The Choice… Not For A Day But For Eternity…

Last Saturday, my sister and my friend attended and watched The Choice, a theatrical play presented by the Chancel Repertory Theatre in partnership with Jubilee Evangelical Church, at Music Museum for free. Here’s the synopsis from the program book:

During the rule of Tiberius Caesar in the seaside city of Capernaum, a young Roman centurion, Marcus, falls in love with a beautiful Jewish girl, Hannah. She is a follower of Jesus, the radical teacher from Nazareth. As Marcus becomes fatefully intertwined in the tumultuous events leading to the execution of Jesus, he weighs the words and example of Christ against the wealth and power of the world. In the balance hangs… The Choice.

At a glance, The Choice seems to center on Marcus and Hannah’s love story, but that’s just the tip of an iceberg. Evident from the synopsis, the play is mainly about choosing between becoming a follower of Christ and possessing the mundane wonders of the world. To some, the choice may be easy, but in Marcus’ case, he struggles and is torn to choose, weighing the importance of the two in his life. Eventually, though, Marcus chooses what is right for him and bravely prepares himself for what’s to come.

For those of you who’ve been reading this, I’m pretty sure you’ve already figured out the ending to this story. However, despite the predictability of it, it’s the middle part that keeps us guessing, wanting to anticipate Marcus’ reaction and how he’d handle the situation presented. I’m amazed by the bravery and humility of Marcus to break the status quo and somehow, make a difference. On the other hand, Hannah shows to be a true follower of Christ. With her dedication and faithfulness to Jesus, no matter how hard the difficulties she faces, she continues to fight her battle and trust Jesus. Moreover, it is also in this play that the audience gets to witness Jesus’ performance of some of the miracles, His crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

Overall, The Choice is a perfect example of a good show to portray what it means to forgive and to have faith. I actually didn’t expect the venue to be full house and throughout the show, I can see that the audience actually enjoyed it. The only problems I have with the show are the sound system and lighting. They lack timing and glitches are evident at some parts. Because of this, the play doesn’t quite project an impressive show to me. Other than that, the performance of the talented casts is amazing and they explicitly gave their best to perform for the Lord. The powerful lines and lyrics are able to reach one’s heart and leave a heartfelt message for everyone to remember and reflect, hoping it will to continue to live in the hearts and minds of people, allowing them to choose the choice not for a day, but for eternity.

It’s a Bird? It’s an Airplane? It’s a Flying Magic Carpet!

From what it’s usually known for its film version, Disney’s ALADDIN takes the stage to offer us a musical production, something I fervently believe each one of us should look forward to. And for me, I cannot let this pass so easily. To give you a brief background of the show, here’s a description taken from the program booklet:

Based on the much-loved animated film, Disney’s ALADDIN tells the story of a street-smart commoner whose whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp. The brand new romantic musical adventures incorporates all the beloved songs from the film’s Oscar-winning score and brings some of the movie’s most memorable characters to life. Jafar, Iago, the Sultan, the Genie and of course Aladdin and Jasmine come together to create a whole new world of magical musical theatre for the whole family. Disney’s ALADDIN features music by eight time Oscar award Alan Menken and Lyrics by Oscar Award winner Howard Ashman, Oscar Award winner Tim Rise, and Tony Award nominated lyricist Chad Beguelin (who also wrote the brand new book of the musical).

I have always been a Disney fan and ALADDIN was no exception. Once my boyfriend told me about the production, he immediately bought tickets for both of us. And thus, on the evening of November 17th, the highly-anticipated date had come and we just couldn’t contain our excitement!

The show overwhelmed me with feelings so much that I couldn’t find the right words to describe how much I enjoyed the musical production. You know what I mean? There are so many things I want to say, yet I’m afraid I might diminish the value of the show’s effect on me. I hope could do this right, so I’ll just pour my heart out and somehow, make meaningful sense out of it.

Disney’s ALADDIN’s newest stage musical somewhat differs from the animated film. The show presents us with more songs aside from those we’re familiar with in the movie; thus, letting the audience connect more with the characters, as well as the story itself. From the famous songs like Arabian Nights, One Jump Ahead, Friend Like Me, Prince Ali, and A Whole New World, the show also introduces us to new songs such as Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim, Proud of Your Boy, Call Me a Princess, A Million Miles Away, Somebody’s Got Your Back, and a lot more.

