swordshines10: Oktubre 2019

THOMARKIN RAYMUND DA SILVA: THE ROLLERBLADE BOY TRANSFORMS INTO A GREAT THEATER ACTOR....

a very delicious young thomarkin

thomarkin now: a magnificent theater actor

thimarkin: always in shades!

thomarkin: sweet, natural, nice

thomarkin: beer man?

thomarkin motivates with a gun

thomarkin in shades again

thomarkin: as kapitan tiyago in EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Ask veteran talent manager by the name of Tom Adrales who is ThomArkin Raymund da Silva and he would surely smile. Because among the many talents and discoveries of this great talent manager, he is surely proud of ThomArkin- the rollerblade boy.

During one heavy rehearsal of the play EL FILIBUSTERISMO, ThomArkin was so charming, sweet and nice to us. His smiles were so wonderful and natural. His accomodating ways were so heartfelt. It did touch our heart.

Because for us, actors doesn't have to be a 'snub' to prove or to impress a visitor. Actors must be humble enough to please everyone- because in that way, the more they will win the hearts of everyone.

The way ThomArkin Raymund da Silva won our our very heart, too.

We remembered seeing him and watching him early this year in the Senakulo, entitled Martir Sa Golgota, performed at the Greenfield District Gardens last Holy Week. ThomArkin played the role of Judas there and he was so great! His performance was so igniting and powerful. We never forgot him after watching him in that Senakulo.

And to our surprise, we never knew that we would be seeing him again during the rehearsals of EL FILIBUSTERISMO, held at the backstage of the AFP Theater. ThomArkin was a delightful person to interview, more than next to being PERFECT.

"I used to be a dancer before when I was younger", came ThomArkin's answers to a question. "We were dancers of famous talent manager by the name of Tom Adrales. I was only 17 years old when I started dancing. At that time, acting was very far from my mind.

"Then, accidentally, something happened along the way", he continued to tell. "My neighbor, the late Tony Espejo of Gantimpala Theater Foundation saw me roller-blading across the street. He approached me and told me to audition on a play which will tour internationally. He told me that they need guys there who knows how to roller-blade. Because the play was a dance musical.

"So I auditioned, not knowing that I would pass!", he revealed. "After that, my career on the theater scene flew-off dramatically. That very first play of mine, it was a Musical and it was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Then, we traveled to the country of Brunei to stage that play also. It was the play entitled Tik-Tipaklong.

"After that, Gantimpala Theater Foundation got me to perform in their 4-Classics plays", he further narrated. "I got mostly lead parts in their plays. I played Florante, Basilio, Elias, Don Pedro, Don Diego, and the likes. Pretty awesome, indeed."

This year, ThomArkin is playing the role of Kapitan Tiyago in the play EL FILIBUSTERISMO. And being a theater actor, for ThomArkin, is rather pretty fulfilling.

"You won't exchange it for money!", ThomArkin assured us. "Ang sarap umarte. Ang sarap mapabilang sa mundo ng Performing Arts. It's one great artistic world and sharing a part of my self into this, yeah, I will say again and again, it's really fulfilling. It's really something that money can not buy!"

If all actors would be like ThomArkin, this world indeed would be a better place to live-in. Because as we say again and again and again, actors need not to create a fake impression. Actors needs to be simply natural. Because people knows the genuine ones compared to the fake ones.

We love you, ThomArkin. Forever.

(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

'AN ACTOR CAN DO ANYTHING!"--- MASANORI MENTUDA

masanori: "no small or big roles for a theater actor"

masanori: trained under the "GTF 4 classics"

Actors plays a very important part in the society. They are our reflections, our mirrors, our souls. They transform lives, they inspire, they motivate, And no matter what they say, an actor's life is far too emotional than anyone else. It's like, laughing on the outside but crying on the inside.

And now, there's a raw and fresh young theater actor that caught our attention on one cozy afternoon during the rehearsals of Gantimpala Theater Foundation's EL FILIBUSTERISMO-, a rather low-key and humble play under the direction of Jose Jeffrey Camanag. And that actor, an unassuming one but so dedicated in his craft, would steal your glances and provoke your feelings in one heavy scene of the play.

His name: MASANORI MENTUDA.

And how lucky could he be, because director Jeffrey chose him to play a part in the play that would highlight the lead character's great pains, anger, passion and redemption. The dialogue was heavy and real. The overpowering emotions were so intense for an actor to portray...

