(The author of this entry is Real Florido, a friend and fellow elder of Magwayen)

They barely have budget for their projects yet they can produce work of arts that are worth keeping for a lifetime. It’s been nine years yet these poor kids’ theater group is still down the line trying to climb its way up.

Recently, Magwayen, as they are very well known in the University of the City of Manila (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila), produced another two big projects that showcased young talents from different colleges of this academic institution. MPOP, a concert that featured Magwayen’s (Magwayen Creative Scholars’ Guild) performing arts prowess, and HAWLA, an experimental one-act play that depicted different lives affected and infected with and by AIDS. These two projects were commissioned by the PLM Supreme Student Council.

The MPOP concert was staged at the PLM Tanghalang Bayan, the biggest stage in the vicinity, as part of the University’s 42nd foundation day program for the students. The audience was in awe with the production numbers. They were singing with the songs and everybody were getting giddy with the dance numbers. It was a blast! It’s all about Pop which the group had tried to redifine through dances and songs. MPOP is all about PLM isko’s (iskolar ng bayan) music and how it shaped the pop culture in the University. These young thespians gave it to them through the direction of Carlo Yanesa.

After 4 days, the one-act play HAWLA was staged at the Med Forum Hall of Gusaling Bagatsing. There were six stagings for the two-day show, all of which were jampacked. Hawla is the very first stage production ever produced by Magwayen. It was Marlon Miguel’s (the founder of the group) first ever written script for the guild. Shengka Mangahas, an alumna, was the first director who gave life to this piece of art. This time, the restaging was directed by Borgy Danao (Walang Umaga sa Casa Ligaya, 2001 and Indrapura, 2006). After almost a decade, Hawla was revisited.

These two projects taught the group so much. It had been nine years and the guild is still experiencing hardships which, more often than not, are caused by the people who are supposed to be on the side of these young creative minds in practicing creativity inside the University.

These artists, who are willing to spend time and stay late at night just to prepare for a performance, are always put in akward and difficult situations. Sometimes, they are even humiliated by school officials. They are not even given a proper place where they can rehearse a song or practice a dance move or a scene in an upcoming stageplay. These students are just content with the Morgue room porch (because nobody stays there), old claustrophobic dungeon or the auditorium’s back door as their rehearsal venues. It had been nine years yet they are still nothing but the school’s most notorious students for staying up late at night inside the University.

I was once a member of this organization. I remember two incidents during my stay there as an undergrad student. The first one was when an administrative officer asked me why do we have to organize and produce plays and concert performances. She even told me how much the school was paying for the consumption of electricity everytime we use a venue. The second one was when I was summoned to the Office of the Students’ Affair because of the explicit content of our stageplay.

I gracefully surpassed all the pressures they thrown upon me primarily because I knew they don’t really know what they were saying. They were also naive about our rights as students. Were they naive or they just neglected our rights? Both of this school officials are still in the University as of the moment. I can say they both impede the growth of the theatre and performing arts group. They don’t even realize that the money they are earning comes from the taxes that these artistic students’ parents pay every month. I also believe they are getting some from the 20 percent tax I pay.

It has been nine long hard years and Magwayen are still hanging on, trying to seize each odd. All they have is a long black cloth, some halogen lights, a handful of wit and talent and courage to continue a legacy that shaped PLM’s artistic sensibility...and that will be forever etched in many people’s lives—inlcuding mine.

X

What is Project X?

Ngayong darating na Setyembre ay malalaman mo na. Ito ang pinakamalaki, pinakamapanghamon, at pinakaaabangang proyekto ng Magwayen: ang serye ng mga dula, collectively entitled "X".

Mula sa panulat ng inyong lingkod, sampung dula na pamamahalaan ng sampung magagaling na direktor sa bakuran ng Magwayen ang ihahatid sa mga manonood. Sampung kwento na ilalahad sa sampung magkaka-ibang paraan.

HAWLA: Snapshots

These are the other photos taken during and after the staging of Hawla at the Medicine Forum Hall last Saturday. I'd like to say thank you to my friend Real Florido and Vidal Condicion for providing these pictures.








