Arron Villaflor plays Don Juan for the second time

Aaron Villaflor, stars in Gantimpala Theater's Ibong Adarna, as Don Juan, the youngest and most beloved son of Haring Fernando.

Under the direction of Roobak Valle and written for the stage by Rene Villanueva (+), Ibong Adarna is a play about the three brothers, Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan, and their quest to find the legendary bird of Piedras Platas, whose songs are the only cure for their father's sickness.

"Don Juan is very patient, understanding and loving son. All that he wants is for his father to be cured. He has a child like innocence, and his faith and inherent goodness are his greatest strengths. At the start of the play, the audiences will see him as a very sheltered young boy. Eventually, when it was his time to look for the Ibong Adarna, he matures and becomes a fine royal after surpassing the many obstacles that came his way," says Arron of his character, Don Juan.

"The excitement has doubled," says the actor, when asked how he feels about being Don Juan for the second time. "When they offered me to do the role again, I immediately accepted it and made sure to fix my schedule. Sobra akong na-excite! Being in theater is like going back to school, and the stage is where you do a lot of hard work and it requires you to be disciplined and very committed."

He continues, "I admire the level of professionalism of all the people involved in the play. When we rehearse, it starts on the dot, every one is ready, lines are memorized, the cast members know their blockings, the dancers execute the dances very well, and the musicians play the instruments with so much energy! Gantimpala Theater has become a second family to me, so this is like a reunion of sorts. Hinahanap-hanap ko na talaga yung mag-perform on stage. There is a different rush that you get when you do theater. And the applause during the curtain call, nakakatanggal ng pagod. Ibang klase! Now, that I am Don Juan again, I hope the audiences will like and enjoy my performance."

Completing the cast are Roeder Camañag (Don Pedro with Jerald Napoles, alternate),Arkin Da Silva (Don Diego), Anna Deroca (Maraya/Maria Blanca), Joey de Guzman (Ermitanyo), Billy Parjan (Haring Fernando), Pamela Hundana (Reyna Valeriana), Abel Napuran (Manggagamot), Paul Sy (Orlando) and Matthew Manalaysay (Ibong Adarna). Musicians are Chris Cervantes, Maui, Smith Bitoon and Percival Montelibano.

Some of the Muslim cultural community dances serve as production highlights and were originally choreographed by the late Ramon Obusan, National Artist for Dance.

Assisting director and production designer Valle re-create the kingdom of Berbanya are Andy Villarreal (Lights Designer), Raul Nepomuceno Jr. (Choreographer), Charyl Chan- de Guzman (Production Manager), Joey David (Stage Manager), photos by Jojit Lorenzo, and Tony Espejo (Artistic Director).

The National Parks Development Committee and Everbilena Cosmetics support Gantimpala Theater's Ibong Adarna.

Performances are slated on October 7-11, 10am/2pm, AFP Theater in Quezon City and October 16, 17, and 18, 10am/2pm, SM Southmall Cinema 3, in Las Piñas City.

For information, bookings and ticket reservations, please call: 899-5745/896-3503 and 474-5198.