It is evident that some details have been tweaked a bit, but the whole concept of the story remains the same. With the absence of animal characters such as Abu and Rajah, they are, instead, replaced by Aladdin’s three astonishing, significant sidekicks – Babkak, Kassim, and Omar. They also serve as narrators of the story while scenes transition from one to another, entertaining the audience with their striking personalities, funny dialogues, and out-of-this-world song numbers.

Atlantis Productions’ Disney’s ALADDIN is beyond expectation. Everything and every character seem to come out directly from the movie. It’s like witnessing a fantasy happening in reality. Each actor/actress succeeds in portraying their designated roles and I can’t help but be amazed by their God-given talents. For one, I never expected Tom Rodriguez to represent Aladdin perfectly. I knew him from Pinoy Big Brother before, but since I don’t update myself much with showbiz news, I’m not familiar with his acting skills, let alone his singing skills. I’m, indeed, quite surprised by his performance. He talks, acts, and sings exactly like Aladdin from the movie. Amazing, right? You guys have to watch to believe it. On the other hand, K-La Rivera never disappoints. Her voice pitch reminds me of Jasmine as well. Her performance is just as wonderful. Furthermore, I won’t forget Calvin Millado, too! His portrayal of the Genie is entertaining and unforgettable. What makes the show more interesting is the fact that Calvin Millado tries to make it interactive by engaging the audience to be part of the show. It truly melts my heart hearing the children laugh with us – a remarkable experience worth remembering and repeating. I just hope I could watch it again with Aiza Seguerra in it.

Overall, I cannot describe how I feel about the musical production. The cast did an outstanding performance. Even though I can follow some of the lines or dialogues similar to the movie, the cast still never fails to make me laugh and feel connected to the show. I guess it’s the way they deliver their lines and how they sing and act that capture me the most. Moreover, the staff also did a superb job in giving the show an Arabian feel to the audience. The lighting, the intricate and creative designs of props and costumes – everything is made perfect. True enough, Disney’s ALADDIN takes the young and old on a journey on a magic carpet ride to see a whole new world of Aladdin. Hands down to everyone who took part in making the show a success. In four words, Disney’s ALADDIN is: Amazing. Funny. Memorable. Nostalgic.

Buy your tickets now while it’s not yet too late! The show’s ongoing until December 9, 2012. And may you enjoy the show as much as I did.

The Cast: Tom Rodriguez as Aladdin; K-La Rivera as Jasmine; Aiza Seguerra and Calvin Millado as Genie; Jun Ofrasio as Sultan; Raul Montesa as Jafar; Bibo Reyes as Babkak; Johann dela Fuente as Omar; Jamie Wilson as Kassim; and Jimmy Marquez as Iago.

On Higher Ground with Gary V Takes Me to Cloud Nine

From the day I found out the schedule for Gary Valenciano’s concert to celebrate his 29^th anniversary in the industry, I immediately booked tickets for me, my sister, and my friend. The concert series will be held in Music Museum for 8 days during the month of April and May, and we decided to watch on the 27^th of April.

I remember before, my high school alma mater would invite Gary V to perform for their founding anniversary (I forgot the exact date). I think he was invited twice when I studied there. There was this time when my sister asked us to watch one of Gary V’s performances with her and the moment when I first knew and saw Gary V turned out to be a cathartic moment. Because since then, I became his fan.

Fast forward to present. On the day of Gary V.’s Day 6 On Higher Ground concert series, my sister, my friend, and I planned to leave our house earlier so that we won’t be late and avoid the horrible traffic congestion in Greenhills. Unfortunately, since it was a Friday and the Avengers movie is showing in theaters, our plan didn’t exactly work out the way we wanted it to be. All parking spaces and valet services near Music Museum were full, but good thing there’s still valet service in front of Promenade.

Upon entering the theater, the backdrop of the stage was quite intriguing. I think it was almost 8 in the evening when we entered, but the seats weren’t full yet.

