RUN FASTER : BATTALIA ROYALE

The Battalia Royale Survival Kit (Sold at the Venue for only P100)

RUN. RUN FASTER.

Okay, I'm having trouble trying to write this entry because I don't know where to start. There are so many things to say and the hoopla has not yet subsided. I'm on an Artistic High, A Creative Orgasm so to speak. All this because of 2 words, Battalia Royale.

All of us have watched plays i presume. In a regular play, we (the audience) sit down and wait for the curtains to come up. We clap at every dimming of the lights and watch as the actors move around their own world apart from us, and see scenes happening at the play's own time. Some scenes might be happening at the same time but for the sake of presenting a chronological timetable based on importance, we figure that they must be happening right after the other. Imagine all of this go to nill, nada, wala. Imagine yourself thrust inside a movie, as if you're not just watching but a part of the story. You're a Ghost, a floating persona inside their world but in another dimension. You can see them but they can't see you. Run.

The Lobby. Get your tickets validated here. Walk-ins also bought here

The story is about a class of 4th year High School students from a fictional school (Our Lady of Guadalupe High School, Manila) who thought they were going on a field trip, but was sedated on the way and was diverted to an arena where they will be forced to kill or be killed in 8 hours. A plot we are all familiar with because of Suzanne Collins' (Hunger Games) toned down version of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale. In these 8 hours, you have the people who decide to take the game seriously and play it, and those who decide to just wait it out. I will not talk much about the plot because I want my readers to go experience it themselves.

Earlier this year they staged it at the abandoned Victoria School in Cubao and the CCP. This week's production was held at the Museo Pambata and your stage is the whole area. A lot of things are happening at the same time and there are times that you get to choose which story you would like to follow. It's like a choose your own adventure book but it all leads to one ending. Brilliant!

In marketing, we have something which we call IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications) wherein all marketing communication tools you have are married to speak a single thought. From tv to posters to new media (website/facebook). I especially liked that the people behind it thought about doing an IMC by bringing these characters to life via facebook. You have to check out the Battalia Royale facebook page, and the School page so you can check out all the characters' individual pages. This will prepare you and give you a backgrounder on the different personalities involved before you even meet them. Genius, just plain Genius.

As an actor myself, I know the process that goes through these productions and I am amazed at the talent we have in this particular one. The scenes were all so seamless. Everything was so natural, you see it in how they speak, you see it in their movement, you see it in their eyes. Their soul radiates the character and you can see that at that particular point in time, they aren't actors but the characters themselves. Sometimes the acting space is so limited that you will be forced to have a fight scene inches away from the people sitting down or standing up watching. You have the random jaunts here and there but the actors just keep on going. They are in their zone, their own dimension that you can't take that moment away from them. WOW. I saw noone drop his or her character and that was just amazing. Even if the spotlight wasn't on them, even if there was a particular bigger scene happening somewhere else, when you glance by their direction they are still playing out their role. This just shows how strong their train of thought is, the thread that connects their whole character throughout the entire play is that solid and well-constructed. The show is unbelievable that it's as if there was no script at all, the feeling and the illusion of REALITY was great. The lines were well delivered and were said from the heart. Okay I'm rambling now.

One other aspect that I was utterly happy and proud of was that these guys really lived by the #1 rule in Theater. "THE SHOW MUST GO ON!". The rain was pouring and these guys were all drenched and really wet but that did not change how they played their roles. The dead people were bathing in puddles of water (some for 10 minutes) and the live ones just pulled out some rain coats that blended with the scene. The marshalls were all doing their jobs well, add to that the magnificent scoring by The Radioactive Sago Project. How could anything appear to be going wrong? Even though the weather was obviously not cooperating, the audience didn't feel that. The rain even contributed in the total atmosphere and ambiance of the scenes. It gave Battalia a different feel that night.

I just deleted the part where I try to commend the actors playing their parts cause I realized that I couldn't single out just a few. Everyone was Excellent in their portrayal to say the least. From the guys trying to short-circuit their collars, to Jessica and the Band of Girls (and some guys) who grouped together in a shelter, to Basti and his group of bad girls, Rhae and crazy Calibugan guy, The poor girls murdered because of Justin Bieber, The guy the audience killed, Ina and Cai, Cai and Victor. Victor and Kalil. Wow. The list just goes on and on and on. All scenes were great. I seriously enjoyed watching and was really surprised at everything.

