conversations with noel rayos...

noel and his new play

noel in perfect form

noel smiles

noel: "passion is everything to me"

noel sings

noel with blogger robert

"a comedy of tenors" by rep phils.

Yes, he was the WORLD. And he SAW it in many different forms- and in a certain kind of speed and transport... He also saw it from atop the roof deck... in wide horizons and breathless views...

Yes, he saw the WORLD. He saw it deep and high- in colors and in BLACK & WHITE. Sometimes on his folding bike and mountain bike, too. And most of the times, in living realities and wakeful dreams. In retrospect, as he inhales, too, again,  the gush of cold Asian wind on the roof deck of his condo unit.

With experiences deep and awesome- and credentials all-too strong and powerful, a certain kind of MAN was made. Put upon the the magnificent world of Theater, flourished by great acting performances and nurtured by the many years of dedication and hard work.

His name: NOEL RAYOS.

Over cups of coffee at Starbucks along Pasong Tamo road in Makati, and up to the roof deck of his fabulous condo unit near there, we began to know the MAN. Hidden by some clouds of  protection, he was never made famous before because he was afraid of publicity and void of press-P.R. dealings, the shyness must be put out upon now. He must be known. Because of the great performances he delivered, most especially in the later months of 2017 last year- via the musical plays Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag (by Grand Leisure and Gantimpala Theater Foundation) and A Christmas Carol (by Nine Works Theatrical).  In those two musical plays, he totally TRANSFORMED, far-away from his real self- and yet, he delivered well & great.

And this coming January 26, at the first performance and press preview of Repertory Philippines' A Comedy of Tenors, will be his opening salvo for the year 2018 as a fine actor, indeed. Portraying another new but intelligent and deep character with a funny look. Directed by the legendary Miguel Faustmann and will be co-acted upon by a host of terrible theater actors and actresses.

So this time, let's hear it. The conversations with Noel Rayos:

How would you describe the feeling of  being a part of last year's musical play Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag?

It was interesting. It was also my first time to work with direk Joel Lamangan. At that time, you see, everyone was telling me to expect the worst during the rehearsals. They told me: Makakatikim ka (ng sigaw, lait, taray...) But on the contrary, we all got along very well. I am already used to that kind of training. My mentor was the late Zenaida Amador. He was my second mom. It was a tough love with me and Tita Zeny. And just late last year, coincidentally, I was able to work also with her niece.

I can also say that Tita Zeny was my mentor (Tita Zeny or Zenaida Amador, R.I.P., was known for shouting at her actors if they don't get her instructions right, sometimes, also spanking them, according to some who experienced her "tantrums"--- RMS*)... Sumisigaw siya para matuto ka, pero tuturuan ka niya ng libre. Ganu'n naman talaga sa theater, eh. And no one's stupid enough to do this for the sake of money. I mean, going into the theater world just to earn money is not the right thing. If that's your goal, better change your career. Because in theater, they can't pay you enough. You have to work hard enough so that they will get you again and again and again. 

But I look up to all those mentors I had in theater. Aside from the late Tita Zeny, I also worked with Bart Guingona, Junix Inocian, and many more great theater directors.

Do you have anything to say right now, Noel?

Oh, yeah. I have. I am doing a new play entitled Comedy of Tenors for Repertory Philippines. It was the great Miguel Faustmann who wanted me to portray as one of the lead roles there. It's about 3 opera singers set in 1920's France. It's a story about mistaken identities. Also in the lead cast are Arman Ferrer and Lorenz Martinez.

For actors like us, there are no small roles, only small actors. But I am lucky enough to be able to get good roles in my years as a theater performer. Did you know that KC Concepcion and Karylle became my leading ladies in the play- The Little Mermaid? They were still so young then, same as me. Ha-ha. That was 2001 pa.

Like Robbie Guevarra and the rest, most of us, we studied at  De La Salle Zobel in Makati. So we kinda' have nice support group among each other. And by the way, I can also speak Cantonese,  Mandarin and Dutch.

How is it being YOU, Noel?

Being me? Wow, that's an intriguing question! All I can say is, for seven long years now, I am a BIKER. AND I BIKE MORE THAN 5 KILOMETERS EVERYDAY. And from there, I could see the whole Metro Manila through my bike, as I bike my mountain bike and my folding bike, as well. 

I could see Manila by Night. The many strange things that happen in Manila during night and during day. I could see it in full view. One time, I saw a policeman chasing a drug pusher. Or sometimes, I could see how people gets by when the dawn comes. I am a biker, you see.

I have a good collection of folding bikes, and some are miniature folding bikes. I would love to show you someday my collection (which Noel already did show to us and it was awesome.----RMS*). It's my pride. It's a priceless treasure.

Working at Christmas night last year at the Christmas night performance of the play A Christmas Carol, at the exact date of December 25, did it give you a tremendous feeling, Noel?

Gosh, Yes, it did. Pero parang isang buong pamilya na rin kami doon, eh. Kaya 'yung feeling, parang kasama mo rin ang pamilya ko nuong Pasko ng 2017. And most of them are kids. They are actors who happen to be kids also... And I learned a lot from them, you see, even they are just kids.

And yes, my director there- in person of Robbie Guevarra, he is my contemporary at Repertory Philippines when we were still teenagers. He is only two years older than me. Robbie directs me not as an actor, he directs me as a FRIEND.  Kaya deretso siya magsalita sa akin.

Can you give us a brief background of your professional career in the theater?

The bulk of it happened in 1989. That was the time I was a young and a lot handsomer theater actor and I started at Repertory Philippines under the guidance of the late Zenaida Amador and Ms. Baby Barredo. I came from La Salle, then I also studied at U.P. Diliman. After a while, I decided to try my luck in the U.S.A., at muntik na akong maging isang insurance agent doon. But then, around the year 2005, I got a call from my mentor- the late Tita Zeny nga and she told me to go back in the Philippines because we will be doing the Philippine Broadway version of Miss Saigon. And I chose Miss Saigon and lost my chance of becoming an insurance agent. That was the year 2005 na.

What are the usual highs and lows of a theater actor?

The HIGH? We got instant gratification. It's because the audience would easily clap their hands right after your performance. At doon, alam mong tama ang ginawa mo. Pag drama, at an instant, they would cry. Pag comedy, at an instant, they would all laugh naman. Pag nasa curtain call ka na- pag nag-bow ka na, NASA LANGIT KA NA. Iba talaga yung feeling.

Last question, Noel, how PASSIONATE are you?

Passion is everything to me. This is my life. I chose this. And I will forever love being in Theater.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS WITH NOEL RAYOS HAS ENDED.

(WRITTEN BY ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO)