alexander cortez talks about his new play "BAGONG CRISTO"...

DIRECTOR ALEXANDER CORTEZ: accurate and precise

director alexander with the TWO 'JESUS'ES' OF THE PLAY "BAGONG CRISTO": Boo Gabunada and Esteban Fulay, Jr. ( photo above  is courtesy of mr. esteban fulay, jr.)

His words, the way he delivered them, were soft and precise. Accurate but delicate. What lies within those words, were little more knowledge of learning and true visions of Art. The director beside you was still out there on the front lines of many battles- delivering true messages and missions of the Performing Arts and further enlightening-up the 'Millenial' youths to keep on going and fighting for their Causes.

Theater is not just theater itself. And it's not just out there to make more money and make it a business-profiting task. Other than those, in theater, you could see the FIGHT. You could feel, you could love... and you could DIE. Before being able to live again.

In one rather hot afternoon inside the Palma Hall of University of the Philippines in Diliman campus, the director was right there to acknowledge your passion of writing something about the Arts. And he didn't give you a hard time.

The last time you saw a play of his was years ago- and at least, he remembered. It was the play entitled SHOCK VALUE, which dealt about the humorous competition of  two giant TV networks in the entertainment industry. Surely, one of the best straight plays that one had seen.

In between unending interruptions of students and staff people passing by to greet director Alexander, one blogger managed to get along writing in his notes the few words he did able to catch as director Alexander spoke.

So, below, in QUOTE-UNQUOTE word-descriptions were director Alexander's thoughts- as he spoke of his latest opus play BAGONG CRISTO:

alexander cortez: in his words

"Bagong Cristo is not a musical play. I simply incorporated there two to three songs. It's the first Filipino play written which dealt about the proliferation of the Working Class. It was written in 1907 by Aurelio Tolentino."

"Bagong Cristo speaks of the timelessness of TIME, and the continuing struggles of the Working Class. It's a period play, but it still happens today.  There are also some Biblical teachings with Political understatements along the play."

"The play teaches the old but good qualities of being a modest Filipino- Respect, the Golden Rule, the Unity."

"Bagong Cristo play also tackled how the Church at that time was used to fool the masses in terms contributions, corruption and unequal treatments."

"The original playwright of this play- in person of Aurelio Tolentino, exposed many atrocities and it was experienced by the play's central character in person of Jesus Gatbiaya. That why, me and Patrick Valera who adapted the play, presented them the way it was."

"Me and Patrick Valera did not really change the full context of the play. We presented it as it is, and we only changed two or three statements in the original text of the play for artistic purposes."

"What the playwright imparted in his play, I PUT it loud and clear to further convey his messages. The dances you'll see were in accordance with the period and setting of the play. Especially the rituals and festivals in Obando and Marinduque."

"I've always wanted to do an Aurelio Tolentino play. I read his other plays but most of them were written in Kapampangan dialect. So, I chose Bagong Cristo play because it was written in Tagalog."

"I just finished the Macario Sakay play and I wanted to linger in that period and setting of TIME. And Bagong Cristo was for me, the perfect play that I could linger on."

"If you'd ask me how would I describe the play? No, it's not a DARK play at all. I would describe it as MELODRAMATIC. Plus I incorporated the old traditional aspects of Filipino plays like the Senakulo, Balagtasan, the rituals and the rites."

"One message I would like to fully reveal via this play is the fact that the Working Class will continue to FIGHT. They will retaliate. And in the end, they will still face the BATTLE, the undying BATTLE."


(INTRO WORDS BY ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO,
 WITH QUOTABLE QUOTES BY DIRECTOR ALEXANDER CORTEZ)

Catch Dulaang UP's BAGONG CRISTO directed by Alexander Cortez! The show runs until December 3 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater UP Diliman.

For ticket, show-buying, and sponsorship inquiries, you may contact Camille Guevara (0917 823 9531) or the Dulaang UP Office (Tel. No.: 926-1349 / 981-8500 local 2449 / dupguevara@gmail.com).

WEEK 2 PLAY DATES:
Nov. 21 (Tuesday) - 7 PM
Nov. 22 (Wednesday) - 7 PM
Nov. 23 (Thursday) - 7 PM
Nov. 24 (Friday) - 7 PM
Nov. 25 (Saturday) - 10 AM
Nov. 25 (Saturday) - 3 PM
Nov. 26 (Sunday) - 10 AM
Nov. 26 (Sunday) - 3 PM

Boo Gabunada as Jesus Gatbiaya (PHOTO BY: VLADIMEIR GONZALES)

a superb scene direction of director alexander cortez in the play "bagong cristo" (PHOTO CREDITS: VLADIMEIR GONZALES)