Wherein his head could only be seen in the middle of a table. Almost like a magician's act and under the spell of the avenging lead character. So powerful, indeed.

"I am the man named Imathis in this play, the avenging spirit in a carnival act choreographed by Simoun", Masanori said at the start of an interview. "Under the provocation of Simoun (the play's lead character), I will tell his life like a spirit and a ghost of Crisostomo Ibarra, who happens to be Simoun also. The spectators will all cuddle in great fear as I narrate his life. And as an actor, doing that part offers a lot of challenges."

"You see, Sir, there's no small part or big part for an actor", Masanori continued to say. "No matter how big or how small your part is, as long as you did your best, you will get noticed somewhere along the way.

"An actor can do anything!", he further quipped. "An actor can offer anything and actor is willing to do it for Arts' sake. It's our job to give life to a role being given to us."

Now on his late 20's, he started it out in the year 2012 (seven years ago) by joining the Gantimpala Theater Foundation's Acting Workshop at that time.

"My mentor there was no less than Roeder Camanag, who happens to be director Jeffrey's older bro", Masanori reminisced. "The recital of our acting workshop at that time was the play Ibong Adarna. Then came my first participation in a legitimate theater play that happened to be Florante at Laura, and I played the young Adolfo character on that play. After that, nag-tuloy-tuloy na ang pagiging theater actor ko. Nothing stopped me, because I really loved it."

Masanori's father is a Japanese, and his mom is a Filipina. But you would never doubt his Filipino ways, attitudes and manners. For us, he is more of a Filipino than a Japanese.

"I also spent quite a number of years to further prove that", came Masanori's last words. "And to convince them that I can do a role perfectly, I gained their confidence in the end. It's the director who knows what is fit to you. If director Jeffrey put me to portray the Imathis role, maybe he knows why. Actors like me only earn what they deserve."

And in whatever personal pains that theater actors - in the backstage, in the out-stage, or right there in the very center stage- it's only the pains that somehow could make them better- FOREVER.

(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

masanori with his director jeffrey camanag and a friend

masanori with his mentor roeder camanag and a female friend

masanori with fellow theater actors

masanori during an event at cinemalaya film festival with veteran film actors

A J FOREVER

SABI NILA, WALA DAW FOREVER...

PATI NGA MGA MILLENIAL NA MGA KABATAAN NGAYON, GINAGAWA NA RING SUBJECT SA MGA THESIS NILA ANG "WALANG FOREVER" NA MENTALITY...

NAPAPAHANGA NILA ANG MGA PROPESOR NILA SA MGA PRAKTIKAL NILANG PANINIWALA.

PERO...

SABI KO NAMAN SA SARILI KO, HINDI NA BALENG HINDI AKO MAGING PRAKTIKAL SA MUNDONG ITO.

HUWAG LANG MAWALA SA IDEYA AT KAISIPAN KO NA "MAYROONG FOREVER".

DAHIL MASKI GANITO LANG AKO-

I MEAN, ISANG MIYEMBRO NG LGBT COMMUNITY- AT KAPAG MIYEMBRO KA NU'N, ALAM NA NG LAHAT KUNG ANO'NG KLASE NG LIFESTYLE MAYROON KA.

'YUNG TIPONG UUWI KA NG GABI NG NAG-IISA.

'YUNG TIPONG MAGLALAKAD KA SA MADIDILIM NA ISKINITA AT PARA KANG BAMPIRA NA NAGHAHANAP

O 'YUNG TIPONG MANONOOD KA NG MANONOOD SA YOUTUBE NG MGA, WELL, ALAM MO NA. HAHA.

O KAYA, MAGIGING ALIPIN KA NG MGA SYNTHETIC NA USOK.

DAHIL KASI NGA, ISA AKONG ... GAY.

PERO GANU'N LANG NAMAN AKO.

SA KAIBUTURAN NG PUSO KO, IBA PA RIN ANG PANINIWALA KO.

MASKI GANU'N LANG PO AKO.

**** ****

ALAM KO, NARIYAN KA LANG, AJ.

ALAM KO, LAGI MO AKONG BINABANTAYAN.

ALAM KO, LAGI MONG BINUBULONG SA DIYOS NA PATAWARIN AKO SA MGA KASALANAN KO.

MASKI GANU'N LANG AKO.

**** ****

HINDI NA RIN AKONG NATATAKOT MAMATAY.

