JERRY OLEA
Lubos ang kasiyahan ni Arman Ferrer dahil mag-i-streaming na ang pinagbidahan niyang musical na Lapulapu, Ang Datu ng Mactan sa Oktubre 24, Linggo, 6:00 p.m., sa Facebook page ng The Metropolitan Theater (MET).
Iko-cross post ito sa FB pages ng National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), at iba pang partner institutions.
Itong Lapulapu, Ang Datu ng Mactan ang unang theatrical production sa MET mula nang magsara ito noong 1996.
Facebook post ni Arman nitong Oktubre 12, Lunes: "After 1 1/2 years off the stage, we were finally able to return and do what we love to do, what we were passionate about.
"It’s a surreal experience, and a historical one at that, considering that it’s both the first production at the MET after 25 years and the first musical to be staged since the pandemic began.
"Mounting an original musical in less than two weeks during a pandemic was not an easy task.
"Anxiety was high, and everyone was visibly concerned with safety as well as the responsibility and pressure to put on a show that was as clean and special as possible.
"But faith kept us going — faith in the protocols and in each other.
"I’m so proud of everyone for their patience, generosity, hard work, endurance, and strength.
"Every single person in the team tirelessly worked to make sure that we deliver the best show we can.
"No time was wasted too. Each day on set was a blur of simultaneous preparations: choreography was taught onstage; music and blocking were rehearsed in the audience area."
Pinaiksi man ang preparasyon para sa musical, nagsilbing hamon ito para raw mas pagandahin nila ang bawat aspeto ng produksyon.
Patuloy ni Arman: "Tulong tulong talaga. Pre pandemic, we’d have a full week for tech. But for Lapu Lapu, we had a single tech day, then shot the day after. It was difficult, but the trust and the support radiating from the whole team carried us through.
"There’s no doubt that things would’ve been a lot easier if we had more time and no pandemic to worry about. But it’s because of these challenges that the outcome is all the more something to be proud of.
"Along with the process, it was the experience and chance to perform again that made everything incredibly special."
Nagpasalamat si Arman sa direktor ng musical na si Prof. Dexter Santos, sa sumulat ng libretto na si Atty. Nicolas B. Pichay, sa naglapat ng musika na si Krina Cayabyab, at sa iba pang kabahagi ng produksyon.
Pagpapatuloy ni Arman, "Thank you po for the trust! Thank you for this opportunity to work and perform again.
"It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of Lapu Lapu, and to play the role of the strong and powerful chief himself.
"It’s an honor to be part of history through a show that’s special not only because it tackles heroism and nationalism, but also because it marks the opening of our theater’s curtains once more.
"Congratulations Team Lapu Lapu!
"Maligayang pagbabalik Met! “Mabuhay ang Teatro!"
Kasama sa cast ng Lapulapu, Ang Datu ng Mactan sina Andre Tiangco bilang Ferdinand Magellan, Red Nuestro bilang Rajah Humabon, at Cara Barredo bilang Reyna Juana.
Kabilang din sina Natasha Cabrera bilang Babaylan, Paw Castillo bilang Enrique de Malacca, at Robert Barbers bilang Juan Sebastian de Elcano.
Mapapanood din sa show sina Al Gatmaitan bilang Antonio Pigafetta, Ivan Niccolo Nery bilang Papa Alexander XI, at Padre Pedro de Valderrama.
NOEL FERRER
Buwis-buhay talaga ang ginawa ng produksiyon.
Maayos, maganda, at masayang nairaos itong Lapulapu, Ang Datu ng Mactan.
Ang public presentation ng musical ay bahagi ng Quincentennial Commemorations sa bansa, the Year of Filipino Pre-Colonial Ancestors, at National Indigenous Peoples’ Month.
Dapat sana ay noong Abril 27 ito itatanghal sa MET, kaalinsabay sa paggunita sa ika-500 taon ng Labanan sa Mactan.
Na-postpone iyon dahil nagka-surge ng mga kaso ng COVID-19. Hindi sila nabigyan ng clearance ng IATF.
Ang sumunod na target playdate ay Agosto 29, Lunes, kaugnay sa pagdiriwang ng National Heroes Day. Kaso, andiyan na naman ang kaparehong problema.
Kaya napagpasyahan ng prime movers ng produksyon na gawing online na lamang ang pagpapalabas.
Inayos at tinutukan ang safety protocols para smooth sailing ang produksyon kaya, ayun, masaya ang lahat sa resulta at tunay na magandang buena mano sa pagbubukas ng MET!
Sa ngayon, nasa San Jose, Nueva Ecija ang talent kong si Arman Ferrer para sa rehearsals ng kanilang pagtatanghal sa Grand Re-Opening ng Dubai to the World.
Kaya maliban sa Lapulapu, isa pa ito sa mga aasahan kay Arman na magandang representasyon ng Pilipino sa buong mundo.
Advance Happy Birthday rin, Arman, sa Oktubre 28!
GORGY RULA
Lapulapu, Ang Datu ng Mactan unpacks the many events commemorated this year, which includes the Victory at Mactan in 1521, as told from the point of view of the mysterious Lapulapu, symbol of Philippine resistance to all forms of oppression; the circumnavigation of the world, as told from the point of view of the trip’s chronicler Juan Sebastian Elcano; and the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, as seen from the lens of Reyna Juana.
This meta tale explores how history—and what people choose to be the lessons from it — contribute to the cultural identity and to the strength of any nation.
Ang artistic director ng proyekto ay ang NCCA Chairperson and Cultural Center of the Philippines president na si Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso. Ang choreographers ay sina Stephen Viñas and Kenneth Torres.
Andiyan din sa produksiyon sina Aaron Veloso bilang acting theater director, Adriana Agcaoili bilang creative director, Gino Gonzales bilang production designer, Dennis Marasigan bilang lighting director, at GA Fallarme bilang video designer.
Katuwang din sa production ang NCCA Arts Ambassador at Miss Universe 2018 na si Catriona Gray, maging ang public historian na si Xiao Chua.