Si Shiela Cris sa kanyang pinaka-balahurang papel bilang Procula Baculcol. Disi-otso, hostes sa club, kumakain tatlong beses sa isang araw sa pawis ng pagpuputa.



Si Joseph Molina, isang baguhan sa Magwayen. Unang sabak pa lang ay matinding papel na ang kanyang ginampanan, bilang si Francis Villafuerte - isang adik na rebelde sa kanyang mga magulang. "


Si Marvin Hilario, pinalakpakan dahil sa very intense at makatotohanan niyang pagganap bilang Eric Sandoval - ang call boy na muling nagbukas ng puso sa pag-ibig ngunit minalas at nabigong muli. "Kaya nga hindi ako marunong magmahal, dahil lagi nila akong iniiwan."

Si Anna Paula Montano bilang si Lorna Herrera, who claims that "sex was that good during those days". Hinangaan muli si Paula dahil sa tindi ng kanyang pagganap at mga dayalog na tanging siya lang ang kayang magbitaw.


Si Ronald Decena sa isang naiiba at di malilimutang pagganap bilang si Joy, ang tapat na kaibigang handang hamunin ang lipunang ignorante at mapanghusga. "Ano pa ang silbi na ika'y nakapagsasalita, kung ang lahat naman ay nagbibingi-bingihan lamang."

Si Alyssa Paula Tomas sa isang mapanghamong papel bilang si Jenny Beck, ang pipi na HIV positive. "Hindi itong sakit ko ang unti-unting pumapatay sa akin, kundi ang mundong mapanghusga ngunit ni katiting na pang-unawa ay wala."



Si Marvin Avila sa kanyang breakthrough performance bilang si Michael, ang lalaking nagkasala ng isang gabi ngunit siningil ng mahal. Pinatunayan ni Marvin ang kanyang galing sa pagganap sa napakalungkot na kwento ng pagsisisi.



Ang nakaaaliw na pagganap ni Marilen Hernandez bilang kikay at maarteng si Rona. Muling nagbabalik sa entablado ng Magwayen si Len to delight the audience with her charms and funny portrayal of a girl who treats her man with porn.





Si Real Randolph Florido bilang JR Gallardo ay agad minahal ng audience dahil sa swabeng pagganap niya bilang psychologist na tumipon sa mga characters ng Hawla.


Gumanap din si John Paul Velasco bilang Joy, ka-alternate ni Ronald. Ampol gave an equally brilliant performance. Pinatunayan ni Ampol na kaya niyang umatake ng mga seryosong papel. Dalang-dala ang audience sa instensity ng performances niya.

Unang itinanghal ang Hawla noong February 1999, sa panuto ni Shengka Mangahas. Bilang paghahanda sa nalalapit na unang dekadang kaarawan ng Magwayen, muling inihandog ng grupo ang Hawla, sa bago nitong bihis - bagong cast at bagong direktor, sa katauhan ni John Borgy Danao.

Homecoming

Dahil na-involve ako sa preparations ng dalawang malaking proyekto ng Magwayen sa pagbubukas ng schoolyear na ito, I got the chance to re-visit my Alma Mater - ang Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Kung susumahin, I've been in and out of this University sa nakalipas na 13 taon: 5 years bilang estudyante, 4 years bilang empleyado, at 4 years bilang karaniwang alumni.

Subalit sa pagdalaw kong muli nitong Hunyo sa Pamantasan, tila nanibago ako. I was enchanted by its beauty. 'Di ko namalayan, kinukunan ko na pala ito ng mga litrato.

I have many fond memories of PLM. Marami akong namimiss. Yung pakikipagpatintero sa mga guards, yung pangongopya ng assignment sa lab class ni Mr. Santos, yung pagtambay sa shed na parang walang exam kinahapunan. Maraming beses akong umibig at nabigo. Piping saksi ang PLM field habang bumubuhos ang luha ko.

May mga panahon nun na wala akong kapera-pera. Minsan, lumilipas ang maghapon na walang laman ang tyan ko. Awa naman ng Diyos, wala akong kinasangkutang gulo. Pero 'di ibig sabihin ay geek ako. Isang beses sa isang sem nga lang ako magpunta ng library e.