DAHIL SA SOBRANG BUHAY AT PAGLILIGTAS NA GINAWA SA AKIN NG MGA ANGHEL KO,

ALAM KONG "MAYROON NGANG FOREVER".

DAHIL SIGURO MINAHAL NILA AKO.

AT SAPAT NA 'YUN PARA MABUHAY PA RIN AKO.

**** *****

GABI-GABI, NAKIKITA KO PA RIN 'YUNG "BITUIN" KO SA LANGIT.

AT EWAN KO BA, LAGI KO RING NAKIKITA 'YUNG RAINBOW NA BUONG-BUO SA LANGIT.

AT PATI ANG NAG-IISANG BUWAN SA IBA'T IBA NITONG KORTE AT KAANYUHAN.

NAKAKAPANGILABOT.

AT DOON, NASABI KO SA SARILI KO:

"AJ FOREVER PA RIN AKO".

(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)

From the 7th Nakanojo Biennale to the Cultural Center of the Philippines

THIS 14 November 2019, Thursday, 6pm, the Cultural Center of the Philippines unveils the work of visual artists Mervy Pueblo and Atsuko Yamagata from the recently concluded 7th international art festival called the Nakanojo Biennale in Japan.

The CCP invites visitors to look into the insights of the artists in this exhibition who address historical, contemporary and societal specters.

Pueblo and Yamagata, visual artists based in Manila, met, created and exhibited their works at the biennale that was held in Japan last September 2019.

Working both individually during their artist in residency of the biennale, Pueblo and Yamagata realized projects that respond to the physical and nonphysical realm.

Pueblo’s installation is interjected with coded references, creating socially charged mysterious draperies that function as a portrait of our contemporary reality.

Yamagata playfully explores animist processes and presents materialistic definitions of the immaterial just like how one’s journey is recorded by one’s own footprint. Transcendental offers an immersive experience that sets the space for an examination of one’s own values and of the indelible tracks that continues even after one’s presence is relinquished.

The exhibit Transcendental will have its opening on 14 November, 6pm, at the CCP’s Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby). The exhibition will run until 9 February 2020. Exhibit viewing hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Hours are extended until 10pm on days with evening performances at the CCP Main Theater. For more information, contact the Visual Arts and Museum Division, Production and Exhibition Department at (632) 88321125 loc. 1504/1505 and (632) 88323702, mobile (0917-6033809), email ccp.exhibits@gmail.com or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

About the artists

Atsuko Yamagata

Born 1982 in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan, Yamagata is a self-taught practicing visual artist since 2006 with a B.A. degree from Foreign Studies Program of Tokyo University majoring in Indonesian language: Southeast Asian Cultural Studies. In 2012 she entered Musashino Art University in Tokyo, but withdrew after a year as she moved to the Philippines. Yamagata has numerous solo exhibitions in 2018: Uncontrolled Artificiality at Finale Art File, Born Softly at MO_Space, Belongingness at West Gallery, and in 2017: Breathing, Breeding, Blowout, at Artinformal, and Borrowed Scenery at Underground gallery, and Made Roots Here at Hotel Nikko Sapporo. On the same year she participated to the 6th Nakanojo Biennale in Gunma Prefecture (Japan) as resident-artist and exhibitor. She has been participating in numerous exhibitions mainly in the Philippines, but has exhibited internationally: Japan (from 2012-2019), Indonesia (2016) and Singapore (2018 and 2015).

Mervy Pueblo

Born in Quezon City in 1982, Pueblo graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design with an MFA degree under the flagship of the Philippine-American Education Foundation and Fulbright Scholarship in 2013. She has received several awards from different institutions such as the Award for Continuing Excellent Service: for Visual Arts and Art Education by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (2019 PH), AICAD Post graduate Teaching Fellowship by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design MN, USA (Nomination, 2016); Thirteen Artist Awards (2015 CCP, PH), Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Award (2013 USA), Ateneo Art Awards (Finalist, 2012 PH), the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence: Sculpture Competition (Special Citation 2006, and Finalist, 2007 to 2010 PH), and Recognition of Talented Youth in Arts and Culture conferred by the office of the Pasig City Mayor (2006). Pueblo had solo exhibitions at Gotanda Community Center, Gunma, Japan (Coming Home, 2019), Artinformal, MM, PH (Fearless, 2014), Bliss on Bliss, NY, USA (Capital Values, 2013), Northrup King, MN, USA (Expectation Kits, 2013), MCAD Library Gallery, MN, USA (Remember to Forget, 2011), and at the Black Room, Whittier Studios, MN, USA (Project Mediating Stone, 2011). Moreover she has participated in numerous group exhibitions and symposiums, locally and internationally such as; Japan 2019, 2018, 2016, 2012 and 2009; Malaysia 2018 and 2016; Singapore 2017 and 2014; France in 2014; the United States of America in 2011 to 2013; South Korea in 2011, 2010 and 2008; Russia in 2008; and Vietnam in 2007. She continues to work at her studio in Rosario, Cavite.