BRAVO! BRAVA! From the Writers to the Directors, to the Production team, Cast and Crew, This whole production was revolutionary, innovative and refreshing. With this group of people, I can safely say that the Arts (Even if it lacks Governmental support) is going strong. We have to support these productions and individuals because they are the future of Theater in our country. And it looks like we have a BRIGHT FUTURE ahead of us.

Congratulations Sipat Lawin Ensemble! Maraming Salamat at muli niyo na namang binuhay ang hilig at dugo ko sa Teatro. In my own humble opinion, your group deserves the ticket prices offered by "The Phantom of the Opera" because as their production has more machineries into it, yours has more Heart. And every theater play/production always has just one goal.. and that is to tell a story. Whether by musical form or a straight play, a performance is judged by how well you sent the message across. And your play, your script, your acting did the job Extremely Well.

To all the people, friends or random blog-hoppers who come across this page, I ask you, No. I implore you to spend time in watching this production of Battalia Royale. This will be the best P350/P450 you will ever spend. It is a quorum of the country's youngest and freshest thespians who will give you a show that you will remember. Because this isn't just a show, this is an Experience. I'll see you in the next production because seriously.. I'm now a FAN. Bite me.

Please visit these pages to learn more and to get tickets for Battalia Royale :

Battalia Royale Fanpage
Our Lady of Guadalupe High School Fanpage 
Sipat Lawin Ensemble Fanpage 

Tangkilikin natin ang mga Produksyong Filipino. Wag Maging Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan! (Don't be a stranger in your own Country!)

Getting Ready for the Experience. Picture-taking during the play isn't allowed. The production is Underground and they plan to stay there. Post and be Hunted down.

Francis Ong is a Search for a Star in a Million II Grand-finalist as well as a Pinoy Pop Superstar contender. He owes his love for theater to his High School drama club director Ms Ginny Natividad of La Salle Green Hills' Cue drama club. He has trained under the tutelage of Ms Ginny Natividad, Lionel Guico, Freddie Santos, Soxie Topacio, Tony Espejo and Vince Tanada. He has been nominated twice in the Aliw Awards for Best Stage Actor in a Musical Category for his role as Matsing in "Ang Pagong at Ang Matsing" (2008) and for his role as "Prince Frederick" in "Cinderella-The Musical" (2009). He is now taking a sabbatical from the stage as he pursues a career in Marketing. Francis Ong is currently a Sabungero and a proud member of the audience.

Our Lady of Caysasay : Of Apparitions and Mystical Wells

The Mystical Well of Santa Lucia. Site where Our Lady was again found in 1611

TRAVEL

Bicol, Vigan, Polillo are some of the places I was meaning to visit during the last 4-day long weekend. But due to my cursed foot problems, I wasn't able to go to any of those destinations but rather found myself doing a mini tour of nearby Rizal Province. I'm a history geek, so being around so much History and culture excites me. If I can't go to Vigan, I would go to the next best thing.. Taal.

While researching about where to stay, places to see and what to do in Taal, I saw entries about Our Lady Of Caysasay. What I read immediately got me hooked into it. An old church, a heritage town, a mystical spring in a structure that looks like it came from an Indiana Jones movie, Looks very promising.

I spent that week in Tagaytay for some brand-planning for 2013, but because of my foot problem I had to leave my car in Manila and just ride with my trusty officemate Bonsai. Saturday came and we drove down so I can get my car. Even as I was driving past the last toll gate in the SLEX, I still had no idea where to go. I was thinking of going to Mauban and probably spending a day in my family's island retreat or I was thinking of pursuing the trip to Taal that didn't materialize the weekend before. I was nearing the Sto. Tomas exit, the point of No Return. I had to decide before I reach it because if I take a right turn towards the exit, I would find myself in Quezon, but if I go forward, I would find myself going to Taal. My radio was tuned in to my favorite radio station DZRH, (Yes I'm a PROUD AM radio listener) and the newsbreak came up with a robbery in Lucena City that happened just a few minutes ago. I figured it was God's way of telling me, so I went straight onto the Lipa exit towards the town of Taal.