Pero nung mga panahong nasa PLM pa ako, I never took the time to stare at the buildings, at the field, at everything. I never thought I'd be mesmerized.

Haaay... Tumatanda na nga ako.

Starstruck

(mula ito sa archive ng Friendster blog ko, noong September 16, 2006. I'm re-posting it here, para sa mga taong gaya ko na kay daling ma-starstruck)

Pagdating ko sa Casino Filipino, inabutan ko sa lobby na sakay ng karwahe si Eula Valdez. Inaabangan na siya ni John Lapus sa red carpet para interbyuhin. Hindi ako nag-stay dun para panoorin sila or abangan kung sino pang mga artista ang darating. 'Di ko lang kasi alam kung dun rin ako sa red carpet dapat dumaan. Hahaha.

Sa cocktail area, ang una kong nakasalubong ay si Adolf Alix. Nakakatuwa kasi inapproach niya ako, kinamayan at kinausap. 'Di ko na nagawang kumain kahit nagugutom na ako. Uminom nga lang ng iced tea e nanginginig na ang kamay ko sa paghawak ng baso. Grabe na ang nerbyos at excitement na nararamdaman ko.

Nalulungkot ako dahil wala akong kasama, kahit isa man lang. Wala tuloy akong maka-usap. Naisip kong humingi ng souvenir programme. Ang sarap basahin ng paulit-ulit yung section na dinedicate nila for the Scriptwriting Contest winners. Kaso, nung magsawa ako, mag-isa pa rin ako sa upuan. Wala akong katabi na mababahagian ng sayang nararamdaman ko.

Ang tagal bago nagsimula yung awarding. Ayun si Irma Adlawan o. 'Di naman pala mukhang katulong sa personal, hehehe. Buti pa si Adolf, may mga kasama. Ayun sila, three rows in front of where i sat. I was quite surprised nung lumapit sa akin si Lito Casaje, isa sa mga storyline winners. Niyaya niya ako na maupo sa ibaba. Konti lang daw kasi ang audience at para samasama raw lahat ng mga contest winners. Pumayag naman ako. Uy, sina Aiza Marquez at Aaron Villana, ayun lang sa may bandang kanan! Si Bella Flores nasa harapan lang namin.

Sina Bong Revilla at lani Mercado ang first pair of hosts. They tried to chitchat with the audience, kaso wala namang pumansin sa kanila, hehehe. Nakakabilib ang mga artista. Magaganda at gwapo na sila pag nakikita ko sa tv at big screen. Pero pag sa personal pala, nadodoble pa.

Tinawag na kami sa backstage, kami na raw ang next na tatawagin. Hala, sa may pintuan, nakatambay si John Lloyd Cruz. Gwapings, ang puti ng mukha. Tinitigan pa nga ako e. Gusto yata ng away, hahaha. Sa waiting area backstage, nandun ang magkapatid na De Rossi. Sobrang slim ni Assunta. May isang taklesa na make-up artist, sabi kay Assunta para daw isda ang gown niya, hahaha. Si Alessandra, bumabangka ng kwento. Katabi niya si Ms. Cherrie Gil. Gusto kong lumuhod at sumamba sa sobrang ganda ni Cherrie. Noon naman tyempong inubo yung isa sa mga kasama kong winners. Lagot, walang tubig! Inoffer ni Cherrie yung mineral water niya. Akala ko isasaboy niya sa mukha nung kasama ko at sasabihin niyang "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard copycat!" Hahaha. Sayang, hindi nangyari.

Pag-alis nina Alessandra, naupo sa mesa nila si Dennis Trillo. Gwapings din, sobrang puti ng mukha. Parang ang sarap hilamusan ng putik. Alam ko sikat siya. Nagtataka ako bakit walang pumapansin sa kanya. Wala kumakausap sa kanya kaya binasa na lang niya yung nutritional facts sa karton ng tissue, hahaha.

