D' Emperor: A comeback play

I can’t deny it; I also have my share of pag-aalinlangan when I accepted the project. I auditioned half-heartedly. It was only because of a good friend, John Lapus, and my love for theater that’s why I came back. With two jobs on hand, (we have a family business and I’m currently working for National Commission on Culture and the Arts as Project Manager) I really had a rollercoaster schedule to work on. During our few weeks of rehearsals, a lot of disappointments came our way… no definite venue, negative supplies on production materials, cast members quitting, cancelled rehearsals due to venue, exams week, semestral break, nagtatampo na kids ko, puyat, nagtitipid, bagyo, brownout, ulan, ambon, lahat na sige! Dumating din ako sa point na “mag-quit na nga ako, tragis yan, not worthy!” But I didn't bother to. Most of the time, tahimik lang ako. I'm just cool about it. I realized, every production has its own flaws and difficulty. It is how you handle it with grace and managed it respectfully to overcome these negativities… Tama? Ok, fongga*!

Now on its 35^th year, Teatro Tomasino celebrates it with its first major production entitled D’ EMPEROR. An adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, an emperor with extravagant obsession on fashion outfits. Showcasing some local designer’s creations, with its tagline: “FONGGA!”, everyone will love it. I will be performing as Myra, the Emperor’s Manager.

Nakita ko ba ang fantastically fabulous fabric na outfit ng Emperor? Abangan. At UST Albertus Magnus Auditorium, my performances will be as follows:

November 27 – 1pm 

November 28 – 4pm

November 29 – 10am/4pm

Counting down: 6 days to go before our opening…  I can say, I survived! Every rehearsal is fun. Memorizing our lines, blocking, discovering each actors, changing the units and objectives, playing more with the character, synthesis during breaks and even after the rehearsals. Actually, doon nagsisimula ang fun J.

It brings back happy memories of my old theater days. Gusto lang naming ang tawanan… marinig ang latest chismiz ng mga bakla… at ang hindi mawawala ang daotan*…  some people  may never understand it, pero yun talaga ang binabalik balikan namin…

Believe it or not, we laughed, we cried, we loved, we hated and argued (a lot!) with each other. But we gained genuine discipline and friendship here. Teatro Tomasino is where I really started my theater discipline. There’s always this feeling why time and time again, we go back to Teatro Tomasino.

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*fongga - fab, fantastic, fabulous, bongga... FONGGA!

*daotan - laitan, okrayan, laro, abanuknuk, janis... ewan ko na di mo pa makuha!

VOV in SM Makati!

Yesterday I was searching in the net for the VOV products that I will be asking a friend to buy in her trip to Korea. I don't know why but VOV is no longer available in the local department stores. In a TV raket way back 2007, I was introduced into using VOV make-up, it is used by a lot of celebrities and professional make-up artists. A Korean product that I loved ever since. It has a very effective coverage for me. Surprisingly, I have read a blog saying that VOV is now available in SM Makati!

Today I went to SM Makati, hopeful of my search. So excited to enter the mall. An laki ng ngiti ko when I saw the VOV stall! Yey!!!

To my dismay, the stall was in random mess.

Blush on and eye shadows mixed up. A clutter of empty make-up boxes. I asked around to help me find the product I'm looking for, but I was told that there's no saleslady assigned for the VOV stall! What??? The saleslady nearby discouraged me to buy. She told me that all the products on display were the only products left. E puro testers lang nasa display! Malapit na din daw ito i-pull out. Plenty make-up artists of the celebrities went there and were also disappointed. She then introduced me to her make-up brand stall instead. Kaloka ka 'te. Galing mo dumiskarte. Isumbong kaya kita?

I'm almost pissed off. Finally, meron nag-assist na branch manager. She then opened the cabinet of the display counter and gave me new items on stock. Although some of the make-up I was looking for was not there (VOV Two way Cake in Dark Beige and Real Fit V-Line Two way Cake in Skin Beige), I just content myself with what is available.

I am happy with the Baby Cheek in Baby Pink color for my daughter. The powder design almost looks like Hello Kitty.

I have a mixed feeling with the Pressed Powder. I didn't see it in the VOV website. And I'm used to the Korean characters at the back. Hindi naman siguro (sana) ito fake noh? Nevertheless, the shade is perfect for me and it has the signature scent of VOV. Hmmmmmmm :)

Now, I'm looking forward for my friend's trip to Korea :)