lance raymundo portrays huseng batute in a play from tanghalang sta. ana...

huseng batute: the poet of yesteryears

lance raymundo: modern-day poet and romanticist, portrays huseng batute in a play

"I still have one more week to memorize", sabi ni Lance Raymundo sa isang blogger over lunch at Teresita's restaurant in Tomas Morato ilang mga araw na ang nakakaraan. "Sobrang hahaba kasi nu'ng mga lines na mememoryahin namin du'n sa one-act play na gagawin namin. But thanks to direk Lou Veloso, he's giving us ample time to memorize all the lines, para sa final dress rehearsals namin, everything's okey na. Sa month of June pa naman ang performances namin. We still have time."

Ang sinasabing play ni Lance ay 'yung play na gagawin niya para sa Tanghalang Sta. Ana at ang magiging role niya doon ay si Jose Corazon de Jesus, a.k.a., Huseng Batute (si Huseng Batute ay isang sikat na Makatang Tagalog nu'ng 1940's na Dekada at ang isang mini-theater sa Cultural Center of the Philippines ay ipinangalanan sa kanya). 

"I learned that Huseng Batute was a famous Hari ng Balgtasan nu'ng kapanahunan niya", dagdag na sabi pa ni Lance. "His real name is Jose Corazon de Jesus. Kaya it's one big responsibility for one actor like me to be precise and truthful in my portrayal of one beloved literary icon. It's such a great task on my part.

"Kailangang maging credible ako at factual dahi this is one play performance and show na hindi dapat na magpa-cute lang", dugtong niya. "I guess, this is the biggest challenge sa akin bilang isang actor na gumaganap din sa mga stage plays. Pati mga intonations, accent at galaw ko, dapat ay naaayon sa tama.

"Kilalang tao kasi si Huseng Batute. Naabutan siya ng ilang mga famous literary figures that we still have now. So, on my part, I have to do my duty well and good. Grabe itong ibinigay na task na ito sa akin ni direk Lou Veloso."

Isang fully-renovated na Podium sa Plaza Hidalgo, Sta. Ana, ang pagtatanghalan ni Lance. Air-conditioned na at bagong-bago. Bale 'yung play nina Lance ang unang itatanghal doon. May kasamang isa pang theater actress si Lance na gaganap naman bilang si Atang dela Rama, ang kasintahan ni Huseng Batute.

"I guess, Huseng Batute was older than Atang dela Rama at that time, kaya patatandain nila ako at kukulayan ng mga puti ang buhok ko", kuwento pang muli ni Lance. "And yes, I will sing one song and recite some poems of Huseng Batute. I am inviting everyone to watch our play. Lalo na doon sa mga mahihilig sa mga klasikong tula."

Sa May 26 ang death anniversary ni Huseng batute, pero ang performance yata ng play na ito nina Lance ay sa buwan pa ng Hunyo maitatanghal. But anyway, it's never too late to give tribute via one play na one-act lang- dahil tunay namang kaparte na ng kulturang Pinoy at Literatura si Huseng Batute.

Going back to Lance, he finally revealed to one blogger the real identity of the girl na madalas niyang i-date for coffee. Ito'y walang iba kundi si Janna Victoria pala, isang aktres na nagbida na rin nuong late 1990's. pero tila yata mas lalong bumata at gumanda pa ngayon si Janna.

"Pareho kasi kaming Viva Artists kaya parehon kaming mukhang bata", pagtatapos na wika ni Lance. "Yes, I admit, madalas ko ngang kasama si Janna lately. But as a gentleman, I can not say anything yet. She's one very nice girl. And I like her a lot."

Aabangan na lang namin ang mga susunod pang kabanata, Mr. Lance Raymundo


(written by robert silverio)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MR. LANCE RAYMUNDO

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