Si Direk Joel Lamangan ang nag-intro para sa mga screenplay winners. Si Direk Jose Carreon naman ang nag-abot sa amin ng certificates. Todo ang ngiti at project ko sa stage. Di ko kasi alam kung aling camera ang kumukuha kaya nag-play safe na lang ako at sa gitna humarap.

Sabi nung isang staff, iinterbyuhin daw kami ni Eula para sa chitchat segment ng programa. Kaso, ilang beses kaming pinabalik-balik, pero wala namang nangyari. Nagkaroon lang tuloy ng opportunity para makakita pa ko ng mraming artista. Si Ricky davao at raphael Martinez, magkatabi at nag-uusap. Hmmm... May nagaganap kaya? Hehehe. Si John Lloyd, nagpalit na, naka-barong na. Parang umiiwas na ng tingin, natakot yata sa akin. Si Eddie Garcia, ang ganda ng suot na Filipiniana. Nakabaston na ang lolo. Oy, ka-eksena ko yan sa ICU BED No. 7! Sina Phillip Salvador at Jinggoy Estrada, barkadahan portion ang eksena sa isang sulok. Si Paolo Paraiso, nagcecellphone sa hallway. Mukha naman palang artista pag sa personal. Sa TV kasi, mukhang wala lang. Si Claudine Barretto, wow!!! Gusto ko ulit lumuhod at sumamba! Ganda ng idol ko. Si Dennis Trillo, wala pa rin kumakausap. Si Izza Calzado, ipit na ipit ang boobs sa suot na gown. Si Christine Reyes, ibang-iba ang itsura, mas maganda.

Sa wakas, natuloy ang interview sa amin. Syempre pa, tumabi talaga ako kay Eula, para laging pasok sa frame ang mukha ko. Halos fifteen minutes yata kami naka-standby bago dumating yung cue na kami na ang isasalang sa camera. Saan ka pa!? Unang tanong pa lang ni Eula, ako na agad ang bumanat ng sagot. Fifteen seconds of fame, hahaha. Tumatakbo sa isip ko nung mga sandaling yun, "Shit! Nagmamantika na siguro ang kalbo kong ulo! Buong Pilipinas, mapapanood ang oily kong mukha!" Hahaha.

Sabi nung staff, wag daw kami umalis. Aakyat pa raw ulit kami ng stage kasama ng mga Luna Award winners. Si Zsa Zsa Padilla ang Best Actress, si Marvin Agustin naman ang Best Actor. Si Direk Joel na Best Director, gusto kong iprotesta, hehehe. Sa backstage, binati kami ni Zsa Zsa. Kinukwento niya na nasaktan si Dominic Ochoa sa pagsampal niya dito sa shooting ng Bituing walang Ningning. Si Marvin may malaking pimple sa batok. Ang wallpaper sa cellphone niya ay ang kambal niya. Sa stage, mini-mimic ni Jolina ang estatwa ng Luna.

Paglabas namin sa stage, naramdaman ko na ibang level na talaga! Napapalibutan ako ng mga artista. Ang daming camera na nagpa-flash sa harap. Nalito na naman ako kung saan titingin, kaya play safe ulit. Si Gina Alajar, nasa likod ko. Bahala siya dun, hahaha. Sa kanan ko, nagbubulungan sina Ricky Davao at Michael De Mesa, nilalait ang pagkakamali ng staff nang mali ang pangalang tawagin nung magpresent kanina sina Mylene Dizon at Rudy Fernandez. Si Caridad Sanchez, nasa harapan ko. 'Tong matandang to, umeksena pa ng iyak kanina, halata namang akting lang. Si Dennis, nandun sa kabilang dulo, wala pa ring pumapansin, hahaha. Si Claudine kasama pa rin si John Lloyd sa rostrum. Si Jolina, 'di yata alam ang meaning Filipiniana. Si Alvin Anson ang katabi ko, panay ang kausap at bati sa akin. Si Nathan Lopez, lalakeng-lalake, 'di gaya ng role niya sa maximo Oliveros. Yung iba kong co-winners, nasaan na ba? A, bahala sila. i-eenjoy ko lang tong moment na to. Todo ang ngiti ko. Nagpapalakpakan ang audience. Inenjoy ko lang din marinig yun.

