LANCE RAYMUNDO TO PORTRAY JESUS CHRIST ONCE MORE AT THE SENAKULO...

lance on the focus

lance: longer hair, bulkier physique--- almost like Christ

lance on the move

lance: happy but not lonely

JESUS CHRIST: the man that Lance will portray again

If you'll notice the way Lance Raymundo look these days- sporting a wavy hair with little curls below, and his body getting bulky, and his face lightening up like a Holy Man of God, well, better make a very nice guess. That look is certainly almost like Jesus Christ's look.

And better be not wrong again, if you guess that Lance Raymundo will soon be portraying the Son of God, you are certainly correct indeed. Lance's looks and ways now are in accordance with his upcoming portrayal at the Holy Week Senakulo this coming Lenten Season in the next couple of months.

"I guess, as early as now, I have to imbibe the Jesus Christ personality and character", Lance said to his friend-blogger. "As an actor, I must do this. I must be serious in everything I do. I must study and feel-in the character much deeper. I guess, kulang pa nga ito, eh. I still have to make my hair longer pa and my body more bulkier. This is for cinematic purposes. I am soon portraying Jesus Christ, so with that, I must deliver and give justice to the role more fully."

Portraying Jesus Christ is something very personal for Lance. His facial accident (the barbell weight accident) happened a year after he portrayed Jesus at the same Senakulo event (produced by Lou Veloso's theater group), he was supposed to portray and reprise the same role on the year afterwards, and he's already preparing again for it, but then, the accident happened and he could no longer do it. This time around, now that his face is totally healed and he looked handsomer and younger (miraculously), he agreed to Mr. Veloso's request again to portray the much-coveted role. And no other actor could very well fit-in to it, except Lance.

"I just don't know if people will believe me, but I suffered the same sufferings that Jesus Christ encountered when I met that facial accident of mine", Lance said anew. "Somehow it all manifested around me. That's why now that I can carry on portraying Him, I don't hesitate or whatsoever. Portraying Jesus is a chance of a lifetime and it's something so personal for me."

lance with master film director elwood perez

Meanwhile, Lance is now halfway through with his indie film under the helm of Master film director Elwood Perez, wherein he's portraying the Maestro himself- direk Elwood- as the younger direk Elwood in the film, who suddenly becomes Lance Raymundo whenever he sees a handsome, young man and dreams to make that handsome, young man to become an actor he'll direct someday. The film's title is Mnemonics.

"We will resume shooting after direk Elwood's birthday", Lance said again to his blogger-friend. "I am so happy with the outcome of the film as direk Elwood already showed me some rushes and teasers of the film. He's doing his own life via this film because the film's auto-biographical. And that's why, he wants the film to be real good."

Lance thought of postponing some immediate concerts and recording jobs this year. But his dream for this year is to record one single.

"Singing is also my first love", Lance said at the end. "But a lot of things are coming my way and I need to focus on what's right for my career. Certainly, portraying Jesus Christ again is the most important one."

Very well said, Mr. Lance Raymundo.


(written by robert manuguid silverio)

CARLO CRUZ COMES BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

yes, carlo comes back (PHOTO CREDITS: RICARDO DELA CRUZ YAN II)

carlo looking up (PHOTO CREDITS: RICARDO DELA CRUZ YAN II)

Last year, he suddenly left. Totally gone. Just like the magnificent Houdini who magically did an amazing "great escape". It was all too sudden then. His friends, family and other loved ones never knew about it, too. It was a great MYSTERY.

And, as you linger upon his Facebook posts, that's where you could see that he's living another life back at the U.S. of A. At NYC (New York City), wherein you could almost feel another "James Dean-life and existence". Hanging around with his fellow artists and theater performers- living a cool life, lingering by the picturesque landscapes of New York City.

But one soul waited. He wished for him to come back, have coffee with him again, and cherish back those cute smiles of his, baby-like aura, and magnetic charms.

His name is Carlo Cruz, an indie film actor who have done a few memorable indie films here in the Philippines before he left for NYC.

What really happened, Carlo?

"At time kasi, I had no film projects that's why I left muna", Carlo answered during a coffee interview with a blogger-friend at Cibo restaurant in Greenhills. "So I thought of doing something more positive in my life. To pursue my studies in the U.S., take a daytime job there and continue my passion for theater arts- that is, acting, on the New York arts scene. 