After minutes of waiting, the show started. Jordan Escusa did the opening act of the concert. I was impressed by his hosting skills because he can very well entertain the audience by imitating the voice of sponsor ads, as well as Optimus Prime from Transformers. According to my friend, he was once invited as speaker for our high school alma mater retreat last time.

Next, Quest performed some songs before the main event the audiences were waiting for. I can certainly say that Quest did an amazing job incorporating Gary V’s song titles into a structured, meaningful lyric of his rap.

And the wait is over, Gary V finally appeared! I was able to capture some cool pictures during the show:

This part was where Gary had a blooper moment (haha!). I wouldn’t mention what happened, but I’m pretty sure everyone who watched that night will know what I’m talking about, including Gary V himself.

Julianne, another talented artist, was the guest of the concert. After her solo performance, she and Gary sang a medley of some of his mellow songs.

Gary was also able to share the Word of God through his performance. That night, the verse that best described him was Psalm 92:14. It says: They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh… (NIV version). Gary V brought out music alive and fresh. Both young and old can undoubtedly relate to his songs.

And Gary V sang a quintet version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow with a recording of himself in four distinct voices.

And then, the shoulder pads (!!!), as Gary V would call it. The songs performed during this session transported the audience back to the 80s, letting the older ones feel nostalgic over their childhood days. Juan Miguel Salvador played the keyboard. The only song I recognized was Don’t Stop Believing (because I am young… LOL).

My sister, my friend, and I wouldn’t have noticed that Jed Madela was seated right in front of us if Gary V didn’t call out to him. So Jed Madela was requested to go on stage and sing for the fans who requested for a sample. He sang Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? – he possessed such an amazing voice, by the way.

As the concert was nearing its end, Gary V sang a few songs which included my all-time-favorite: How Did You Know. He also sang Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo, and Sana Maulit Muli.

The concert, without a doubt, provided a great opportunity where the audience can witness Gary V’s amazing God-given talents in singing and dancing. His passion for it shows that he’s not doing it in vain, but instead, he’s doing it for Him. It’s kind of hard to imagine the fact that he’s already 47 years old and yet he can still sing and dance his heart out. I don’t think I could still do what he can do if I were in his shoes.

With that said, it is evident that he is a living example of God’s unconditional love for us. Gary V proves to have complete faith in the Lord by not letting his diabetes become a hindrance to always bring out and show the best of what he can do. He is a walking, singing, and dancing miracle. Amazing, right? I guess it is in this very situation that we can humble ourselves and trust in God because at the end of the day, He’s still the one who gives us strength during times of darkness.

No words can express how immensely happy I was to experience this moment. Not only did Gary V’s songs and message touch my heart, but seeing him perform on stage left me speechless. Even the sounds and visuals captured the moment as well. I was so starstruck-ed that the time when I got the chance to take a picture with him, the muscles in my face were trembling! I hope nobody noticed it. However, on the brighter side, the experience was fulfilling – it was a dream come true to see him close up, take a picture with him, and hold his hand even just for a while.

But everything comes to an end. I wished and hoped to have more even though the concert ended. It seemed that I couldn’t get enough of it. The feeling was, indeed, so overwhelming. Up to now, I can’t stop smiling – Gary V hangover, I guess, haha! If only I could relive this moment, I would’ve gone back to it for as long as I live.

Overall, I’m glad to have watched his concert and I’m definitely looking forward to his 30^th anniversary. This is truly a night to remember. His inspiring songs have surely lifted us up to stand on higher ground with him – letting us move our feet, as well as our hearts and souls.

(The other songs he sang during the show (those of which I recognize): Halina, Tara Na, Di Na Natuto, Wait Forever, Each Passing Night, Even For A While, Love is Real, Break Me, Take Me Out of the Dark, Warrior is a Child, Eto Na Naman, When She Smiles)

MV Logos Hope: A Floating Library Adventure

A few months ago, I suddenly thought of the Doulos Ship and wondered when it will visit Manila again. I, then, surfed through the internet to gather some information about it and found out that Doulos is non-existent already. What replaced this ship is the MV Logos Hope.