LANCE RAYMUNDO'S OPEN LETTER TO HIS LATE DAD...

Dear Dad,
It’s been a year since you passed away. I miss you and think about you everyday and will love you forever. Just wanna let you know that we are all doing ok! Mom is well and we take loving care of her. Me and my brothers have regular get togethers and always got each other’s back. Lots of great updates on our careers and personal lives. You know what? Today, we will get together with the entire Raymundo Clan to celebrate our love for you by hearing mass together and we will have a nice big lunch right after. All your favourite food mamaya! Know that we will all continue to live our lives in ways that will make you proud. Love you Dad, hugs and kisses from all of us! Thank you for guiding us everyday! God bless you Dad! Love, Reg

(Letter taken from Lance's FB account. Thank you so much, Lance, for letting us share this letter of yours to your late Dad. Enjoy your day with Him.---R.S.***) 😊

(

MGA ALA-ALA NG NAKALIPAS, MGA KALULUWANG BUMABALIK AT MGA PUSONG HINDI NAMAMATAY (O, ISANG PAGBISITA SA ENSAYO NG DULANG "EL FILIBUSTERISMO")

Sa isang matinding eksena sa dulang EL FILIBUSTERISMO, madarama mo ng husto ang napakasakit na nangyari sa magsing-irog na sina Basilio at Huli. Ang mga luha nila ay totoo, ang mga sigaw at hiyaw nila ay umaabot hanggang sa walang hanggang dulo ng panahon at kalawakan.

Sa mga luha ni Huli, alam mong wala na siyang magagawa at ang kamatayan na lamang ang makakasagip sa kanya.

Sa mga panaghoy ni Basilio at sa ataol ni Huli na kanyang hinabol- ANG MGA ALAALA NG NAKALIPAS AY MULING NABUO.

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

"Patay na kaming lahat dito", sabi naman ng aktres na gumaganap sa papel na Donya Victorina. "Kaya kami naka-belo ng itim, ay dahil patay na kaming lahat".

Na tinaliwas naman ng aktor na gumaganap bilang si Padre Camorra. "Hindi pa tayo patay diyan", anya pa sa aktres at sa isang manunulat. "Nabuhay tayo sa pagbomba. Sinagip tayo ni Isagani."

"Pero patay na rin kayong lahat", sabi naman ng isang manunulat. "Kasi, nu'ng panahon pa ng Kastila kayo nangabuhay sa ala-ala at isipan ng isang bayani. Kayo ang mga Pilipino- noon, at magpasa-hanggang ngayon."

Pero sadyang may mga kaluluwang nagbabalik pa rin sa tuwing may isang maganda at makatotohanang presentasyon ng Sining na ukol sa kanila. Mga kaluluwang nakakabalik para muling ipadama sa bawat mag-aaral ang pagmamahal sa bayan.

MGA KALULUWANG BUMABALIK DAHIL HINDI PA TAPOS ANG KANI-KANILANG MGA GAWAIN- SA MUNDO MANG ITO O KUNG SAAN PA MAN.

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

Sa pagtatapos ng ensayo ng isang dula- lulutang ang isang nilalang na siyang nagmahal ng lubusan para sa bayan at para sa bawat Pilipino. Ang kanyang katalinuhan ay mas lalo mo pang hinangaan.

Isang nilalang na nagkubli man sa kadiliman ay patuloy pa ring inakap ng lahat at lumutang sa pagdaloy ng panahon.

Tumayo siya mula sa likod at pumagitna sa lahat pa ng mga karakter na kasama niya sa dulang iyon.
Napakatindi ng emosyon sa kanyang mukha, at bawat kilos niya't galaw, punong-puno ng malalalim na kahulugan.

DAHIL ANG KANYANG PUSO PARA SA BAYAN AY HINDI MAMAMATAY, MAGPAKAILANMAN.