"Yeah, the sad thing is, I did not tell anyone about it", Carlo continued saying. "Even to my friend, Lance Raymundo, I did not tell it, even to my mom and dad. because I thought, I will only there in the U.S. for three months and will be back at once. But many other things went along the way, and I stayed in the U.S. longer as I planned. I joined the theater scene there, auditioned for roles, and met new friends."

And looking upon his eyes, you could almost see FOREVER. There's something in it, like a window to everlasting love and awesomeness. Like a pair of a cat's eyes that's been lingering deep within your soul, awaiting to be loved.

And yes, he CAME BACK.

"The main reason why I came back now, aside from the fact that I really missed my loved ones, is this film project that I got casted in", Carlo said again. "It's a big film project here in the Philippines na habambuhay kong itse-cherish because it's a once-in-a-lifetime film and I feel so honored to be among the cast. It's an epic film of gigantic proportions, a period movie, with a big cast and historical value. It's one of my dreams to portray a role of someone in the Philippine History - and now, it happened.

"I will be leaving again soon but I will come back again by the month of April to start shooting the film", Carlo hanged-on saying. "I am pretty excited to act this time in a mainstream film. Actually, I first auditioned for the director of the film for a different film. But this time, they called me back for this new film. And I am now readying myself for it."

Wow. But Carlo begged-off and requested this blogger not to mention the film first because it's still too early. Nevertheless, he promised to invite this blogger once he starts shooting the film. And that promise will never be BROKEN. Ha-ha.

Back in New York, according to Carlo, the theater scene there is also booming, same as here now in the Philippines.

"They have so many new ideas there", Carlo said anew. "And the people there, basically like us also here in the Philippines. The same passion, the same dedication, the same unique factor that binds us altogether- and that is, the love for the ART."

Carlo also met a few Hollywood actors and actresses back in the U.S., and also some Fil-American actors who were all making good there.

"Marami rin pala sila", Carlo continued saying. "There are also a lot of Filipino actors and artists there in N.Y. I hang around with them sometimes. We all share the same views in life."

YES, CARLO CRUZ COMES BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

And among the people he met now again, one of the very first ones was his buddy- no less than LANCE RAYMUNDO.

"Lance has been one of my very best friends", Carlo told a blogger. " It's been twelve years of friendship with him. Such a long time, isn't it? For more than a decade now, we've shared lots of memories together, and we never fought. It's the kind of friendship you will treasure forever."

And thanks God, Carlo met with that blogger again. Also among the very few people he wanted back to meet. pretty amazing.

And that blogger told himself: "This time I'll be sweeter".

See you again soon, Carlo.


(written by robert manuguid silverio)

carlo with fellow theater artists in new york city

carlo with bff lance

carlo: intense (PHOTO CREDITS: WANDA DOMINGO)

carlo in a james dean pose (PHOTO CREDITS: RICARDO DELA CRUZ YAN II)

lance raymundo endorses justin coveney's special fitness program on line...

lance: naked up-waist by the beach...

He entered and walked inside Starbucks Tomas Morato with all those sexy moves and macho appeal. He looked so amazingly "bulky" and delicious. His well-curved chest penetrating the outlines of his tight-fitting shirt. His magnetic aura exudes so much sex appeal.

Definitely, he deserves to be among the list of this year's sexiest male celebrities of Swordshines10 blog site. And for the very first question, what does he feel about that?

"I am happy and pressured. Hahaha!", Lance answered at once with those keenly naughty looks. "I am happy because people noticed the way I look but also pressured because I have to live-up to the expectations of the title given to me as one of the sexiest male celebrities. I am definitely working-out consistently because I also have modelling endorsements now about health, living well, and proper training program on-line."

JUSTIN COVENEY of philippine rugby team: he got lance raymundo to be the male celebrity endorser of his work-out program on line.

The proper training program that Lance was referring to was Justin Coveney's (a rugby player from the Philippine team called Volcanoes) work-out program which the latter teaches on-line. And Justin got Lance to be the male celebrity endorser of this program on-line.

"It's a health and fitness program about conditioning athletes on-line", Lance further said. "He launched that kind of program this year on-line, on the viral world. He feeds the program on line and coches people about it on the internet. Fortunately, he noticed me on my Facebook account and asked me if I could be the male celebrity endorser of this health and fitness program. I at once said yes, of course."

