theresa mortel: ang aktres sa teatro na pang-artistahin din....

theresa mortel with lance raymundo

"napaka-down-to-earth ni lance!!!"- sabi ni theresa.

theresa in a costume, takes a selfie

theresa and lance

mr. mortel (theresa's husband) and theresa

beni saunders, mr. mortel and theresa

theresa with family members

theresa with co-actors in "martir sa golgota"

Kadalasan talaga, nasa magandang pagtanggap at sincere na pakikitungo mas madarama ng mga media people ang tunay na pag-uugali ng mga celebrities. Nasa maayos na usapan, pakikipagkita at pakikipag-ugnayan. Doon, mas madarama mo ang lahat.

Tunay namang na-impress ang isang blogger sa magandang pakikisalamuha na ipinakita sa kanya ng isang aktres sa Teatro, kasama ang butihin niyang asawa, nu'ng minsang makapanayam ito sa isang sosyal na coffee house sa bagong bukas na The Circuit Ayala Malls sa may Makati. Kasi, wala ni katiting na kaplastikang ipinakita si THERESA MORTEL sa pag-iinterbyu sa kanya ng isang blogger. Kaya naman napakaganda ng iniwan nitong impresyon sa manunulat na kaharap niya.

"High school pa lang po ako nu'ng una kong matuklasan ang hilig ko sa pag-arte",  nasabi ni Theresa sa blogger sa isa sa mga naging katanungan nito sa kanya. "Although medyo strict ang mom ko noon, gumagawa na lang po ako ng magagandang excuses para payagan niya akong mag-rehearse noon sa mga school plays namin. Sabi ko sa mom ko, hindi ako makaka-graduate kapag hindi ko tatapusin ang play kase part 'yun sa curriculum ko sa school. Kapag sinabi ko na 'yun sa mom ko, pumapayag na siya na mag-rehearsal ako sa plays namin sa school.

"Hanggang sa may makapansin sa aking talent scout nuon at gusto akong kuning sexy star", dugtong na sabi ni Theresa. "Kasi po, nu'ng bagets pa ako, hindi ako skinny at hindi rin mataba. Maganda ang forms ng body ko at sexy ako. Nu'ng magka-asawa ako, duon lang ako tumaba. Kaya nu'ng bata pa ako, talagang kinukuha akong maging sexy star o lumabas sa mga bold films.

"Pero hindi ko po hilig ang maghubad, eh", anya pa. "Tinanggihan ko ang mga offers sa akin na mag-artista sa pelikula dahil kalimitan nuon, gusto nila, magpa-seksi ako. Ayoko ng ganun. Ang passion ko ay pag-arte, hindi ang magpa-sexy. Kaya mas ginusto kong sa Teatro na lang umarte mula nuon."

Kamakailan lang, marami ang humanga sa magaling na performance na ipinakita ni Theresa sa Senakulong Martir sa Golgota ng Tanghalang Santa Ana. Gumanap siya roon bilang si Martha, ang kapatid nina Mary magdalene at Lazarus na pawang mga disipulo ni Hesus.

"Isang malaking hamon po para sa kakayahan ko bilang isang aktres ang gumanap sa papel na Martha", sabi pang muli ni Theresa. "At napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko kay direk Lou Velso dahil nagbigay siya ng freedom sa aming lahat na kami na ang bahalang mag-attack o mag-execute sa respective characters namin. Kapag kulang ang ibinibigay naming pagf-atake sa role, doon lang magsasalita si direk Lou na kulang yung intensity. Kapag sobra naman, sasabihin din ni direk Lou na sobra at OA (over-acting) na kami."

Samantala, ang naging very memorable para kay Theresa all-throughout her journey sa pagtatanghal last Holy Week ng Senakulo nila ay ang napakagandang pakikitungo sa kanilang lahat ng aktor na si Lance Raymundo.

"Masyado siyang down-to-earth at mapagkumbaba", sabi ni Theresa. "He will go out of his way para kausapin ka at kumustahin at kapag rehearsals namin, umuupo pa 'yan sa sahig! wala siyang kaarte-arte, hindi po tulad nu'ng ibang artistang nakilala ko, kailangan pang bigyan ng silya, kailangan pang istimahin ng husto at hindi mo basta-basta malalapitan. Si Lance, hindi po ganu'n. Marunong siyang makibagay sa lahat ng tao.