MV Logos Hope docked first in Cebu sometime in January this year until mid-February. I got very excited that I researched more to find out if it will come to Manila. I couldn’t find anything yet, but with much patience, I finally found a certain website specifying and confirming the schedule of its arrival in Manila. It’s been more than ten (10) years since I’ve been to a floating book fair and I just couldn’t let this opportunity slip again. I kept telling myself that I must certainly visit MV Logos Hope.

My initial plan was to visit the ship with my friend sometime early March, but yesterday, around 7:30am, my mom suddenly came barging into our room to invite my sisters and me to come with her to visit the ship. My sisters couldn’t go, so my mom and I were the only ones able to go.

The MV Logos Hope is docked in Manila South Harbor. Going there is kind of difficult because of vehicle congestion. I guess it took us around an hour to reach the ship. Upon our arrival, the sky started to darken more. My mom and I forgot to bring down our umbrellas from the car. Good thing we entered the ship just in time when it began to drizzle.

It wasn’t that crowded when we entered the ship. I was actually expecting that a lot of people will be going given that it’s a weekend. Anyway, moving on, once on board, visitors are given five (5) different stages to get an experience of the ship. The first one, the Lifeboat Theater, is where the guests will learn about what it’s like to live on the ship. Afterwards, they can explore the illustrated history of GBA ships.

The next stage is where all visitors are greatly looking forward to – the Book Fair. This stage actually takes up more space than the others. The visitors will be indulged in this section filled with books. The variety of books displayed on the shelf is far different than what we normally see in bookstores. The genres range from fiction, children’s books, biographies, and cook books to spiritual books and music.

There are so many books to choose from, but I don’t want my impulsive buying behavior to overcome me, so I just bought books that look promising and will surely be read. The prices of books are very affordable as they are based on the number of units indicated on the book. For example, if a book costs 100 units, then it’s priced at Php100.

After which, visitors will be transported to the third stage, the Journey of Life. It’s a story about a prodigal son conveying a message of how our choices and decisions affect our lives. I wasn’t able to take pictures of it, but I can assure you that it’s a short yet enjoyable walk. The walls are painted with illustrations where visitors can stop, appreciate, and reflect on them. A background voice guides the visitors throughout the story.

And lastly, the final stage is the International Café where visitors can rest and enjoy eating some snacks before heading home.

Overall, I enjoyed this trip to MV Logos Hope. It’s really nice to know that even though the volunteers are not greatly compensated, they still devote their lives to bring knowledge, help, and hope to the people of the world, as well as to spread the Word of God through this amazing floating library. I will definitely look forward to its future visits in Manila.

Located in Manila South Harbor, the MV Logos Hope is open to public from February 17, 2012 to March 13, 2012 from 10:30am – 9:30pm during Tuesdays to Saturdays, and from 1:00pm to 9:30pm during Sundays.  An entrance fee of Php20 is required for visitors over 13 years old.

WICKED The Musical

At last, the WICKED has arrived in Singapore! This will be the first South East Asian tour the production team has ever made in history and I am very excited to watch this show.

Here’s the plot summary from the musical’s official website:

So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.

WICKED tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

It’s been my dream to watch this show ever since I became addicted to a few of its songs. I remembered having to be introduced to this musical by a friend who has interests in these sorts of things. And I owe it to this friend of mine because if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have slowly shown interests in musical plays – a form of art that deserves to be appreciated more by the people.

Moving on, WICKED The Musical begins its production in Singapore on December 6, 2011 at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater. After learning about this news, I immediately reserved the date solely for WICKED. I invited my sisters and mother to accompany me, so we booked our plane tickets months before December and had our tickets for the play reserved on the 18^th of December. Time seemed to come by slowly, but as it neared the month of December, the more excited I became.

And finally, the moment has come when we flew to Singapore. My energy did not seem to die down – this adrenaline rush kept my heart beating faster than ever. After months of waiting, another dream of mine has come true. This could not get any better, and I wouldn’t ask for anything more than this.