Parang panaginip lang ang lahat.

HAWLA: Revisited

It was a really busy week.

We had a concert last Monday , kasabay ng Foundation Day ng PLM. It was called MPOP. Ang daming tao, kaya ang laki rin ng pressure sa amin. It's always scary to perform at the Tanghalang Bayan. But we pulled it off. Superb ang mga dance production numbers. May surprise guest appearance pa ni Aicelle Santos.

After the concert, wala pa ring pahinga. Rehearsals naman kami for the play Hawla. Wala nang time for overnight kaya nagkasya na kami sa ilang oras na practice sa school. I had to be there, kasi, for the first time in nine years, kasali ako sa cast ng play. I'm Dick in the story, isang horny yet sex-deprived boyfriend. Hahaha!

Friday morning, ang call time was 8:00 AM. I was earliest na dumating. Kahit kelan, pasaway ang Magwayen pagdating sa punctuality. It seems that some bad habits are not easily shaken off, kahit pa siyam na taon na ang grupo.

Then, we had a problem sa venue. Gagamitin daw ang Forum Hall sa klase ng mga Medicine students. We had to move the play to the Audio Visual Room. Almost 11 AM na kami naka-settle sa AVR. Nakapag-run through lang kami nung 12:30 PM na. Medyo nag-argumento pa kami ni Borgy, the director, kung ikakansela ang 1st show. Buti na lang at nagkasundo kami na i-move na lang ng 2:00 PM ang unang show.

Pagsapit ng alas-dos , marami na daw tao sa labas ng AVR. Naiinip na nga daw yung iba. Pero 'di pa rin tapos ang mga sakit ng ulo. Yung sound system kasi, di mapagana. Ayaw magsimula ni Borgy nang walang music. So we had to stall some more.

Around 2:30 PM, we finally lifted the curtains (well, figuratively). Patok ang opening scene. Hilarious ang mga comical na eksena. Ang lakas ng tawanan ng mga tao. Bentang benta ang tandem nina Ampol at Shiela. And then, sumunod na ang mga monologues.

Unang-una si Bombing, to think na siya ang kahuli-hulihang actor to join the cast. I had initial doubts that he could deliver the depth of his role. Pero nasorpresa ako sa galing ng akting ng bata. Sumunod sa kanya si Marvin. He wasn't the first choice for the part. Pero destined yata si Marvin to play the role of Eric. Maraming nadala sa acting niya. I can't imagine the play with a different Eric.

Yung spot namin ni Len ang breather sa dalawang naunang dramatic monologues. Len gave a believable performance bilang si Rona, ang kikay at malanding virgin. I came up with an adlib na 'di ko inakalang magiging patok na punchline. Ang sarap pakinggan yung malakas na tawanan ng audience.

Joseph came in next. Ang bagito ng Magwayen. He had the longest monologue. Demanding din yung role. Aminado naman si Joseph na nahirapan siya. Pero na-capture din niya ang audience with his tale of the prodigal son addicted to drugs.

Excited ako sa eksena nina Ampol and Alyssa. Intense kasi yung spot nila. As usual, very reliable yung performance ni Alyssa. Napa-iyak nila ni Ampol ang karamihan sa mga manonood. Ampol was delightful to watch as he combined good comedic timing with drama. Si Ronald ang ka-alternate ni Ampol bilang Joy. Superb ang acting ni Ronald, napaka-heartfelt. It was a testament na hindi lang siya magaling magpatawa, kundi pati rin sa hardcore drama.

Ang pinakaabangan ng lahat ay ang pagsalang ni Shiela. Isang veteran stage actress na si Shiela 'di lamang sa mga Magwayen plays kundi pati na rin sa grupo niya, ang Student Theater. Halos gumulong na ang audience sa kakatawa. Natural na natural ang akting ni Shiela bilang pokpok na nagbagong buhay. Aliw na aliw sa kanya ang lahat.

