Why I have to pass up the Dinagyang

My schedule nowadays is so crazy I am tempted to submit it to the National Mental Hospital. Most of the time, I get tired just thinking about what I am going to do for the day. Bad attitude. So just before I do anything stupid, I check myself. I take a deep breath and I thank God for the blessings. Then I smile and begin my day like an overbooked geisha who has to hop from one teahouse in Kyoto, ready to be transported to another one in Nagasaki, while riding a Diahatsu that can bring me to magnificent Mt. Fuji.

That’s why it’s with deep regret that I had to turn down the invitation of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas to be part of the Dinagyang Festival. I’m sure I’m going to miss a lot — the ornate Dinagyang costumes made of leaves and barks of trees, the fabulous parade, the touching religious Sto. Niño ceremony and procession and of course, the much-vaunted Ilonggo hospitality.

Oh well, I hope I can go next year! Salamat sa imbitasyon, Mayor! And I just miss my good friends Marissa Segovia, Chairman of the Iloilo Business Club! I miss her more than the Dinagyang!

Musicat’s Angel Sponsorship

It’s never easy to put up a play, much more if it’s an original work. But for 13 years now, the feisty Celeste Legaspi and her Musical Theater Philippines (Musicat) have been churning out original productions that are not just celebrations of what is inherently Filipino, but are exceedingly entertaining as well. The company continues to strive to keep its mission of upholding the highest standards in theatrical entertainment and make the theater a medium as widely-accepted as it should be.

For this, Musicat has spearheaded a project called Angel Sponsorship where a chosen group of students from public schools get to watch its latest production for free, courtesy of a donor. Or in this case, an angel.

"Asking a sponsor to be an angel means for P5000, he or she sends 10 public school students to the theater with transportation and merienda. This includes two tickets to the donor too." explains Celeste.

Although this is the first time they’re letting the public know of Angel Sponsorship, it has actually been tested quite a few times with great results beginning with Ang Larawan, the musical adaptation of the Nick Joaquin play by Ronaldo Tinio and Ryan Cayabyab, staged at the CCP. Girlie Rodis, one of the movers behind Musicat, remembers they were able to fill up the whole Balcony 2 of the theater with sponsored students.

"For most of them, it was their first experience in theater." Rodis recalls. "Nakakatuwa silang manood kasi like watching a soap opera. You could tell they’re listening to the lyrics. We even had Ricky Davao, one of the actors in the cast, come to them after the play, make a little chit-chat, do photo-ops to add to the students’ experience."

Before the Angel Sponsorship, Musicat originally only wanted to create a facility that could help generate funds for the production. But as Celeste explains, "It’s easier to find small sponsorships. And it’s really great for the donors because they get to reach out to underprivileged kids. It has a personal touch pa because in a way, they were able to choose a play they want to send the kids to."

This month, another group of students will be trooping to the theater, courtesy of "angels" to watch Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal? , a study of the national hero’s life set in music, and featuring a shadow play treatment with documentary videos by students from Animo of the Philippine High School for the Arts. Since the venue is Music Museum, Musicat will be choosing a public school in San Juan.

While they already have angels for this production, Musicat is still looking for good-hearted people to become angels for the restaging of Alikabok in February. With a new cast (featuring Cris Villonco, Diane de la Fuente and Jeffrey Hidalgo) and a more compact libretto, this musical inspired by the Juan Luna painting La Bulakeña promises to sweep audiences once again, with its music and message of love and patriotism.

Those interested to be angel sponsors of Musicat can contact Girlie Rodis or Celeste Legaspi at telephone numbers 721-7229 or 723-1765.

Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal? plays at the Music Museum every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, up to Feb. 2. Alikabok premieres on Feb. 21 and is staged every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until March 2.