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.
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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.
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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.
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SAUD BEACH, PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE.
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| 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)***
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| BONG DELA CRUZ |
WRITTEN BY ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO, WITH PHOTOS BY MR. BOBONG DELA CRUZ
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| ROBERT SILVERIO |
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