Back to School...

...High School Musical Onstage that is. For the past month I have been busy working on this show. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of how this would turn out after watching the movie version (which I found to be too pop and superficial), but I was very much surprised by how much more heart the stage version has. Sam Concepcion and Cheska Ortega were the perfect pair as Troy and Gabriela. PJ Valerio and Alex Godinez stole the show as Ryan and Sharpay. Jeff Arcilla and Sheila Francisco were hilarious as Coach Bolton and Ms. Darbus.

I could identify best with the braniacs cos thats what I was in high school and at the end of each show, we look to God and give Him all the glory for He is the source of all our talents. I spent a lot of time with the cast and crew and I really enjoyed my time with them. Great job guys! Don't worry, we're gonna do more shows after this.

Playshop Passes on the Passion

Photos from the 2007 Tribute Show featuring Pamilya Maleta with the special participation of Maita Ponce and JC Gotinga.

Maits sings Burn

JC sings Could you be Messiah?

Pamilya Maleta at the AFP Theater!

Ems Bolaños as Kikay Japayukay

Jun Ofrasio as Kuya Talino

Noodles Chua as Ate Bechay

Tan-GA, Ate Bechay and Rosanna

Roden Araneta as Berto (tatay)

Roden Araneta as ewan...

Mayen Cadd as (Sino ka) Rosanna

We are Blessed!

Trumpets would like to give its heartfelt thanks and blessing to everyone who was a part of Sound of Trumpets IV. From the Trumpets Choir, to Sheila our choir director, to our artist friends, to our dancers, to the New Life the Fort band & P.Eric, to the people who worked on the production, the stage and the technicals, to Shangri-La Mall, and to the each and every person who went to watch.

You were all partners of something bigger than just a show or concert. It was a bold declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord of this country the Philippines, and that this nation is on the road to full restoration from everything it has lost throughout the years.

To all of you, you are blessed because you partnered with us and you must expect a major breakthrough to happen in your life soon. Our best is yet to come! Shalom!

To See More Photos, Click Here

Southern Swing

While Maits was busy Bangkoking, I on the other hand took a quick two day trip through our beautiful Southern cities of Davao and Cebu. Trumpets will be doing shows down there this August so a team of 5 (Sheba, Jaime, Jingay, Amor and I) went to ocular the venues and the living spaces, plus a little extra sight-seeing to boot.

There is a lot to see in Davao since it is the world's largest city in terms of land area. Pearl Farm, Orchidariums, The Philippine Eagle sanctuary where you can see this guy here:


And surprise! Birds are not the only residents at the sanctuary; you can even meet Mr. Pumba:


Most of us know that Pearl Farm is in Davao, but the residents there rave about going to Paradise Island because it is just a short ferry ride from the middle of the city and voila! instant beach resort.


I was surprised by all the new commercial developments in Davao since I visited it last, but alas still no Starbucks. Down there if you wanna coffeefy as Rony would put it, you go to Blu Grey (guaranteed to be the only cafe that will serve you a Durian Frappe). Anyway I think my favorite eating place there just for its name is the HoneyBear ChickenHouse hahahahahahaha.

We weren't able to go around Cebu as much since we were there less than a day, but we did go up to this place called Mountain View Park which gave you a great view of the city.


While there we saw this hanging bridge and dared each other to go across it. I promise that I really did walk on it but of course I couldn't take my own picture. At first it seemed ok but when you get to the middle part each step you take makes the bridge bounce up and down so it was kind of a mini-adventure.


So anyway, were all back in Manila but also excited to return there come August to do the shows and maybe even have an extra day off for more sight-seeing.

Playshop 2007 at the Podium

This year's Trumpets Playshop will be hosted by The Podium in Ortigas Center. Alabang Classes will still be at the ATC. Call 636-2842 for details or visit the Trumpets Musicademy office in Shang Mall. We will also have the registration booth in Podium up soon.

Trumpets Playshop 2007

Where's the place to go now summer has begun?

Acting Debut

If you hadn't heard already, i will be "acting" in Enchanted Kingdom's show "The Best Christmas Gift Ever" this december 22, 28 and 29. I will be one of the 3 wise men. Although technically, it won't really be my debut since rumor has it that i was seen on stage during Trumpets' Little Mermaid as a bird, a fish and a wave.

This time though, I HAVE LINES!! hahahaha
Okay, okay, so they're pre-recorded and i just have to lipsync them and it's not even my voice on the recording. Who cares? I still get to put on a fancy costume and maybe even make up. Now if i could only find someone to be my PA...

Busogaleros

We had lunch (for the early chickens) and filipino games fest (for the late birds) at george's house last monday with the Joseph people. How do you know when you've eaten too much chicken? When you look like these people:

The Busogaleros

Meemay and I with our host Georgieboy

Famine = no more food
Felix & Johann = too much food

Seen in Dreams

Some of my favorite scenes from Joseph the Dreamer taken using Franco's camera (thanks cuz). As usual click on the photo to see a larger version:

The color coated ones

One thousand talents

Praise him

An open window

Golden boy

prison break

brothers again

One Night is Not Enough

Franco and Ayen Laurel hosted the Joseph people to a delicious Pinoy style dinner. Adobo, tapa, pasta w/ tuyo, shrimp, and a whole lot more. After dinner we watched a video of Rama at Sita. I was one of the few there who actually saw it live (hahaha)and it just goes to show that Filipinos are up to par with the rest of the world when it comes to theatre. Maits brought her Nikon so i aslo took a lot of pictures with it. Oh and congrats to both Reym and Gian for making the final 12 of Philippine Idol.