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

Sina Roeder Camanag, Paul Jake Paule, Randy Rey, Marian Moreno, Masanori Mentuda, ThomArkin Raymund Da Silva, Morris Sevilla, Jernice Matunan, Marian Moreno, Joe Gruta, Vangie Inocencio, Beaulah Mae Saycon, at marami pang iba...

Sila ang mga aktor at aktres sa Teatro na muling bumuhay sa diwa't kaisipan ng isang manunulat nu'ng hapon na iyon sa isang ensayo ng dulang EL FILIBUSTERISMO. Binuhay muli nila si SIMOUN (Roeder), si KABESANG TALES (Paul Jake), PADRE CAMORRA (Randy Rey), DONYA VICTORINA (Marian) KAPITAN TIYAGO (ThomArkin), BASILIO (Morris), HULI (Jernice), PADRE FLORENTINO (Joe)..... at iba pa.

Dahil sa dedikasyon ng mga artistang ito sa entablado, muli mong nadama ang puso at muli mong narinig ang bawat pagpintig ng mga puso nila- ng mga patay na tao na iyon- mga patay na Pilipino- na nangabuhay lahat nu'ng panahon pa ng Kastila, at muling nagbalik, muling nagparamdam.

Maski ensayo pa lamang, hindi nila binasta-basta lang ang pagbibigay ng emosyon, hindi sila naging maramot na ipakita sa isang manunulat ang mga kagalingan nila, at ang seryoso nilang dedikasyon sa kanilang mga gawain.

Tunay na nakakamangha.

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

Nakaka-engganyong panoorin si direk Jeffrey Camanag habang nagdidirek sa ensayo ng dulang yaon. Hindi siya basta nakaupo lamang habang nagdidirek. Tumatayo siya't nakikisali sa mga artista. Pinapawisan siya talaga. Personal niyang tinuturo ang mga tamang blocking, pagkilos at pag-ayos.

Walang masyadong distraksyon, tuloy-tuloy ang ensayo. Walang pasikatan. Walang paistaran. At walang pagpapa-IMPRESS. Basta totoo lang ang lahat. Natural na natural.

Pero ang lubos na kahanga-hanga, bukod kay direk Jeffrey, ay ang mga artistang sina Roeder Camanag at Masanori Mentuda. Grabe, ang gagaling nila.

'Yung mga simpleng paggalaw ng mga kamay ni Roeder, o simpleng paglakad o pag-akap sa lamparang hawak niya- masasabi naming pati katawan niya ay umaarte talaga. Nagma-magnify sa buong kapuluan!

Si Masanori naman, napakahirap nu'ng papel niya at napakahirap din ng dialogue niya pero na-deliver niya ng buong husay. Ulo lang niya ang makikita mo, pero hanep! Ang galing talaga.

Isang hapon na tunay mong nadama ang tunay na kahulugan ng SINING, at ng sobrang pag-akap ng mga taong nagmamahal sa mundong ito ng Teatro.

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

Ang aktor na si Randy Rey ang tunay namang nagpasaya sa bisita nilang manunulat. Napakaganda ng pakikitungo niya sa mga media people.

Si direk Jeffrey na sobrang abala nu'ng mga oras na iyon, nagawa pa ring istimahin ang isang bisita.

Si Sir Joe Gruta, sobrang humble pa rin sa kabila ng malalaking naging kontribusyon na niya sa mundo ng Pelikula at Entablado.

At si ThomArkin Da Silva, na napaka-sweet pa ring kausap.

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

MINSAN, SILA AY NAGBABALIK, KADALASAN, ANG MGA ALA-ALA'Y HINDI NAMAMATAY, AT SA TUWINA, MAY ISANG PUSO PA RING HINDI MAGLALAHO.

SA TINAGAL-TAGAL MAN NG PANAHON, ANG MGA MENSAHE NG MGA KARAKTER NILA AY MARIRINIG PA RIN NATIN. PARA IPAGPATULOY ANG MANA NG ATING LAHI. PARA MADINIG PA RIN AT MADAMA NG BAWAT KABATAANG PILIPINO.

ANG DULANG "EL FILIBUSTERISMO" NG GANTIMPALA THEATER FOUNDATION AY ISANG ROSAS NA HINDI MALALANTA SA ANUMANG URI NG PANAHON O SA TINAGAL-TAGAL MAN NG PAGDALOY NG MGA ARAW AT GABI...

DAHIL ANG ROSAS NA IYON

AY ANG ROSAS NG PAGIBIG...

MAGPAKAILANMAN.

(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)