Back in college, weekends feel like an extension of the weekday. It’s like an extra day to rehearse for a play, attend a required school event or meet with your groupmates to discuss some school-related group work. There’s no need to make an effort to ‘make the most out of the weekend.’

Apparently, after you graduate, weekends become far more precious. There’s actually some effort into celebrating and doing all the other extra things you couldn’t do during the weekday. Such sentiment is not only for those who are slaves to the working class, but is shared fondly by law students alike. We lead pretty much predictable – yet ridiculously expensive lives lounging around the Rockwell perimeter. During weekends, if people aren’t studying, watching movies or eating and drinking, they’re off to some spontaneous trip somewhere. My blockmates have watched 5 out of the 6 movies in Powerplant already. Such a great way to de-stress. Everyone’s looking forward to the change of movies soon!

The effort of setting up weekend dinners with my closest friends ends up to be one of those pre-weekend events we all look forward to. Last night, we were all talking about our little brothers and sisters celebrating their own weekend with parties, debuts and their blooming social lives that hardly resembled ours back then. I mean I still get a little uncomfortable to hear my 17-year old sister open up to me about her own issues with boys and life in general. The minute I feel like a teensy bit old, the reality of the next few years of my life mapped out till I turn 26 sinks in and I realize how I still have so much to strive hard for. But it’s okay, I’ve reconciled with that fact already. According to one of my professors in law school during his most inspiring talk about most of the Ateneo Law School graduates, one needs to be a visionary. To look ahead. To be driven...

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First Friday in months that I actually got home pretty early with nothing planned except to simply make the most out of my glorified idle time. A few hours into it and I already miss the rush of a Friday show. And after stumbling upon my friend, Toff’s column in Philippine Star (July 25, 2008) about our show, the melancholic feelings start flowing in and I can’t help but feel all too sentimental about it.

Three weekends, fifteen shows after, I’m still pretty thrilled and proud of myself, the cast and the crew. It feels surreal looking back at what I’ve been through since last summer – juggling Congress and COA work with everyday late night rehearsals all the way in the North. I remember wanting to be back on stage so much, especially for my last year in college. Of course, I didn’t foresee the amount of sacrifice I had to go through, as well as the effort and time invested for all my other major commitments. There were so many times that it was easy to suppress all the frustration because work distracted me to no end. It meant learning to control, take charge, and indulge in the right moments. It meant a lot of compromises between my other commitments, family and social life.

But the shows were a success, and the emotional highs and lows that came with it is still pretty much worth it. The joy of entertaining, sharing stories and taking on different characters remind me that there’s a part of me that will long to go back to the performing arts. Behind the curtains, all the random, candid, emotional, sweet, funny moments with my cast mates will be terribly missed. Charmie, Sab and Nica are three of the most talented, beautiful girls I’ve ever...

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The first set of shows for Summer of 42 this weekend is done. It has been quite thrilling and exhausting at the same time. And since it has been awhile since I last did any production, I missed the exciting rush of doing a show.

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This is just one of the things that have kept me really busy for the past month or so. See me sing, dance and play the eccentric Gloria, 40s style! And after quite a long hiatus from being on stage, I’m finally doing a production with BlueREP! Oh the joy of working with the cast and crew…

blueREPERTORY

Summer of ’42

Story and Book by Hunter Foster Music & Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum Based on the novel & screenplay by Herman Raucher

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I just came from BlueREP pictorials. Yes. After two years of theatre hiatus, I finally auditioned for a BlueREP production. I’ve thought about it a lot before trying out, and even went out of my way to ask my parents for permission. I did that because if ever I do get in, I will have to devote school nights of June for rehearsals. It can be pretty tough for someone who lives in Makati like I do. Fortunately after my amazing persuading skills, they both finally agreed to it. It is my last year after all. Before I lock myself away to the world of law school, I might as well continue indulging in all the things I probably can’t do in the near future.

Hence, welcome to my busiest year ever. This is my attempt to overwhelm you guys. :)

Now that I have finished my practicum in Congress, I finally have time for rehearsals. I miss Congress already. I miss being part of that world and working with the good people in our office. I never really had any initial expectations, but I surprisingly left the place with newfound knowledge and appreciation of a lot of things that should matter. Everyday was a chance for me to learn and experience something new. It was not just about learning politics, the dynamics of power or national issues, but also learning more about myself. I shall miss the legislative life. haha.

For now, I am incredibly excited for BlueREP’s next musical, Summer of 42. I am thrilled to be part of the cast, especially since they were only to get 3 BlueREP female members in the play. I missed performing for BlueREP so much that even if our songs can be quite difficult, I am just so grateful to be back on stage – singing, dancing and acting again. I’m one-third of a close harmony singing group (much like The Andrew Sisters of the 40s) played by Charmie, Sab and I....

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