Lance and Justin are planning to meet personally soon, so that Justin can coach him personally about the fitness program this time. This will further show to the public the good effects of Justin's work-out program.

lance: health-conscious

"I guess, my being physically fit nowadays only shows to the people that it's good to be healthy and perfectly well-built", Lance said again. "Because aside from Justin's workout program on-line, I am also endorsing Live Well meals, and they could see it almost everyday on my Facebook and Instagram posts. It's a kind of vegetarian diet that fits every celebrities that are health-conscious."

And Lance is also endorsing Mega-C capsules/vitamins, which he models alongside with singer gerald Santos. A big billboard is coming-up soon for this health product which Lance is also endorsing.

Live well. Look good. Stay fit and sexy. Feel great.

Those factors enhances Lance Raymundo's image...


FOREVERMORE.



(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

photography: wilson fernandez

lance with bff carlo cruz

vince tanada talks about his future plans and the graciousness of his laoag city tour producers...

It's been more than five years of friendship, truthfulness and love. Full of colors, vibrant living colors. Nagkakatampuhan, nagkakaselosan, nagkakaaawayan pa mandin LIVE on the internet world. But that only made the friendship real and solid. It even stood the TEST of time.

That kind of friendship one blogger cherished so much is the friendship he had with Vince Tanada and the Philippine Stagers Foundation.

Many people have already attempted to destroy the friendship. But sad to say, they all did not win. Perfection and "knowing it all" is not the key to step upon other people's toes. And Vince certainly knows the pure love that this blogger had offered unto them. A pure love that could linger on, amidst the ridicules, bad impressions and disgusts. Love could still find a way in every step of the way.

This time around, GOD will be on our side as we all continue to BOND along. God will protect what's left of the sincerity of the heart. And when they'd seen each other all over again last week only, no other person had been able to stop it this time. Because it's the LOVE that counted in. No other person COULD simply enjoy the fruits of something that he did not do any hard work, or planted any seeds of goodness and concern- yes, no one. You can not just simply sneak-in at other people's territory just by simply eating three plates of meals in one serving or make the head master drunk with brandy almost everyday. With that, you are not a GOOD INFLUENCE for the group, but rather, you would only simply RUIN the Master.

It was a great trip to Laoag City last January 21. And in one dinner event at the hotel that all Stagers of Philippine Stagers Foundation stayed on for two days, a blogger approached Vince Tanada to interview him.

And this time around, he talked about the graciousness of his Laoag City tour event producers, in persons of Mr. & Mrs. Fernando Pascual:

"This is our fourth time here in Laoag City", Vince told a blogger. "And Mrs. Abigail Pascual and his husband Fernando Pascual had been our consistent producer here for four long years. Even though PSF had set new rules in our last meeting - and one of the rules was not to entertain producers anymore because we can manage to produce our own tours, Mrs. Pascual became an exemption to the rule. WE made it a point to still make her our producer for our tour here in Laoag City.

"The generosity and graciousness of Mrs. Pascual made it all happen", Vince continued on saying. "That's why she became an exemption to PSF's new set of rules, alongside with the parents of Kenneth Sadsad who produces naman our La Union and Olongapo tours. If producers like Abby and Kenneth's parents are perfectly great and good, PSF will continue allowing them to become our producers."

Starting by the month of February 1 to February 20, Vince Tanada's Mindanao tour would be starting to happen. This time, it's PSF's own production venture. Almost all key cities in almost all the provinces in Mindanao will be toured-in and conquered by the Stagers. What a great Marketing strategy.


While on tour to Mindanao, Vince will be starting to write the NEW PLAY that the Philippine Stagers Foundation would soon be preparing for, yes, for their next Theater Season this coming month of April and March. And Vince would soon have a major press conference or event to announce this great, new play as their next theater season production venture.

"I can not yet reveal it because baka ma-pre-empt",Vince told a blogger. "Basta, I am so proud and ecstatic about this one. I am sure, everybody would like it. It's a great new masterpiece that I'm about to finish now."

Another surprise coming-out. So better be prepared.

With Vince Tanada, anything can happen. Need we say more?



(written by robert manuguid silverio)

vince with ex-classmates allan (with wife carol) and blarneystine

vince with monrey, blarneystine and Stager John Rey

vince with his trainer monrey avendano and ex-classmate blarneystine

.

THE GREAT LAOAG CITY TOUR OF PHILIPPINE STAGERS FOUNDATION (A TRAVELOGUE)....

