BUHAY AKTOR: Bibo in Harold Pinter's THE LOVER

The aim of any actor is the same: to tell the truth in such a way that people will be entertained, uplifted and surprised.

I was overwhelmed to have been contacted by the graduating class of BA Theater Arts for their UP Dulaang Laboratoryo Play under Dr. Alexander Cortez as their professor.

The piece? A Harold Pinter Masterpiece no less, The LOVER.

As an aspiring actor,  experience may be is one of your most valuable assets. So I  always say YES, especially if I know this will definitely develop my craft.

These are the following things I've learned in theater acting that I wish to impart for starting actors.

1. Listen before anything else.

2. Read the text over and over again, and make sure you know the lines.

3. Never show off. You can sometimes come to a particular point in a show and think, "I'm really good in this bit." Never, ever think that.

4. Never know more than your character knows. I'm not talking about research; I mean that when you are performing, you must stay inside the truth of your character. Don't signpost to an audience what they should be thinking.

5. The most important thing is to breathe. If you stop breathing properly, you get a sore throat. And if you stop breathing, you die. Lol. 

Sharing with you the photos from my last stage performance.

UP Dulaang Laboratoryo
Director: Joy Cerro
Co Actor: Rain Gutierrez
at the Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, FC UP Diliman

The Poster

I fell in love with my character Richard the moment the script was handed to me.

 

The Publicity Photo released on Social Media

I was very excited, I was already at the campus 5 hours prior to the play.

PHOTOS BY TRIXIE DAUZ

With my Director Joy Cerro and co-actor Rain Gutierrez and the Theater Adviser Dr. Alex Cortez

Of course, some of my best of friends were there to show support and love

Lastly, I guess the best advice I can give which sometimes I am misunderstood, aheeem, is to People-watch, it's the best way to develop a character. When you're walking down the street, or sitting on a bus, in a cafe or doctor's surgery – don't close yourself off.

Until our next adventure,

Bibo

BUHAY AKTOR: Babae Po Ako

Yes, I joined last year's Summer Workshop of Philippine Stagers Foundation. And I consider it as one of the highlights of my summer last year. Even if you have already booked many gigs and projects, being new in this industry, you just keep on honing your craft, you just have to.

After attending almost 4 months of workshop for Teatro Expedicion under Director Joey Paras, and 3 mos under Direk Anne Villegas for Light of Life, I knew I wanted some more learning. And I am thankful for it's Director, Atty. Vince Tanada for welcoming me in their home for this month-long workshop. 


Sharing with you one of the output of the workshop. The immersion Play "Babae po Ako" written by Atty. Vince Tanada and Jordan Ladre with JV Cruz and Cherry Bagtas as our Directors. This play went on to win the Best Play and I bagged the Best Actor award.

Creative Director: Atty. Vince Tanada
Photo Courtesy of Patricia "Trixie" Dauz

DREAM. BELIEVE. CREATE. SUCCEED

And Always Remember to not let your Dreams just be Dreams.

For the Believers!!!

Until our next adventure,

Bibo

Bibo in Singapore

I have always been fascinated by Singapore. Probably because my cousin JB works there and few of my friends are working there too. They would always post something nice on Facebook about the country and I found out that living there is like being watched, because there's security camera all over. Like a Big Brother kind of thing. That explains the almost zero crime rate of the country, a manifestation of a highly urbane and progressive nation. 

So here I am ready to experience what this country has to offer.

At the airport, all smile and I am ready. Singapore here I come

TOUCHDOWN SG. You know you are in a 1st class country by the look of its airport. 

Checked-in

BEFORE SUNSET

Almost 7pm and the Sun is still up. Welcome to my small and humble apartment in the next 3 days. Excited to roam around the city.

HANGOUT At Mt.Emily is where I am staying here in SG. I have a small room but my resting area where I can watch TV and have unlimited coffee is big. And the mini garden gives me a countryside vibe even if I am at heart of the city. Plus a park just across is an added bonus. I will definitely walk around the park early morning tom

 Enjoying my Starbucks Orange Honeycomb Crunch after a long walk in the city.

Good Morning Singapore

My Complimentary Hotel (heavy) Breakfast. Need to be full for a long day ahead.

Amused by this City name. Sounds Familiar. Lol

 Amusement at Sentosa

 You should definitely visit Sentosa Island. Sentosa Island with its Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon, Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, Palawan Beach, Songs of the Sea Laser-Musical Show, and so on rate as great places to visit with family. The Universal Studios Singapore, on the island, is the second theme park of Universal Studios in all of Asia.

Also, I was able find time to meet up with 2 of my closest 2nd degree cousins on both side of my Mom, the Quirino's and the Floralde's.

My cousin Lani who works at the Bank of Singapore

 

and my cousin JB who works as a Communication Manager for ALENU, an I.T. Company

SINGAPORE EXPLORATION CONTINUES...

And SOME FOOD...

When in doubt and on a tight budget, there's a friendly Subway store in every corner.