Upon entering the theater, my family and I were amazed by its stunning display of the Time Dragon Clock, and a map of Oz that was served as the stage’s curtain. The name of the theater gave it all – with its grand and sophisticated architectural design, the theater encompasses comfortable seats facing a big stage enough for everyone to see. It was evident that everything has been planned out perfectly and passionately, giving the audience the Oz-y feeling and letting them be involved in the world of Oz.

Everything is just spellbinding – from the extravagant costumes designed by Susan Hilferty, mesmerizing special effects of lights and sounds to the captivating songs and lyrics of the show! There was even a live orchestra playing at the orchestra pit of the stage. I couldn’t help but be in awe of the extent of the production team’s effort to make the show flawless and memorable for everyone.

WICKED is, indeed, the untold story of the Witches of Oz. The audiences are brought back to the time before Dorothy and her dog, Toto, dropped in to the world of Oz, before Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, and how Elphaba and Glinda (the Good) became best of friends.

The story begins with the citizens of Oz celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch as Glinda the Good enters the stage in a bubble and recalls the life of Elphaba. I am amazed by how the production team creatively transitioned the story smoothly from present time to the past through a simple yet striking form of dialogue, emphasizing how Elphaba came to be. And I can’t help but share the dialogue with you:

Girl: Glinda, why does wickedness happen?

Glinda: That’s a good question. One that many people find confusing: Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?

Isn’t it amazing that I also encountered that same question when I took up a Philosophy subject on morals and ethics? Hearing the dialogue surprises me because this philosophical statement will actually push people to ponder about the existence of evil in this world and it’s up to the audience to figure out which of the two is the truth. And the progression of the story will lead people to a certain, definite answer.

Moving on, the tandem between Elphaba and Glinda has been made realistic and I came to love how their friendship developed. Glinda, played by Suzie Mathers, is a humorous, perky, vain, and popular young woman who gets to have things her way. One thing I find interesting in her characteristic is that despite her spoiled brat personality, goodness still comes within her. On the other hand, Elphaba, played by Jemma Rix, is someone who is often misunderstood due to her emerald-skinned appearance. An outcast in the social norm, she still maintains an open mind and look at things differently. She cares for her sister, Nessarose (played by Elisa Colla), and is never afraid to go against the norm as long as she knows what is right. Her disposition proves that her personality can outshine her being “beautifully tragic”.

As you can see, Glinda is the very opposite of Elphaba. Albeit being enemies at first in terms of the differences in their personality and views in life, they were able to become friends in the most unexpected ways. The character development of all characters is so strong that each cast is significant throughout the show and their performance has been the best one I ever seen.

Elphaba has the most complex character development of all and the audience will be enlightened by how she decides to become a Wicked Witch, wearing her signature witch hat. She has shown empathy towards others that she can’t stand the feeling of pain and always blames herself for something that isn’t her fault; thus, she decides not to do good deeds anymore. Moreover, I love how her relationship with Fiyero (played by David Harris) evolves into a profound connection which proves to show that love does not limit itself to matching beautiful appearances, but it goes beyond to the experiences they share with one another.

Each of the casts is very talented and I am astonished by Jemma Rix’s and Suzie Mathers’ harmonious voices, reaching the high tones perfectly. They can blend in well together and show how their designated characters are a perfect fit for them. I also realized that Jemma Rix may also be the one who played as Elphaba during the WICKED show in Universal Studios Japan which we watched in 2009.

Throughout the show, I guess the highlight of it is to let the audience know that in every person, there’s always a good side and a bad side. It ultimately depends on what the person chooses to become, just like how we come to know the good side of Elphaba, not the Wicked Witch we know from where Dorothy appeared in the Wizard of Oz.

The story of WICKED is so deep and dynamic that words cannot express how amazed and impressed I am by the show. The script and lyrics are witty/humorous yet inspiring and rich with meaningful dialogues which deeply moved people. It has surely made a great impact to the audience and can unmistakably tug at one’s heartstrings because it is politically correct in a sense that people can relate to the show in their lives. I, myself, am so engrossed with the show that I can’t stop smiling until the end. It surely exceeds my expectations as it is unique and spectacular in itself that I believe no other show can surpass the way it emotionally affects the audience.

WICKED The Musical truly did not disappoint me. And I am looking forward to watch more runs of WICKED in the future.