Bukod kay Alyssa, isa rin sa mga bankable actresses ngayon ng Magwayen ay si Anna Paula. As Lorna, kinainisan siya ng audience sa kanyang pagiging bitch at nymphomaniac. Ibang lebel ang akting ni Paula. Para bang ang tagal-tagal na niyang ginagawa yun.

Finally, Real wrapped up the play with his monologue. He has a charismatic presence on stage. He remains skeptic about how good he is, but he did a good job as JR. Kinikilig nga ang mga freshmen na babae sa kanya.

Worth mentioning din ang mga guest appearances nina Mike. Lee, Marvine at Sheena.

Overall, Borgy did a great job directing the play. Gamay na niya ang mga actors kasi nakatrabaho na niya sila sa Indrapura. But part of the credit should also go to the Elders who assumed directorial responsibilities during the rehearsals that he missed, lalung-lalo na si Mike. Syempre, napakalaking tulong din si Vidal, 'di lamang sa napakagandang poster na ginawa niya, kundi sa pagiging impromptu Musical Director. At kina Neth, na multi-tasking bilang Lighting Director at prompter, and Mike na tumulong naman sa make-up.

Salamat din sa tulong ng mga members na gaya nina Jed, Rica, Bebang, Marvine, Mars, Kyle, Sheena, Lee at iba pa na nagpromote ng play sa mga estudyante. And finally, malaking thank you rin sa mga elders and friends na sumuporta - kina Boggs, Efren, Jay, Carlo, Ben, Robel, Aldrin, Matt, Joan, Jerry, Aldrin Frianeza, Oliver, JV, at marami pang iba. Kung may nakalimutan man akong pangalan, sobrang pasensya na po dahil sa nag-rent lang ako ng PC at gahol sa oras.

Congratulations sa buong Magwayen!

Substandard Pinoy Youth Ambassadors

Here's another reason why politics in the Philippines suck!

This year's National Leader for the Philippine Contingent to SSEAYP (Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program) is no other than Dino Badilla, a Commissioner of the National Youth Commission. This would be the first time in 34 years that someone from the same organization tasked to scout and screen applicants for the post bagged the post.

A National Leader is the head of the the Pinoy Delegation to SSEAYP. The NL will lead 28 Participating Youths (PY) from the different regions of the Philippines. They will represent our country in various SSEAYP activities like discussion forums, exhibits, homestays, courtesy calls, cultural presentations and youth interactions as they tour all over Southeast Asia in a span of almost two months.

Who selected this year's NL? No other than the NYC commissioners themselves, considering that our ex-PY from 1992, Aldrin Mendoza, topped the NL preliminary interview. The remaining 12 PYs were also selected by the NYC commissioners from their ranks.

SIP (SSEAYP International Philippines, the alumni association of former PYs and NLs) was never consulted on the matter.

This is tyranny and uncalled for in a democratic system of government. Something should be done about this. We can't sit back and watch our country be represented by substandard delegates.

Ten Most Stupid Things on TV Today

10 The Ramon Bautista Show on MTV. It's corny, it's non-sense and it's stupid. The host, who's name ain't funny and catchy either, is an eye-sore.

9 Jericho Rosales as Ellay Enchanted. Has Echo hit rock bottom? After the forgettable Panday series on TV and the big flop of a movie called Pacquiao, not to mention his delusion of making it as a rock star, Jericho staged a comeback as the hilarious yet freaky gender bender.

8 Philippines Next Top Model. A complete waste of money for those who bought the franchise and picked Ruffa Gutierrez to helm the local version of the show. Very silly move.

7 Asia Agcaoili, Host of PBB on Studio 23. This girl gives me the creeps. She's weird. Her voice really sounds annoying. And what's the point of another PBB show? Talk about redundancy. A total waste of timeslot!

6 Meteor Garden again! The two seasons of this phenomenal Taiwanese series were shown in ABS-CBN before. Then, they did reruns in the pre-noontime slot. Then, they replayed it again on Cinema One. Finally, they showed it again in the late afternoon timeslot. Had enough? Wait 'til you hear this. It's GMA's turn to show the same shows. Aaaaaargh! Shoot me, please!

