After her film (with Rica Arevalo and Sarah Roxas) Ganap na Babae, kicked off the opening of Cinemalaya at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ellen Ramos presents another unusual visual treat. Her animations are featured in the Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) latest play, Ang Post Office. Like sketchbook images and paintings that form an imaginary landscape, Ramos' animations add different hues of color to the stage's canvass.
Unlike the commonly used square screen, Ramos' images appear on clouds hovering above the equally unconventional set by designer Lex Marcos.
Known for her experimental animation, stylized drawings and colorful palette, Ramos employs various animation techniques in visualizing the inner thoughts and unique points of view of the play's characters.
This play, which is the Filipino adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's The Post Office, revolves around a sick boy with a very vivid imagination. In a scene where the character Taong Banal (essayed by Bodjie Pascua alternating with Paolo Rodriguez), describes a fictional story about an island inhabited by birds, the clouds transform into an array of brightly colored and beautiful winged-creatures. Later on, it becomes a magical Post Office that churns out letters sent by the King.
The animations also turn into a beautiful night sky that blanket the scene where the young character, Abel (essayed by Martin Delos Reyes and Abner Delina Jr.) is lulled to sleep by a choir of angels, sung live by the Kilyawan Choir (alternating with the Loboc Children's Choir).
A founding member of Pinoy Animagination, Ramos' work has continuously gained credit from various award-giving bodies: Doon sa Kabila ng Bulkan (The Other Side of the Volcano), won the First Prize for Animation at the 1997 CCP Awards for Alternative Film & Video and has been selected to compete in various international film festivals, while her short film Speci men won a Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival.
Catch the visual feast of Ang Post Office on the following dates: August 27, 28, 29, September 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 (10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.). For inquiries and reservations, please call PETA Marketing and Public Relations at Tel.Nos. 725-6244, 410-821 or 0917-8044428.
Play tickets are Php 300 each.
This project is supported by Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), UNESCO Commission for the Philippines, MISEREOR/KZE and Zest Airways Inc.