to have your world crumble around you. Where did these memories hide? [Insert not-so-cryptic dramatic monologue here.]

And then H posted this on Facebook.



Music is my aeroplane. Now I can smile again. This is how it feels to be alive.

For your MP3 collection, part 37

Akito Misaki:"The Sound of Rain"-for moody weather
Automatique:"Lovin (Freefall From Space)"-intergalactic travel
Brokenkites:"Days Not Today (Slumbernaut Mix)"-can't get up
Ghost Bees:"Did The Red Sea Part"-Grandma Moses
Le Gros Ballon:"What's Left of Dreams"-for a dreamy ad
Lima Tropical Beats:"Nos Divertiremos"-with a drink in hand
Nick Rivera:"Happy Song is a Happy Song"-but not
The Seedy Seeds: "Verb Noun"-grammatically sound
Simple:"Books"-no reading required
Sin Fang:"Almost Everything"-a special place
Yellow Ostrich:"Hold On"- animal sounds + words

Remembering the holidays

Transport

Scenes from New Year's Day


Ferry, seen from the hotel window


The guard watching over our car

Last show syndrome

It's eerie, this peace. For months, I dreaded this day: the last show, when it all ends and I have to retreat to my workaday world. I'd be depressed when this is over, I thought.

But then I met New York-based theater director and designer Loy Arcenas earlier this week.

"I've always believed that theater is an art that is experienced in the moment. It is not something you can keep in pictures," he said. "I have no problem in watching my work be destroyed at the end of the run of each show. As far as I was concerned the production was the product itself.... That was that and I move on to the next one."

And then I thought of the way I was holding on to this production as if it was the only thing I was living for. Of my 500+ photos. Of the several videos I took of the finale dance, like a mom documenting her kids' milestones. Of tirelessly going on to Facebook to interact with the cast.

Hearing what Loy had to say hit hard. Let go.

On the way home from the show, there was this strange feeling. Blank but not empty. Content that the show went very well, pleased that we had a great audience, happy that my personal performance ended on a high, ready to wake up tomorrow and go on as usual.

I think I will stop here. No more shows unless absolutely necessary. It's time to focus on the next project: a group exhibit next month.

This does not mean I won't be sentimental, however. I'm wearing my TBT shirt to sleep tonight. I don't think I am the only one who will.

Just food

My boss's birthday cake, September 2010


Blackened fish, The Stock Market, BHS, October 2010


Soup, salad and quiche, The French Baker, Megamall, October 2010


Moussaka, Persia Grill, Ecoplaza, October 2010


Paella, Josephine's, Tagaytay, November 2010


Longganisa, hash browns, eggs and bread, Pancake House, Tagaytay, November 2010



Pizza and pasta, Chelsea Market, The Podium, January 2011

A true story

There was once a high school girl who loved theater. Her class asked her to direct the class play, a musical based on one of Shakespeare's more famous works.

There was once a high school boy who fell in love with the girl. He was quiet and shy and had nothing to do with theater. But to win the girl's heart, he decided to change that. For the first time, he auditioned for a play in his school--the same play the girl was directing for her class. He won a part and invited the girl to watch. The girl, having no interest in the boy but wanting to make him feel better for his efforts, went to watch him onstage.

During the performance, the boy appeared onstage with a bouquet of flowers and stopped the scene by crossing over to the audience and handing the flowers to the girl. Although she considered what he did the sweetest thing anyone ever did for her--not just the gesture but going through weeks of rehearsal just so that she would see him--she never changed her mind about him. From then on, she hated flowers because they reminded her of the boy. She asked other boys not to give her flowers. But the girl and the boy remained friends and stayed in touch through the years.

More than 10 years later, the girl missed theater and decided to audition for a play. She got a part and invited the boy to watch. The play was in his school, with the same theater group he performed with and in the same theater where he performed and gave her the flowers.

The boy had no interest in the girl anymore, but watched the play as a friend.

At curtain call, the girl received a bouquet. It was not from the boy, but that did not matter. It could have come from anyone, could have been bought by a friend, an admirer or a total stranger and the reaction of surprise would have been the same as that night more than a decage ago. But something had changed, perhaps because so much time had gone by. Holding the bouquet in her hands, the girl realized one thing: she did not hate flowers anymore.

[UPDATE: The girl told the boy about this post. He read this and sent the girl a long email that made her teary-eyed every time she read it.]