Song of Solomon

A monumental musical will be premiered, not in Broadway, but in Dumaguete City in November. “Song of Solomon” is sponsored by the innovative Dumaguete Theatre Company. 

The epic love story set to music revolves around Solomon, son of King David. As the musical’s organizers told me, in ancient Israel, the latter’s wars are coming to an end, and the road is treacherous and uncertain for Israel’s future. To avoid more wars, David’s son and heir, Solomon, is forced to make alliances with neighboring kingdoms by marrying foreign princesses. However, a vineyard girl captures the King’s heart, threatening to distract his attention from his more pressing duties as King of Israel. The musical “Song of Solomon” speaks of his struggle between love and duty.

There have been reviews of the musical glimpses of which have been shown to select audiences in New York: “The Cries for the Broadway Stage?” by Howard Joines of Broadway Music supervisor; “Very impressed with the quality … really brought the emotions of the piece,” by Karl Jurman, music director of Broadway’s “The Lion King,” and “Without a doubt, one of the finest performances in independent theater. Electrifying arias and chilling portraits. A breathtakingly epic crescendo,” from Stage buddy.

So, why hold the world premier in Dumaguete City, particularly at Luce Auditorium inside the campus of Silliman University? The answer is provided by the Dumaguete Theatre Co., which was created by friends and art lovers “out of a vision and an opportunity to produce the world premiere of the musical.” With the pre-Broadway staging, “our community of gentility will add to its already growing reputation as a unique tourist designation – a center for art and culture in the south.”  DTC envisions developing the wealth of talent among the youth, and “to provide a window to the world which showcases the depth and versatility of the Filipino’s creative spirit as performer and interpreter of our evolving culture.”

A Broadway-based team of creative artists cast Manila-based talents. For the pre-Broadway show King Solomon is portrayed by David Ezra; the vineyard girl Ahlma is Yannah Laurel, and Lea, Ahlma’s sister, is played by Menchu Lauchengo. Benjamin, the adviser of Solomon, is Jet Go, and Ruben, the local businessman in love with Ahlma, is Jieb Rodriguez.

The creative team that put together the cast, are Andrew Beal, whose musical of “Song of Solomon” was nominated for Best Musical at the Thespis New York Festival, and for Best Concept Album, and is acclaimed as “a breathtaking epic crescendo.” Neil Van Leeuwen, in charge of Song of Solomon’s music,  has musical training primarily in orchestral percussion. Jaime del Mundo, the musical’s director, is an actor, teacher, screenwriter, playwright and multi-awarded director.

Elizabeth Susan Vista Suarez, the musical’s music director, is a professor and former dean at Silliman’s college of performing and visual arts. Emilio Marin Infante, in charge of scenography, has a masters of arts in scenography and theatre design from the Wimbledon School of Arts in London, and has worked with most of the major theater companies and production houses in the Philippines. Miguel Braganza, the choreographer, is the founder of Ballet Asia of New York City, has a degree in speech and theater arts from Silliman, and a certificate in dance from the Alvin Ailry American Dance Center in New York city. He is currently connected with the New York Metropolitan Opera House.

The team has been rehearsing the primary cast in Manila, with Jaime del Mundo as director. On Oct. 1, Jaime Del Mundo is rehearsing the minority cast in Dumaguete in preparation for the four-day shows on Nov. 15, 16, 17 and 18.  Meanwhile Susan Vista Suarez is doing her share in providing the music of a 25-person ensemble.

The Dumaguete Theatre Co. Inc., has mobilized art-conscious citizens for officers. They are Jose Riodil Montebon, president, Maria Luz Cole-Havranek and Marietta Montebon for vice presidents; Jessie Lupisan, treasurer, Pristine Raymond, comptroller; Melanie Grace Doromal, comptroller; Luisa Bocanegra, auditor; Miguel Braganza II, artistic director emeritus; Mae Magdamo, resident production manager, and Oliver Sobere Yu, Ariel Ronato and Michael Angelo Alano, members.

Marietta Montebon told me the Boulevards Kids are the beneficiary for the “Song of Solomon.” These children are from the coasts of Barangays Looc and Tinago who regularly hang around Rizal boulevard. The Calvary Chapel of Dumaguete, with the help and cooperation of Pastoral Training of Asia, holds a feeding program together with fellowship and Sunday School for the Boulevard Kids.

Marietta is busy as a bee looking for donations for the musical production. For inquiries and donations, contact Maria Cole-Havranek at 0915-7000206; Marietta Montebon, 0917-7001679, and Luisa Bocanegra, 0917 314-3164.

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In these days of the ever presence of gadgetry, the explosion of social media platforms, socio-eco-political issues of inflation, coping with high costs of basic commodities, horrendous traffic and the like... there’s time to weep and there’s time to reap!  And that’s what the Centro Escolar University just held – an awarding ceremonies for their unsung small heroes in what they call the “Loyalty Day 2018.”

Last week the CEU led by its president/chief academic officer, Dr. Cristina Padolina and the indefatigable CEU Alumni Foundation president, Dr. Paz Lucido jointly mounted a successful and memorable five-hour program with holy mass, photo exhibit, and an awarding program in honor of about 193 awardees with lunch.

What’s so special about this “Loyalty Day”?

It was a twin-event as it celebrated the birth of Dr. Concepcion Aguila, an icon of fidelity and loyalty, who served as executive director and dean of the graduate school, who espoused the legacy of its pioneering women founders, Librada Avelino and Carmen de Luna “ciencia y virtud,” making the school one of the country’s prime institutions providing quality education.

Loyalty Day in the ”Pink Walls” also opened its campus to its alumni, led by their special guest speaker, Judge Aida Rangel-Roque, of the Regional Trial Court of Manila and one of its outstanding high school alumni of batch 1959, along with 108 loyal parent-alumni who believed in the university’s capability in providing quality secondary and tertiary education to their children.

Service awards were also given to personnel/staff who have been recognized for working in the different administrative and academic services of the school for 15 years. Loyalty pins were given to 108 parent-alumni awardees, and cash tokens were given to 85 service honorees.

Completing the whole day event was the induction of the CEU Manila elementary and high school alumni chapter (MEHSAC) 2018-2020 officers and board with AFI president Dr. Paz Lucido as its officiating officer. Among the incoming officers were Roscel Paule-Chua, Judge Selma Alaras, Evelyn  Yoro, Betty Lou Penera, Elvira Zamora, Josefina Bernabe, Mayang Ellaris, Carla Mendez, Rosana Fernandez, N. Castaneda, H. Ompico, R. A. Liwag, T.M. Evangelista and T.B. Padilla.

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Email: [email protected].