METTA: 10 years of loving-kindness

MANILA, Philippines - Assumption College truly made the right decision when it invited Ana Valdes-Lim to found the Marie Eugenie Theater of The Assumption (METTA) in 2004. As METTA’s artistic director, Ana looks passed her shoulders at the 10 years that have gone by, and it seems that each year weighs light as a feather yet every feather is one that weighs heavy when added to the cap.

Celebrating a decade of theatrical prowess, METTA is deeply rooted from the Assumption education, whose vision is to develop women of character, faith, substance and most especially women who will help transform society. Aside from taking its name after St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus, foundress of the Religious of the Assumption, METTA is also the Pali word meaning “loving-kindness” and “friendliness for all.”  Originally created as a student-based theater group, it slowly evolved to encompass the Assumption College San Lorenzo community, and moreover, its seed has grown with its branches expanding to several other endeavors.

As of yet, METTA stages 10 theater shows a year, with about five to six Broadway musical shows and four (modern and classical) dance shows. The ladies of the METTA Dance Theater have been so chiseled into excellence that their group has won first place in the National Dance Competition in the Jazz Division for three years in a row (2012 to 2014). Last year, the spotlight was literally on them twice as they won best original choreography and best costume design. 

METTA’s Shakespeare Festival is also on its 10th anniversary this year. The festival continues to captivate audiences with productions like Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The characters from these required reading classics have been born anew with these refreshing renderings from METTA. Watch out for Romeo and Juliet next year (January to February) as well as Little Shop of Horrors on Feb. 24 to 28 in 2015.

One of the highlights of METTA is that its thespians have the luxury of rehearsing at the venue months before show time.  The venue is adapted to the piece and as the environment unfolds its true colors, this physical aspect affects each actor and actress. The setting in which they are bound by melts into their being and somehow reaches depths within them that naturally stirs forth additional layers into the skin of the characters.

Ana explains that the theater group’s thrust now is on youth development and outreach. She points out two fine young individuals who have so beautifully blossomed into making METTA as dynamic and diverse as it is today. One is Joseph Andal who started out as a sound specialist and now directs films and videos and, on top of that, also scores them. Because of his talent, this department of producing films and videos is called METTA Creatives. Miel Abong, on the other hand, started as an actress, but later on, through the training and guidance of Ana, has discovered that she is also exceptional as an art director and production stylist. She is now the junior art director. She makes storyboards and writes them herself.

When it comes to outreach to the Male Medium Security in Muntinlupa City, METTA is not at all selfish with time. Ana visits the Bureau of Corrections not monthly but weekly.

Love in Action, a project spearheaded by Assumption College, San Lorenzo and the Bureau of Corrections for the Rehabilitation through Transformative Education of our incarcerated brothers, aims to bring awareness and consciousness to others that these inmates are still our brothers. The inmates of Muntinlupa, like other prisoners, are perhaps among those most forgotten and rejected by society. However, Love in Action clearly says the prisoners are our brothers, too, and we are ONE. To experience the BuCor College Drama Guild sing, dance and act is to realize its authenticity. It is moving and transformative for both the performers and the audience. The event on Nov. 20 promises to be an experience of hope and forgiveness.

The Love in Action guest of honor is none other than Sr. Francoise Martine, Mother General of the Assumption Sisters,  together with her council from France.

The performance at the Bureau of Corrections is supported by SM Department Store through the generosity of Tessie Sy-Coson, with special thanks to Annie Silva Garcia, Chelo Monasterio and Linda Atayde; deepest gratitude to Mercury Drug president Vivian Que-Azcona, Ramon Jacinto, Manuel Legarda, Maria Victoria Nieto Legarda, Milky Way, GoNuts Donuts, Tesoro’s, Beny Jalandoni and Ernie Moya and Marlene Po of Barangay San Lorenzo.

METTA stares straight into the eyes of the future. Its deepest desire is that each production (beyond entertainment and amusement) is an opportunity for introspection for all those who sit on the oh-so-comfy cushioned chairs of the Mother Rose Auditorium. Sometimes minds are so stiff and bent on beliefs that true vision is clouded; but maybe when the heart opens up, for instance, to a lead character who is singing her heart out, then maybe the mind can open up, too.

(Marie Eugenie Theater of The Assumption is on San Lorenzo Drive, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City. For details, call 894-2681 or e-mail [email protected].)