The Cebu Theatre Company, Ltd.

A lot of people can't believe that young as we are, my sister and I were able to form our own theatre company. We came up with the concept while we were at the lobby of a hotel in 2003, waiting for our little brother who was attending their school's JS Prom.

From the early 90's until the present, we have seen so many gifted, talented individuals disappear into anonymous wilderness. When we meet them, they often express the desire to return to the stage to do what they love most: to perform.

And then, there are also a lot of people with potentials, who dream of performing on stage, but just do not have the avenue to do so.

This is why the idea, the dream of having a theatre company was born...

It all started with a dream...

And the dream come true in 2004, when the Cebu Theatre Company, Ltd. entered the scene through our debut production, Anastasia.

In its own little way, the Cebu Theatre Company, Ltd. hopes to promote Filipino, particularly Cebuano culture, through theatrical productions; provide an avenue for individuals to share themselves, and to steer away from bad influences; create an extended family and provide an environment in which imagination can flourish; and contribute to the growth and advancement of Philippine theatre; and discover and create a new generation of theatre artists and audience.

Five years of doing plays, musicals, variety shows & concerts, as well as private events such as weddings, corporate shows and parties, we've never made this a business. It's all for the love of performing, and if ever we're lucky enough to receive something, we give it back to our needy brothers and sisters.

My sis, Kazie, and I hope that even when we're long gone, CTC will continue to live on and continue to make a positive difference in the lives of many.

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream
that brings us here.

-David Foster & Babyface

Pacman Makes History

With another impressive win today against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, Manny Pacquiao has cemented his legacy by making history. It was not an easy fight with the power and heart of Cotto, not to mention his size advantage, but Pacman was just too good, he was just too much for the valiant Puerto Rican. The cocky Floyd Mayweather, who came back from retirement to supposedly challenge Pacman, may have second thoughts after Pacquiao did what no fighter has done before - win a belt in a seventh weight class. More impressive, though, is how he has fought, dismantling opponents despite moving up consistently from 106 pounds to the 144 he weighed for the fight.

I've said this a million times before, I'll say it once again -

I'm damn proud to be PINOY! ♥

Turning 29

I turned 29 years old yesterday. It was just like any other day, and I wasn't expecting anything since I haven't really celebrated my birthday for the past 10 years. I was kinda expecting people to greet me through Facebook since FB has this birthday reminder thingie. What I didn't expect though is to be remembered by people who doesn't have FB, two of my former students. Former students and forever friends who are already teachers themselves, and living (and working) in a place where there is no Facebook or anything else to remind them about my birthday. Yet they remembered. It's friends like them who make ordinary days into extra-special ones.

I thank the Lord for giving me another year. I am not asking much, just the chance to right all the wrongs I've done in my life, and to watch my daughter grow up to be the beautiful person that she is right now.

Never fear growing old; there are many who have never had the privilege.

Hacked Road Sign

Whoever hacked this road sign
TOTALLY ROCKS!

Theatre Companies

The Cebu Theatre Company, Ltd. is a theatre company my younger sister and I formed sometime in 2004, and ever since, we've done a lot of shows, both public and private events. Recently, our younger brother also organized Scene One, a theatre group just like CTC, but as he said, the members are students, unlike CTC where the members are professionals.

Performing is really in the blood, and I'm so proud of what Gayle and Dan have achieved both academically and theatrically. I'm so excited to meet the S1 members soon as we've agreed that our major production next year will be the first joint production of both groups. I am also hoping that both groups will continue to live on for the generations to come.

Mabuhay CTC! Mabuhay S1!

Bring Him Home

One of the songs I'll be singing in our next production is Bring Him Home, a really emotional and powerful song. It is also quite difficult. I am so excited and honored to be able to sing this song, and I have been listening to the different renditions of the different actors who have played the role. For me, one renditions stands out: Colm Wilkinson's. He's the very first actor who played the role, and the song was added by the composers when they heard his voice. So this beautiful song was actually made for him, and for me, his version is the best.

Journey to the Past

Because I'm so excited about our next production, let's go to a journey to the past...

Our theatre company's very first production was Anastasia in 2005, which we adapted from the beautiful animated movie. It was not easy bringing the story from the screen to the stage, and I'm proud that we pulled it off, considering more than half of the cast members were first timers in theatre.

Aside from writing the script, my sister also played the lead role of Anya/Anastasia. I would love to post her video here but I disabled the embed option in our YouTube account, so instead, here's the link of my sis singing Journey to the Past from Anastasia.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Even if most of my life,

you were my harshest critic,
I wouldn't be who I am

and where I am today if not for you.
Even if almost always

our conversations become arguments,
You're still my dad

and I still respect and love you.

HAPPY 61st BIRTHDAY, DAD! ♥

New Challenge

In a week or two, we'll finally have our casting auditions for our musical next year. I'm so pumped up and excited to not only hear again my favorite songs, but to perform them again. For more than 10 years that I performed in Les Mis, I had the role of Thénardier, the only comic relief (together with his wife) in the heavy drama musical. I had a few solo songs but those songs were fairly easy.

Now I will be moving on to a much more heavier and much, much more difficult role. It will not be easy as I will also be directing aside from appearing in almost all of the scenes. And yes, I will have a LOT of solo's, ALL with REALLY HIGH notes. I consider it the biggest challenge of my musical career, and I'm so excited to start rehearsals.

Let's get it on!

Hope or If?

I think know it's one and the same song.

*sigh*