It was still dark when I started walking the slippery streets of the subdivision where i reside. But somehow, the clouds disappeared from the night sky and I saw the many stars glittering above in such a very unified manner. The moon was almost half, but happy. I got a feeling, everything's gonna be alright.

When I reached the PSF Studio in G. Tuason St., Balic-Balic, I at once saw Mr. Bobong dela Cruz and his female assistant Sheryl Sabequil. They were standing in front of PSBank near the PSF studio, perhaps, waiting for the tourist bus to arrive- I thought. And I was not wrong. In minutes, I saw a big air-conditioned tourist bus coming by and Bobong immediately shouted at it, pinpointing the landmarks. I was on the right time of arrival.

Upon introducing myself to Bobong and Sheryl, the Stagers of Philippine Stagers Foundation started arriving. The very first one to arrive at the parked tourist bus was Vince Tanada's nephew-actor in person of Jomar Tanada Bautista. I at once stood-up to greet 'Good Morning' to the courteous boy and he smiled back. Then, Chris Lim and wife Adelle came, followed by Chin Ortega, Rospel Ann Gonzales and Abner Navia. Also coming-in early was Marjorie Militar.

The tourist bus soon left, upon knowing that the head count of all the Stagers involved in the theatrical production Troy Avenue was complete. And a journey had just begun.

******************

It was upon the invitation of Vince Tanada, and later on, by Chris Lim that made it all happen. The Philippine Stagers Foundation would be performing at Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on January 21 and Vince wanted me to be there (also upon my insistence. Hihihi.*Robert)- on their performances there, we meant. It's a great honor on our part, and bonding anew with The Stagers whom we loved so dearly, would make everything alright.

But there was more. A hidden agenda on our part. January 21 was a calendar date we wouldn't forget for the rest of my life. A very special, personal memory beyond the hidden dimensions of Time... and space.


*****************

And so the tourist bus made it through the early morning voyage. It was a little past 4 a.m. when it left the PSF Studio, and with a few naps here and there and staring at the half-grey sky, we finally were at the Ilocos region as the sun went-up and the skies became clearer. The first stop-over was at Bauang, La Union. And we passed-by other towns in La Union before reaching Vigan City in Ilocos Sur wherein we would be meeting in Crisologo St. there the Head Master in person of Vince Tanada, to have lunch.

Earlier that day, seated beside me inside the tourist bus was Mr. Robert Encila Celdran, the handsome father of Stager Maya Encila. Breakfast of hotdogs, fried rice and eggs was sufficient and nice.

Upon reaching the famous and world renowned Calle Crisologo- in one of the restaurants there- Vince was already waiting. He at once saw me as I entered the restaurant. I held his arm up tight, to show the sincerity of my friendship to him. Vince smiled, and he understood at once my truthful gesture of holding his arm.

BLARNEY, NIKKI, ALLAN AND HIS WIFE CAROL (VINCE'S CLASSMATES) WITH VINCE, MAYA, MARJORIE AND ROBERT

Vince introduced me to his classmate-friends whom he tagged-along in this Great Laoag trip. I met Blarney (a very nice lady), Allan with his wife Carol, and Nikki. They were all smiling to me and I felt at once that they very good people and company of Vince.

Vigan City was so captivating to the eye. But we didn't stay there for long because the journey was still mid-way. Travelling to Laoag City (our final destination) would still take more than five hours from there. 

Inside the bus, continuing back on the journey, all the Stagers were fully-awake by that time. They joked around each other, laughed a lot and had fun. Chris Lim was a perfect bus leader of the group. He saw to it that everything's okay with all the people inside the tourist bus.

And the journey lingered on.


*******************


The afternoon was gold-like, tranquil and very soothing to the soul as the bus sped-on. It could be viewed upon the clear bus windows of multi-dimensional perspectives. From the glass window where I was seated at- I could view deeper in, like transcendental in form and magical in changes of time and drawings. Maybe, I could only be the one to see it, though.

The countryside were so good to look at. The cows, the carabaos, the birds, even the cats walking by the fields. What a set of beautiful creations of God amidst the frame-like stills of rice fields and farms. How wonderful. Like a food to the spirit craving its way down to your stomach.

Finally, we reached the town of Candon in the Ilocos region. This town was so nostalgic and smooth. The church in Candon was decorated by statues of the twelve apostles of Christ right atop the ceiling, as our "tourist guide" in person of Bobong dela Cruz told so. From the bus, the church looked so beautiful. 

