First William Blocking Rehearsal

Tonight was William's first blocking rehearsal. For the past week, we've been through hip hop classes, "rap"-preciation or rap classes. Last night we had a music rehearsal. (Quick note: I strained my vocal cords. I was stretching my breath to reach many syllables and after I felt the tiredness in my throat. Not good. I need to support, support, support.)

But tonight was fun. I do have bad habits I carried over to tonight's rehearsal. First, I kept reading negative vibes into Chang Maribel. I was "mind-reading" her and feeling that she's thinking she made a mistake in getting me for this play, that she thinks I'm an idiot, that she'll just try to be patient because it'd be hard to pull in another actor and all that. This kind of infected me, and so during the blocking I let Norbs, my alternate, take first hand. It's kind of a disadvantage when you just "follow" someone else's blocking instead of finding your natural impulse. But still I let myself do it.

But during the blocking when it was my turn I had fun a bit. I kind of did my own thing. Chang gave us an assignment: make a narrative timeline of our characters. When Norbs was rehearsing, I already began to hear Tj's (my character) story in my head, so I immediately took to my notebook and jotted it down. I didn't finish, but at least I have some track rails laid down. When I finish it (our deadline is Saturday), I'll post it here.

We were given re-written scenes 1 to 4. I think the new rewrites are more fun to work with than the previous drafts. It's less contrived. I began to see how Chang plays around and lets her imagination free rein during the directing. I also see the other actors staking and trying. I should learn to do the same.

Well, I'll need to study the script and my character. Tj is athletic. I'm not. Going home I saw two boys playing basketball. I need to learn those moves. I will.

PETA's Care Divas: The show must go on!

PETA's Care Divas run is going up almost 70 shows, and then they'll go on tour. I've seen the show about five or six times (I lost count already). It never grows old. This is definitely one show that must go on.

A lot has been said about the musical in other reviews, about the great ensemble of the actors, the LSS-causing music of Vince de Jesus, etc. What I want to write on is how the play has touched me personally. So in a way, this is my own personal take on Care Divas. Every time I see Care Divas, God speaks to me and tells me to do three things. Most of it is centered on prayer. He says pray for the OFWs, pray for the LGBT community, and pray for peace in Israel. These are themes in Care Divas that touched me the most.

The plight of OFWs

As a son of OFW parents, I grew up through my high school and college with my parents abroad, working. My Dad is an engineer in the Middle East, and my Mom is a casino manager in Canada. You've probably heard it over and over as I have: "Hindi biro ang maging OFW." "Ang laking sakripisyo ng mga magulang mo para sa inyong magkapatid."

Hear this a number of times and you get used to it. Care Divas took away the patina of nonchalance in my heart towards OFWs, particularly towards my parents. Now that I'm a parent myself, I realize fully what it means to do everything and anything to make sure your children gets a good future.

My Dad's home for a few months. He's completed his employment contract. Already he's busy scouting for more employment opportunities--not here, but abroad. I asked him, "Dad, pareho na kami tapos ni Ate mag-aral. Pareho na kami may kani-kaniyang pamilya. Maybe it's time you rest from working." He said, "Ngayon I'm doing it for my apos."

Besides the weekly phone calls and email exchanges, I haven't seen my Mom in years.

God said pray for the OFWs. It's never an easy life, here or abroad. Pray for the families of OFWs. It's not something we should take for granted. Hopefully, in my lifetime, Filipinos wouldn't have to leave their loved ones just to put food in their mouths. And hopefully, my generation, the children of OFWs, learn to value what great sacrifice our parents did for us.

Jesus loves the LGBT

He does. He died for them. I have a suspicion that if Jesus were incarnated in our time and visited the Philippines, He wouldn't be hanging out with the CBCP. I think He'll be hanging out with the people who need Him, those who are marginalized, those whose rights are stepped upon.

That means not only the LGBT, but abused women and children, the sick, the drug addicts. I think this is the people whom Jesus would spend a lot of time with. And He wouldn't be riding an SUV to do His ministry.

As the Body of Christ on earth, am I doing what He would do for this people? Time for a reality check.

Palestine and the Prince of Peace

It amazes me that the land where the Prince of Peace was born is war-torn. The struggle in the Promised Land, I feel, will continue until Jesus returns to reign. But still, God says pray for peace in Israel.

I know that the Hebrews are His chosen people, but as a Gentile, I know that He dies for the Palestinians, too. He died for the people in Iran. He died for every living soul in the Middle East.

One of the most important scenes in Care Divas for me is the beginning of Act 2. Playwright Liza Magtoto has clashed so much conflict in that scene, it always takes my breath away.

Care Divas does deliver the laughs. But it goes well beyond that. It got me thinking. About my parents and how I haven't really thanked them enough for the life they gave me. About the Filipinos scattered all over the world. About my Tita in New York who is a caregiver... and Care Divas gave me a picture of how linked her life is now with her patient, the way Chelsea is with Daddy Isaac, two very different people from very different cultures but feeling most at home with each other.

Please do yourself a favor. Watch Care Divas before they go on tour. If you need help getting tickets, text or message me.