5 Rounin. It sucks more and more in each passing day. This show had a lot of promise and potential.

4 Movies turned teleserye. Is this a testimonial that there are no more brilliant writers in the industry? Can't anyone come up with original ideas?

3 Raymond Gutierrez pretending to be straight on Philippine TV. If you watch him closely every Sunday afternoon on Showbiz Central, if you look very closely at every flicker of the hand, pursing of the lips and raising of the brows, you'd know what I mean.

2 Edu Manzano dancing on Game KNB? For a man in his fifties, he looks like a retard every time he indulges his urge to groove. It's enough to ruin your lunch!

1 Housemate Nel wearing a bathing suit. Bad enough that he still remains firm that he's straight. I guess the blame should really be on Big Brother for his stupid and sick idea to have Nel wear a woman's swim suit whenever he's on the pool. It's enough to give you nightmares!

Salamat, Kapuso

I am now on the last phase of my Writing Workshop at GMA. It will run for two months, culminating in July. By then, we would have been training for six months.

The feeling is bittersweet. Since April, I have been included in the writing team of Asian Treasures and Shaider, as part of our immersion. Many of the story concepts I proposed were considered by Don Michael Perez, the headwriter of the said primetime shows and facilitator of our workshop. Some of these ideas ended up being used on the actual script. I feel fulfilled. This has always been my dream.

I will be forever indebted to GMA for giving me the break. It's not actually a writing job yet. But the experience taught me a lot. I guess fate showed me her sense of humor in all these. Who would have thought that a Kapamilya would eventully become a Kapuso? If GMA decides to hire me after the workshop, I can firmly say that I would be a loyal talent to the network. Not as a payback, but as a sign of gratitude to the people who recognized and believed in my talent like only my real friends do.

Farewell, Mommy Len

I had an ominous feeling when i saw the subject of the message I received through Friendster. It's about my friend Len. Her battle with cancer ended last Thursday morning (june 7) at the Medical City. At a very young age of 36 she peacefully joined our Creator in her sleep and was cremated yesterday at 6pm.

Len and I became friends after working together at People Support. We were both neophytes in the call center industry. She was a very nice person. I can still hear her distinct laughter each time I cracked a joke. She told me lots of stories about her kids. Last year, she inspired me to quit smoking. That's when i first learned that she had cancer. She is always the proud one to say that she was a fan of my writing. She always checked out my blog.

I am so blessed to have had a friend like her. She will be missed. A lot.

Neil Gaiman's Book Turned Film

Finally! Something make-believe that challenges us to use our imaginations. A fantasy film of major proportions, Stardust features an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett and rising star Charlie Cox. I am so excited! Plot goes like this: In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. That fallen star turns out to be a girl, played by Danes.

Random Faces

America's Next Top Beanpole
A year after failing to make the casting cut, 20-year-old Jaslene Gonzalez is the last strutter standing on America's Next Top Model's eighth cycle, becoming the first Latina to nab the title. No word yet on whether she'll be the first winner to maintain a career.

Drama Queen
Lindsay Lohan caps a tumultuous weekend—in which she crashed her car, was cited for driving under the influence, possessed what cops deemed "a usable amount" of a substance believed to be cocaine and was briefly hospitalized for injuries to her chest only to resume her party-till-you-drop regime hours later—by checking into rehab. This time, the actress opts for Promises Malibu after her adventure in Wonderland apparently didn't take.

This Just In
Justin Timberlake announces the launch of his own record label, Tennman Records, of which he serves as chairman and CEO. Timberlake will announce his roster of artists in the coming weeks, allowing fellow beat-boxing connoisseur Blake Lewis plenty of time to keep dreaming the dream. Funny, though: All this time we thought Timberlake was trying to be the next Michael Jackson—turns out it was Jay-Z he had his eye on.

What's in a Name?
Pax Thien Jolie officially becomes Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt after a Santa Monica court approves the surname change to more accurately reflect the boy's double A-list parentage. The switch is simply a formality and isn't expected to affect the name used by the rest of the world in connection with the three-year-old: Lucky S.O.B.