"Maski 'yung mga batang madudumi sa Sta. Ana, hindi niya iniiwasan. Nakikipaglaro pa nga siya sa mga ito, e", dugtong na wika ni Theresa. "Ako na lang ang nagpapaalis du'n sa mga madudungis na bata kasi alam kong kailangan nang mag-rehearse at magtrabaho ni Lance. Naiistorbo dahil sa kanila. Wow, iba talaga si Lance!"

Sa pagtatapos, isa lang ang masasabi namin. Si Theresa Mortel ay hindi lang basta isang aktres sa mundo ng Teatro, pang-artistahin din siya.

"madalas na rin po akong nagge-guest sa mga TV shows and teleseryes", pagtatapos na wika ni Theresa. "Sa Probinsyano po, maka-ilang beses na akong lumabas. Duon sa mga earlier episodes ng Probinsyano, ako 'yung nurse na gumamot kay Coco Martin. Nakalabas na rin ako sa iba, marami na rin po.

"Acting is really my passion", pagwawakas pa ni Theresa. "Maski ang dalawang anak ko at ang mister ko, sumasabak na rin ngayon sa pag-arte. It's all in the family. And so far, wala naman po kaming pagsisisi sa napili naming propesyon na ito."


More power to you and your family, Ms. Theresa Mortel!!!!





(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)
photos courtesy of ms. theresa mortel

"MARTIR SA GOLGOTA" TRANSCENDS THE TRUE MEANING OF A THEATRICAL DELIGHT (second review on Tanghalang Santa Ana's "Martir sa Golgota")....

jesus and his disciples

 jesus' disciples, heals a boy (a scene from the play)

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 TANGHALANG SANTA ANA's  CAST OF "MARTIR SA GOLGOTA"

It was a mixture of Old and New- and how did the director of Tanghalang Santa Ana's Senakulo, staged last Holy Week in different venues, and entitled "Martir Sa Golgota- was able to do that, is very remarkable and amazing to the eyes and the soul.

Director Lou Veloso, yes, he did a very good job by directing magnificently this play about Jesus Christ.

All throughout the many Biblical scenes of the play, there were traditional looks and ways, and at the same time, Modern looks and ways, too. But what's amazing is, they comprehended and mixed in such a pleasant way. Never a distraction and it also never went out of focus.

When you look at Lance Raymundo as a 'clean-cut' Jesus minus the long hair and wavy looks but only with those titillating little hairs, he still looked Jesus exactly, every inch of the way.

And in one scene when Jesus chose the twelve disciples- it was shown that they were not all fishermen. Others were macho dancers, rugby boys, criminals, poor boys. Which made you think, Jesus would still be present in our midst on the modern Millenial times.

While on the FINALE scene wherein all the characters appeared not in Biblical costumes but in present-day outfits of jeans, jerseys, coats, skirts and shirts- wow, it was a pure theatrical delight.

On the first review of Martir sa Golgota, we already mentioned how good were Ced Torrecarion (as Pontius Pilate) and Arkin Raymund da Silva (as Judas) were in the play. But some additional cast were also worthy of praise and rave review.

One of them was Ms. Theresa Mortel (as Martha). She was so good in a scene wherein Jesus Christ brought back to life a man named Lazarus, her raw emotions and strong faith as one of Jesus' followers was so captivating. Her endearing ways with Jesus Christ in a few scenes offered much hope and anticipations.

Another one was a young theater actor by the name of Sean Saraza (who portrayed as one Jesus' disciples). He could steal attention away from the other disciples, not merely with his handsome looks but proper nuances and style in acting.

The choreography of John Paul San Antonio was simple, enigmatic, cozy, relaxed and very free-spirited. This time, John  Paul experimented with new dance steps and techniques which were not yet seen in any musical play before. A very promising choreographer at that, surely, John  Paul would outshine the rest in the enar future. His Finale dance number together with the other cast members of the play was truly an artistic showcase of dance skills.

Yes, the Senakulo play MARTIR SA GOLGOTA transcends the true meaning of a theatrical delight. It went further than that. And it glorified more the Name of the Son of God. JESUS.

But there was a hidden message that could be seen and felt at the very end of the play. Not just Jesus participating, but also the native Mother Land- the Philippines.

In a perfect melody of a song that was heard in the end, it was revealed that there's still hope for Motherland

and with a faith stronger than the gates of Paradise-

Jesus will live

in the hearts and souls


of many



FILIPINOS-


FOREVERMORE.






(as written by robert manuguid silverio)
PHOTOS BY WILSON FERNANDEZ (OF LIWAYWAY MAGAZINE)