My budget friendly Singaporean Dish at Asian Food Mall where my cousin JB brought me to buy some pasalubong.

and a healthy American Breakfast during my last stay at the hotel before going to the airport.

SO LONG SG...

If you want a different kind of vacation destination, somewhere that fuses a range of cultures both old and modern,Singapore is definitely the place to be. It is cosmopolitan city that celebrates diversity, its Asian roots coexisting happily with the modern influences. A multicultural and multilingual.

On your next overseas travel, make it Singapore.

Until our next travel adventure,

Bibo

Bibo in Malaysia

First and foremost, this is my first time to travel outside the Philippines, which is why I am very excited and a little anxious, yeah! I am going to Malaysia for a project  and I will be staying in Kuala Lumpur for 9 days.

So here I am ready for an adventure of a lifetime.

Woke up at 2:00 AM and here I am having a heavy meal before heading to the airport for my 6:00 AM flight. 

Ticket and Passport both secured. Here we go!

Now Boarding ✈️

Bye for Now Manila!!! See you in a few hours Malaysia

It's good that the meal being sold at Zest Air already gives you an idea of what to expect when it comes to the taste and flavor of a Malaysian Cuisine 🍱

Safely landed at the KLIA🛬

Airport Transfer. By far the easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport into the capital is via the KLIA Express (airport express train). The train is very modern with video screens showing points of interest and things to do in Malaysia while you enjoy a comfortable ride into Kuala Lumpur in around 35 minutes. Using a bus or taxi transfer will normally take around one hour by comparison and cost a little more. An added convenience when using the KLIA Express to connect with a departing flight is the facility to book your luggage onto your flight from the central train station in Kuala Lumpur (providing you do this at least 2.5 hours before your flight). 🚉

Welcome to the Capital City Kuala Lumpur.

In this City, you need to ask first how much would it cost you to get to your destination before getting into the taxi. Taxi fares in Malaysia are for the most part quite reasonable however at times a naive traveler can be easy pickings, especially on a return trip from an outlying area so be sure to ask for the cost of the fare beforehand and if it seems too high then you can usually find another taxi to get a better deal. The exception to this however is during peak hours in Kuala Lumpur when you will pay more because of traffic delays. Your hotel concierge can advise you on what the busiest traffic times are likely to be. Planning your movements around the capital outside of these times will save you money if you're on a tight budget.

This is Something I learned from Hazel who always travels overseas. One of Her Golden Rules when first time in a foreign country: Don't drink the tap water 

To reduce your chances of having your holiday ruined by tummy upsets it is wise not to consume the local tap water. During your stay keep these points in mind: 

1) Clean your teeth and toothbrush with bottled water. 

2) Remember to specify "No Ice" when ordering cocktails or mixer drinks. (Many of the more up-market resorts and hotels have ice that has been made using filtered or bottled water which is perfectly safe, however if you wish to be extra cautious then it is safer to forgo the ice). So here I am buying loads of water

Welcome to my room.  With my huge luggage. And you'll be surprised of what's inside. 😜

Tadan!!!!! My lifeline in the next coming days. 

Traveling abroad is fun, but eating in a foreign country can sometimes become a task. Bring small snacks that will tide you over until you find that perfect restaurant or food cart.

With Quick Shower and a light dinner, I am ready to explore the City on my  first night here.

Modern meets traditional. Systematic,  dynamic  and with a conscious effort in preserving its rich and colorful heritage is what Kuala Lumpur is all about!  A melting pot of all that is Asia.  No wonder they say that Malaysia is truly Asia! 

"What would a trip to Malaysia's capital be without gawking at its 88-story Twin Towers designed to mirror the country's high-tech ambitions and fuse stainless steel"

Although there are so much to explore in the capital city of Malaysia, but Malaysian cuisine is definitely the paramount that you couldn't afford to miss out. Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Teh Tarik, Bah Kut Teh (and much more) are some of the signature foods in this multiracial and multicultural country.

But the latter days, I opted to make it a bit safer. Seriously, all the food are spicy. If you are not experimental when it comes to food, you need not worry! International food chains like Mcdonalds, KFC, Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, Coffee Bean or even Boost Juice from your origin country are available here.

Shopping

Shopping culture in Kuala Lumpur, I believe is very similar to us here in Manila. If we have Greenhills and Divisoria, they also have Chinatown, this is the place where you can get a lot of bargains across a wide range of products.

For high-end shopping malls, If we have Greenbelt and Rockwell you can also check out Suria KLCC (yes, it's the tallest building in Malaysia, which is also known as "Petronas Twin Towers") and Pavilion KL. The shopping malls are just within walking distances where the federal government had just recently launched a pedestrian walkway linking two signature malls together.

Malaysia is a great holiday destination with excellent shopping, friendly people, wonderful scenery, and delicious food. I had an amazing time, and I promise to return again and again (pag may budget). Malaysia, indeed Truly Asia.

Until our next travel adventure,

Bibo