All the reasons for Magsimula Ka to work

MANILA, Philippines - It is unlikely that any teenage pop music lover in the mid-’80s would never have heard of Magsimula Ka, the musical. Or of the song sang by a rising Leo Valdez in the fourth Metropop Songwriting Competition of 1981, which became the theme of the musical.

That musical, therefore, is expected to once again captivate people’s minds and hearts starting today, Nov. 18 to Dec. 4 at the Music Museum. Quite incredibly, it has taken 27 years for a revival to come around although from its track record alone, Magsimula Ka was already a winner. Co-written by Nestor Torre Jr. with award-winning composer Gines Tan who also wrote the music, with musical arrangement by Ryan Cayabyab, the play was the longest running original Filipino musical of the time. Originally scheduled for 10 performances at CCP’s Huseng Batute, it ran for more than 150 times.

And to think that at the fourth Metropop, Gines’ Magsimula only made third prize, where Sino ang Baliw of Elizabeth Barcelona won the grand prize, and Gary Granada’s Kahit Konti won second prize. Of course in the first Metropop in 1978, Freddie Aguilar’s Anak didn’t win any prize but became the biggest OPM hit of all times.

It is also interesting how the musical became witness to Philippine theater history and shenanigans for the past decades. Magsi as it is lovingly called was first produced by the then Bulwagang Gantimpala Theater, CCP’s production arm during Lucrecia Tita King Kasilag’s term as president. Then as well as now, Tony Espejo headed the company and started the tradition of mounting Filipino plays among them Kanser and Hiblang Abo, both still being actively reshown.

After Kanser in 1980 came Magsimula in 1983 to 84 which broke the box-office. Between those years and today, however, came the expulsion of Gantimpala from the CCP which divided the ranks of theater folk from pro CCP and pro Gantimpala which we still vividly remember.

Fast forward to today and the current Magsimula Ka with Isay Alvarez as producer and husband Robert Seña as director. Both had been among those who auditioned for the Torre-Tan production. Isay made it as the female lead Monina (now played by Ciara Sotto); Robert who joined the second batch started with chorus, then graduated to Mario, and finally the male lead Miguel.

Both Isay and Robert attribute their performing careers to have been jump-started by Magsimula Ka. Soon after came the auditions for the original London production of Miss Saigon and the final cast basically came from two camps — Repertory Philippines with Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Junix Inocian, Michael Williams and Magsimula. Leo, who will always bear his Magsimula connection to this day is still doing stints for Saigon as engineer.

Others whose performing careers also started in Magsimula were Jograd dela Torre, Gigi Posadas, Beverly Salviejo, Tricia Amper Jimenez (now also with Isay and Robert’s performing arts school Spotlight Artists Centre, producers of the current play, and playing Mrs. Madrigal). Isay remembers still being in college and with the Met Chorus when she auditioned and got the role of Monina.

The play with its socially relevant look at Pinoy pop culture tells the story of four friends on graduation day, the opening scene, ready to embark on the pursuit of their dreams. Mandy (Myke Salomon) wants to be a singer, Mario (Fredson Lo) a writer, Miguel (Pert Bernadas) a composer and Miguel’s girlfriend Monina (Ciara) a social worker. The road towards fulfillment is of course rough and fraught with obstacles but the friends continue with the struggle and learn significant lessons in life and love.

Robert recalls how The Graduation opening scene from the original Magsi was his favorite. “It’s the first scene that warms me up. The melody and the message of the song sensitized me to keep me going towards the end of the show.”

For Ciara, getting a call from Isay to ask her to audition for the lead role of Monina must have been an unexpected turn of events in her life since her marriage. As the youngest daughter of Helen Gamboa and Sen. Tito Sotto, Ciara’s world since age six has been peopled with showbiz folk — Vic, Oyo Boy, Danica Sotto, Sharon Cuneta and KC, the Tuvieras of Eat, Bulaga!. Her last movie was Regal’s Mano Po 6. Her second album If You Love Me was released under Sony BMG. She had always told her husband and the public that she would continue her showbiz career after marriage.

Clinching the role in the Magsi revival made Ciara bury herself in preparation. We had never really been knowledgeable of Ciara’s acting-dancing-singing ability. After watching the run-through of Magsimula we are convinced the producers made the perfect choice. She confesses that, “If I was apprehensive it’s only because there is so much pressure on my part because I know how amazing Ate Isay played this role before.” Finally, she admits to having worked so hard at the musical. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do; everything I want.”

We have also come across some very interesting trivia regarding Magsimula Ka. It has guest artists early on which included in the original Leo Valdez, Louie Reyes, Eugene Villaluz, Dulce, Rico J. Puno, Carlo Orosa, Marco Sison, Angelique Lazo, Ray An Fuentes, Cynthia Patag and Pat Castillo. Guests in today’s version include some of the original cast of Magsimula like Beverly Salviejo, Bicong del Rosario, Gigi Posadas, Rito Asilo and Saigon alumni Jamie Rivera and Jenine Desiderio.

Musical director of today’s Magsimula is Krina Cayabyab, daughter of Ryan, summa cum laude from UP College of Music. Playing Millie, sister of the male lead Miguel is Sophia Reyes, reprising her mother Rina Reyes’ role in the original. This is also (Pert Bernadas) Miguel’s first time to do theater. We found the couple Jograd and Monang (Jerald Napoles and Sheng Belmonte) excellent in their roles as comic relief. One small scene that tugged at the heart was that of Delia (Kyla Rivera) and best friend Monina who disappeared after an accident that left her depressed and defeated.

Classical singers Ana Feleo and Sherwin Sozon play Mr. and Mrs. Madrigal, parents of the lead Miguel, alternating with Tricia Jimenez and Kenneth Cataylo.

Finally, why do we expect the revival to work? Director Seña quickly replies: “Because we had sort of been missing this melody, music and words. Because OPM before was full of heart and soul. Because I suddenly realized that the music then was full of melodies and words that can move us and even motivate us for the rest of our lives.”

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