We also passed-by many colonial houses along the way. Some looking like it's 400 years old already. And according to Bobong, we were right. Like the Sta. Lucia Church in Sta. Lucia town that looked so majestic and also that church atop a hill which was included in the UNESCO heritage list.


*******************


Where does one soul go when it travels all alone? One time I asked that question to myself. Could a soul be lingering by, simply wanting to be noticed and hugged? Could a soul come back to life, maybe in pursuit of better things to come? And could a soul be the reason of a certain journey you had to discover why? And later on know the answer how?

That, could be, the personal...purpose

of this JOURNEY.


*********************


Vince Tanada and the Stagers finally reached Laoag City, alongside with us. We got booked at the North View Hotel, and I was so surprised when OJ Bacor handed me the key to my room and said: "You are booked on a special room, Tito Robert. Only you there and no company at all, except maybe, that special someone you've been dreaming about. Haha", OJ said to me. And I smiled and replied: "It's all so SOZY."

After a quick shower and a quick glance on TV set inside my room, it was already past 8 p.m. and my stomach started crumbling by. I heard, a dinner was prepared for us at the garden of the hotel, through the courtesy of Mrs. Abigail Pascual, the producer of the event, together with her husband, Mr. Fernando Pascual. 

At the hotel garden, all the Stagers were already there. Eating a superb dinner of Ilocano Longanizas, Fried Chickens, Lumpias, Fish Fillets and Sweet & Sour Pork dishes, matched with yellow watermelons, ripe mangos and Buco Pandans for dessert.

With few rounds of San Mig Lights beer for drinks, we immediately fell sleepy,. We thought, tomorrow would be a more exciting day.


**********************


THE EVENT.

THE DATE: JANUARY 21, 2017.

As the cellphone "torches" lit up inside the CENTENNIAL COLISEUM in Laog City, Ilocos and shone like stars, we witnessed a full-packed and chaotic three succeeding shows of Philippine Stagers Foundation's TROY AVENUE. and yes, ALL THREE SHOWS WERE FULL-PACKED, with more than 5,000 plus capacity audience of students from different schools in Ilocos Norte region. Exuberantly magnificent and powerful, we felt.

The Stagers were mobbed by screaming fans at the Centennial Coliseum (where the event was held), and it's no longer the big rounds of applause that overflowed in their performances, but the outpouring of LOUD SCREAMS and shouts.

Yes, VINCE TANADA and THE STAGERS conquered LAOAG CITY once again (because the previous year, the same thing happened). BRAVO!


In the ending of the performance of the play Troy Avenue (at the first set of performance), one person cried when he saw Paris and Helen, portrayed by Stagers Poul Garcia and Maya Encila dressed-up in Groom oufit (for Poul) and bridal wear (for Maya). That climactic final scene made thousands of people watching almost dying in very loud screams of joy and happiness, of love and triumph, of fulfillment and forevermore. It was an ending one had been waiting all his life. Directed and executed by no less than Vince Tanada. 

Suddenly, "one" remembered the NUMBER. It was January "21". The number he was escaping all his life. A number he had seen in dreams and nightmares. In living moments of nervousness and fears. It was the date and the number. It was, also, the ending of the play. It was even those torches of little lights that flickered all-over the vast Coliseum. It were the STARS who witnessed that and now claiming a MEMORY left forgotten.


***************************


SAUD BEACH, PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE.

SAUD BEACH, PAGUDPUD

And we walked on. We looked at the beach which was The West Philippine Sea (also a part of The South China Sea). We stared at the vast ocean, the huge waves that surprised the shore lines every time it reached there. So amazing.

Where does one soul go when it travels all alone? It travels with you.

"We" have almost forgotten, and without Vince Tanada's event-play, we could have left a memory hidden in our minds forever.

Without Vince's kindness, this could have not happened.

Without the Stagers of Vince- yes, without their compassion, respect, sincerity and TRUTHFULNESS, we wouldn't be here on the beaches of Pagudpud.



THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL JOURNEY OF LOVE AND REUNION,
VINCE TANADA AND ALL THE STAGERS OF PHILIPPINE STAGERS FOUNDATION.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, THANK YOU.


(Through the photos below of each of the Stagers who performed in "Troy Avenue", taken by Mr. Bobong dela Cruz and Sheryl Sabequil, "we" impart our love and gratitude)***

BONG DELA CRUZ

WRITTEN BY ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO, WITH PHOTOS BY MR. BOBONG DELA CRUZ

ROBERT SILVERIO