Exploring the Theater Stage

Philippine Educational Theater
Association (PETA) Theater Arts 2016 Summer Class'
showcase "26"

Curtain!

Today, I watched the showcase of our Passionist postulants (seminarians) who attended a 3-day Theater Arts class with Mr. Albert Saldajeno. This theater arts program is a regular activity of Sojourn given to postulants from different religious orders and congregations. Sojourn is a group from different religious orders and congregations who come together regularly to have a common one year formation for their formands such as personal awareness, vocation discernment, theological formation, social involvement---and theater arts, to name a few.

Passionist Postulants in their performance

The Sojourn community of seminarians and sisters as
participants of the Theater Arts Class

Together with our 11 seminarians are other equally talented brothers and sisters from other congregations who performed before their ever-supportive formators and friends! I was surprised to see our seminarians came out of their shell. They acted on stage with confidence considering the limited time to mount the performance! I have known some of them as shy and not so open about themselves but today was a revelation! I enjoyed watching their performance! Bravo! Slow clap!

This theater arts program reminds me of my not-so-long-ago exploration--- on stage ---at PETA’s Summer 2016 Theater Arts class (see pictures below)! Yes! Indeed, a childhood dream come true! Going back to memory lane, I remember how passionate I was when our high school teachers would ask us to dramatize Ibong Adarna and the famous novels of Dr. Jose Rizal  Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo! I leveled up a bit in college. During seminary days in Cebu,  I was blessed to have been part of the United Young Artists of Cebu’s (UYAC) Les Miserables Cebu production where we performed in various venues around the city. Famous members of this local group include my former co-seminarian and now a Siddharta, the Musical actor Cerj Michael Germudo, Kapamilya artists Sheryn Regis and Raki Vega, and Christian Rey Marbella who landed different roles in musicals here and abroad, including Miss Saigon both in Broadway and West End! Boom. They have truly gone a long way!

My experience in PETA was unforgettable. Aside from learning new skills in theater arts which I can use in my vocation promotion ministry, thanks to our facilitators Phil Noble and Jeff Hernandez, more than anything else, I gained new friends who have the same passion for theater like me. I pray and hope to collaborate with my PETA workshoppers family some projects soon! In God’s time!

Curtain!

Take a bow.

Theater Arts Summer Class Showcase and Graduation
May 15, 2016 at the PETA Theater, Eymard  Drive, New Manila,
Quezon City

Chilling before the workshop

With PETA president Ms. CB Garucho and a fellow participant Fr. Eric.
PETA offers workshop weekends starting July 30. Visit their website at www.petatheater.com. 
Some pictures are not mine. Credits to those who took these pictures.

Vamonos!

In God's Time in Kalanggaman

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity 

under the heavens."---Ecc. 3:1

Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte

When things go differently as you plan, maybe they will come in God's perfect time. Sharing with you this short reflection I wrote last year when I went to Tacloban City and the nearby towns for a vocation campaign. 

Sa Tamang Pagkakataon

Minsan pilit nating mangyari ang isang bagay

Ginagawa ang lahat ng paraan upang makamit

Ang minimithing matamis na pangarap

Ngunit di pa rin maabot.

Minsan buong lakas iginugugol

Sa mga bagay na nais  nating maabot

Hinahangad na katuparan nito

Tila malayo pa rin sa katotohanan.

Sa Tamang panahon maabot

Sa tamang panahon mararating

Sa tamang panahon matutupad

Sa tamang panahon mangyayari ang mangyayari.

Basta tandaan, ang panahon ng tao

Ay di panahon ng Diyos

Ang panahon ng Diyos ay 'di panahon ng tao.

Ang mahalaga ingatan at pahalagahan ang bawat pagkakataon. 

Sa tamang pagkakataon, pagkakataon ng Diyos.

Sa Tamang pagkakataon. Sa pagkakataon ng Diyos.

Nov. 24, 2015

Saint Francis Xavier Parish (F-1784)
Palompon, Leyte

 A Perfect Retreat

Kalanggaman, comes from the Cebuano word "langgam" which means bird.

White sand beach of Kalanggaman Island

Day is done, but love unending---

from the Night Prayer

of the Liturgy of the Hours

Kalanggaman Island can be reached by boat
 from Cebu City Port to  Palompon for about five hours.  When you reach Palompon Port, walk towards
the tourist center closeby to inquire on transportation arrangement to the island.
If one is coming from Tacloban City, you may take a V-hire from the  city terminal
and it takes around three hours to reach Palompon. However, if you are coming from Ormoc City,
take a V-hire to Palompom for only an hour and a half. Planning to stay overnight? Make sure you bring your own food and drinking water because there are no canteens/cafes in the island. Tents and huts are available for rent, though. For more information, kindly contact Ms. Revelyn at the Palompom Tourism Center at +639173037267.
Vamonos!

Come Again Camiguin!

San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in Mambajao, Camiguin,
 is administered by Fr. William Salva.

Come Again!  This is how Camiguin would sound like for foreign tourists! I am sure, setting foot on the island and experiencing its natural wonders and the warmth of the people, one would really want to “come again.”

San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Interior

Last week, I revisited  Camiguin to interview a seminary applicant. I had good impressions of this pear-shaped province when I first visited it way back 2004. Also known as the Island Born of Fire, off the northern tip of Mindanao, Camiguin hosts seven active volcanoes, that basically shaped the island’s topography because of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.  Boulders of rocks can be found by the roadside. Hot and cold springs abound!   Steep mountains will challenge extreme climbers. Moreover, one of the popular tourist sites, The Ruins, was a victim of one of these fiery volcanoes, Mt. Vulcan.  In the late 1800’s, Mt. Vulcan’s massive and fatal eruption inundated the old central town of Catarman, pushing it below the sea---leaving behind the ruins of the church, its bell tower and the cemetery now sunken and marked with a huge cross.  Other places of interests are the refreshing Ardent Hot Spring, the breath-taking Katibawasan and Tuwasan falls. One should not also miss to swim and snorkel at the mesmerizing White Island and fascinating Mantigue Island.

The Ruins

Camiguin, being the second smallest island province in population and in land area of 240 square kilometers, one can circumdrive the island in a couple of hours. It would be  a perfect short motorbike ride for me to post vocation posters in its   five parishes. Thanks to Jepoy and his two friends who helped me accomplish this task only for almost two and a half hours! Thanks as well to the parish priest of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Fr. William Salva who welcomed me in his convent for an overnight stay. Maraming salamat po!

It was a long day for me. The 2.5 hours of land travel from Cagayan de Oro City to Balingoan Port, an hour boat ride from this port to Benoni Port (Camiguin), and 2.5 hours of motorcycle ride around the island made the journey fulfilling. In this recent visit, though I wasn’t able to explore again its places of interests, Camiguin’s landscape  and the slow-paced provincial life just naturally brought calmness again to my weary body and spirit. I had a good and calm sleep. 

    Hey, does Camiguin also sound “calm-again”? Vamonos!

Throwback. The Old Church Ruins, 2008.

Another throwback. Balingoan Port, 2008.

Soda Swimming Pool

Still another throwback. Sto. Nino Cold Springs, 2008.

I bet, facilities have changed over the years.

Present Tense. This small boat sails to Camiguin.
Bigger boats are available depending on the schedule. First trip from
Balingoan Port is at 5:15 AM and the last trip is at 5:30 PM.

Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Guinsiliban, Camiguin
(F-1749)

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Sagay, Camiguin
(F-1749)

San Roque Parish, Catarman, Camiguin
(F-1623)

St. Michael Parish, Mahinog, Camiguin
(F-1870)

An old house in Mambajao, Camiguin.