Chinese play turned radio novela

DZRH-Radyo Balintataw features the Chinese play Super Fancy Machine, a modern fairytale play serial focused on the Kingdom of Insects by Wang Ling — a distinguished Chinese playwright, screenwriter and translator who serves as secretary of the Chinese ITI Center. The Chinese play turned Filipino radio novela is now broadcast on DZRH Radyo Balintataw and on webcast until Sept. 12, from 9 to 9:30 p.m.

According to Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Phil. ITI president and executive council member, director of Earthsavers UNESCO DREAM Center, the broadcast has a twin consciousness raising effort — related to the strengthening of the Philippine-Chinese friendship with the successful state visit of President Benigno Aquino III and the forthcoming 33rd International Theatre Institute (ITI) Congress to be held at Xiamen on Sept. 19 to 24.

The story using the Kingdom of the Insects as the parable framework deals with the greed that is the root cause of violent conflicts, power struggles and eventual annihilation of the world. It touches on the value of love, caring and willingness to sacrifice for the common good.

The author, Wang Ling, started his career as founder of the Beijing Theatre of the Deaf before proceeding to run the Chinese Theatre Association (ITI) while involved with the SIDA Sponsored Children’s Voice Project. His TV drama Coming back from RS City won the National Flying to Sky awards in 1991.

Versatile actress Eloisa Cruz-Canlas leads the dramatic talents. The translation is by Palanca awardee, Noli Dumlao.

The broadcast of Super Fancy Machine focuses on the significant expansion of the ITI Communications Committee to include broadcast to complement publications. The Philippine communications team attending the Xiamen ITI Congress are KWF chairman Jose Laderas Santos, DepEd NCCT director Frank Rivera, with the Pixel Media arts group led by CJ Andaluz including John Wong and Amelia Lee. The other Philippine ITI Execom participating are Fray Paolo Casurao for monodrama, Nick Lizaso for educational theater, Gardy Labad for music theater, Liza Macuja-Elizalde and Gigi Velarde-David for dance, Isagani Cruz as secretary and for the playwrights forum and Wally Tuyan for new projects workshop.

Direk Paul in the eyes of family & friends

Direk Paul Soriano is known as a director of the music videos of A-list singers in the country, commercials of top of the line products and inspirational films like A Journey Home starring Toni Gonzaga and Thelma topbilled by Maja Salvador.

But behind the cameras, how do his family and close friends describe direk Paul? “Paul is like the brother I never had. He invites me to their family gatherings. He treats me like I am part of the family. He is a very thoughtful and loyal friend,” describes his childhood friend Mark Victor.

Direk Paul is very close to his siblings Parker and Philip. His father, direk Jeric, only has good words about his son. “He will not only listen to your words but also he will listen to your heart. What makes Paul happy is when he sees that his mother and me are happy. Paul will drop everything if you need him. He wants your life to be good and to be well. Whatever he can do for you to achieve that, he will do that for you. That’s my son!” 

Paul is a decent young man who happens to be gorgeous and God-loving. On The Bottomline, during our conversation, I could almost smell the passion and the tenacity of this young director who wants to control his artistic milieu to be able to deliver his story.

Paul is also lucky and blessed to be in a loving relationship with Toni. The couple has been together for four years. They bring out the best in each other. If Paul is the boss on the set, it’s a different story when it comes to their relationship. Paul admits that Toni is his boss.

Paul loves her so much that he’s willing to wait for her even if it takes three years or forever. But as the saying goes, kung may tiyaga ay may nilaga. He says that as he turns 30 in October, he’s ready to settle down.

Paul says they will get married in Taytay if Toni wants to get married there. He’ll leave everything to Toni. Just tell him the time and place and he’ll be there. “For me talaga, the wedding is about her. I’ll just be there,” direk Paul beams.

Like Thelma who doesn’t run away from problems and instead runs to fix them, Paul will never, never run away from love!