Ang pagtatambul ni Maita Ponce

Ang pagyayakap ni PG

Ang pananakot ni Junevee

Opening Weekend

After a tiring week of little sleep and lots of late nights (and mornings!) at Megamall's Cinema 4, we finally opened Joseph the Dreamer. Thanks for all the prayers and support and we'll continue to need them as we go on. I haven't had a chance yet to take proper photos of the set or show (Maits, can we bring your trusty Nikon again? Please?). In the meantime, the lowres cellphone cam will have to do. Go also to Archie Sy's photoblog to see some excellent photos from the press preview show.


Btw, there will be a special "reunion" show of Joseph for all Trumpets members and Playshop alumni (who will be entitled to special discounts) this coming Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7pm. You can drop by the Musicademy office in Shang Mall for tickets or just come to SM Megamall Cinema 4 this Saturday.

Kainan at Kantahan sa Uva

Yesterday was another full day as cast and crew of Joseph the Dreamer descended upon Franco Laurel's restaurant UVA in Greenbelt 2. Everything about the place spoke artistry from the paintings of Martin Honasan (yes his dad is GH) to the food by Chef Fernando Aracama. It was a good day to perform and a great place to enjoy food!

Franco Laurel and Alvin dela Peña share the role of Joseph

Tito Freddie told the story of how the press helped to jumpstart JTD's long run in the Philippines. It was only to be performed in Cebu in 1989 but in the middle of a coup d'etat, the press came to watch and Ethel Timbol told Freddie that Trumpets had to bring this to Manila. And over 40 members of the Press came to attend yesterday thanks to the efforts of Oliver Oliveros and his team. Btw, Oliver denies the rumor that he submitted my photos to the tabloids, hahaha...

PG and the girlies: Shanda, Maits and Ring

Joseph the Dreamer hasn't even opened yet but we've been through quite a journey already. Every team working on the show (rehearsals, creatives, marketing, sales, etc.) has experienced breakthrough after breakthrough and we always thank God for every good thing that comes our way. This is gonna be an amazing run and I want as many people as possible to be connected to this.

Very Very Soon!

Click on the pics to see large version...

...and more to come!

Fun with Joseph

We had Joseph the Dreamer pictorials today at Patrick Uy's brand new studio on the 29th floor of Atlanta Center on Annapolis. We had a lot of fun making the cast try to do cartoonish poses since we are still on the Keith Haring peg. I stole some shots using Maits Nikon.

george, maita, the ashley and jepoy

here's a nice one of pam g. while waiting

Anyway, I won't get the official cd of the photos till tomorrow, but here are some fun shots taken in front of Johann's macbook camera (more photos in mine and maits multiply sites)...

chocoholics

huwaw boobs!

CMT-I Kids

Just something to remember for all of you in CMT-I class this past summer...

Joining Our Hands

Joseph the Dreamer is open for potential show buyers, schools, churches or organizations which want to produce individual shows. Just call the numbers on the poster (Poster design by Joel Reyes and Maita Ponce).

Also here are some excerpts of previous performances
(edited by Andy Lim)

Joseph the Dreamer

The Philippines longest running hit Musical returns! If you are interested in buying a show for fundraising or getting your school to watch please call Trumpets office at 635-4478 or 633-4387.

As You Wish

I spent the whole day yesterday in AFP, as part of the make-up crew for Playshop. PamG did mostly stage make-up, Maita did hair & make-up, while I did face painting and other FX make-up. We did charge for a modest fee, but mostly it was for the fun of doing it (since what I did manage to earn went to our make-up fund, hehehehe).

BTW, my bestest friend in the whole world, Maita Ponce is searching for the next Candy Cutie. If you have a brother, a friend, a cousin, a boyfriend, or if you think you yourself are qualified to be a candy cutie, send her a photo, a brief description and contact number/s at this address: maita.ponce@gmail.com

Ten Things I Learned in Playshop

These are 10 things I learned from Playshop this summer, especially while helping out in Teacher Enchang's class:

1) Stage mothers (and fathers too) often get a stigma of being too meddlesome, but the truth is that they really do care about their children THAT MUCH
2) Sam Concepcion has a cult following among the adolescent and will sometimes get randomly mobbed by girls
3) Being a teacher is one of the most tiring jobs in the universe
4) It doesn't take long before you know who everybody's crush is in the class
5) Teaching is not just getting a student to learn a set of skills but sharing your life with someone and mentoring them
6) Kids appreciate it when you relate to them at their level and not look down at them
7) George Gabriel looks like Mr. Bean
8) Whichever restaurant is closest to the classrooms doubles their sales during the summer (this year's winner is KFC)
9) Maita Ponce is a very good teacher and I'm really proud of her
10) No matter how many times we correct her, T.Enchang will always call Maits, "Maite"

Return of Mermaid

Well, not to spread rumors or anything but Trumpets will be doing this again OUTSIDE of Manila sometime this year. Meanwhile here's a clip I dug up from rehearsals in Stand from last year's run. I won't tell you what's in it, so just watch it...