Archway to the Town Center of TAAL

I will talk more about the Taal trip and will go straight into Our Lady of Caysasay. I'm actually writing this and skipping some other blogs I have to do about Balaw-Balaw (Resto and Art Gallery) because I'd want you guys to consider visiting Caysasay this coming weekend. So after finding myself in Taal and making a short stop at the Biggest Church in Asia, St Martin de Tours or the Taal Basilica, I asked around for some directions on how to go to the Caysasay Church. From the main road that passes in the middle of the town plaza and the ginormous Church, you just drive straight and wait for a sign on the right side of the road that points you to take a right turn to Our Lady of Caysasay. From there, you just drive onwards and find yourself entering the courtyard of a small church. You can park anywhere there and wait for the local kids to swarm your vehicle asking you to purchase candles from one of them.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay

A set of candles (3 maroon candles and 1 human shaped candle figure) sells for about P15 each but don't hesitate to pay a little extra for the kids. Outside the Church was painted in a very modern yellow hue with a clean flat facade, but inside you'd be surprised to find yourself in a very quaint yet classic edifice. On the left side of the wall you would find a painting of how the image was found by a Juan Maningcad in the Pansipit river on the year 1603.

Painting of Juan Maningcad and his finding of the image in 1603

 In the year 1603, Juan Maningcad went fishing and instead of casting his net on the sea he threw it on a nearby river. When he raised the net he saw a small image caught in it. A small statue of the Immaculate Conception was found and he described it to have a heavenly lustre and its face twinkled like a star. News spread and the parish priest went to Juan Maningcad and requested the image be venerated in Taal. A certain Madam Maria Espiritu was tasked to take care of the image and she had a special urn built for it. She noticed that at night the urn was empty and in the morning would find the image back. She immediately reported her worries to the parish priest and together tried to get answers. They hid that night in the same room where the urn was and they were surprised to see the urn cover move and out came the image of the Virgin. The parish priest brought the image back to the church and the same occurences continued until one day the image did not come back.

Then in 1611, two women by the names of Maria Bagohin and Maria Talain was collecting firewood in the area where the image was originally found. They saw the image reflected on the spring water. When they looked up, they saw the image atop a sampaga bush with two lighted candles on each side and casay casay birds (Kingfishers which Spaniards at that time pronounced as caysasay) guarding it. The townspeople then decided to erect a chapel for her on the spot where she was found. It was also in 1611 that Our Lady of Caysasay appeared to a near blind woman named Juana Tangui and to about 30 other people. Juana Tangui was cured of her blindness when she bathed in the waters of the spring where the two women found the image reflected. The image then talked to Juana and this series of Apparitions was the first documented in the Philippines.

Devotion to the image was heightened then, such that the Galleons which sought refuge in Taal lake from the storms that hit Manila bay, gave canon bursts to honor Our Lady of Caysasay when they would pass in front of Her shrine. On December 8, 1954 the image was canonically crowned by Cardinal Quiroga representing Pope Pius XII and she was given the title "Queen of the Archdiocese of Lipa".

View from the door of the Shrine

The "Pulpito" (Where the priest says his "sermon" during the Spanish times)

Details of the Domed ceiling.

The Altar (notice the Grills below and the painting of Our Lady atop a Sampaga tree)

Close-Up of the Altar with Our Lady of Caysasay in the middle (Viewing Window)

 The Shrine of Our Lady has changed little over the years. A friend from Batangas told me that this is because the locals wanted to keep the devotion to Our Lady as simple as possible. Inside the church, the clean marble floor juxtaposes itself wonderfully against the white walls and the paintings that lend color and depth to the interior. The metal railings that seperate the kneeler from the altar lends a grand old-world feel.

Back of the Church leading to the "Pahalik"

Our Lady behind the Metal Grills. You get to touch her through the two round openings

Exit at the right side of the altar and find your way to the back of the Church where you will find a flight of stairs leading to the "Pahalik". At the top you will enter a small room and in the middle of the wall there is a metal gate with two holes that can fit your arms so you can touch Our Lady. Before exiting, buying a small image of Our Lady and some Novenas to share with friends and family back home is possible. The purchase will help the Church build and renovate.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps

After praying, I went down again and was greeted by my "tour guides", the kids who sold me candles when I arrived. They carried my small package of Novenas and led me to where I can light my candle. I heard the lay woman telling the kids to let me pray first before leading me to the Santa Lucia well. The kids then led me to the right side of the Church where I found a long flight of granite steps called the San Lorenzo Ruiz steps. It's best that you let the kids (locals) guide you towards the Well as from the steps you will have to enter a residential area to get to it. There are no signs anywhere to point you to the location of the well, but I do remember a sari-sari store on the left side where we turned and we also passed a house selling spiced vinegar. 

Nearing the "Banal na Pook" (Holy Place)

While walking on the dirt path, one of the kids "Arman" told me the story of the Well. These kids really do know their history as the story connected to what I read on the internet. The kids were describing to me what the casay casay bird looks like when something flew over us. Two casay casay birds flew and perched on the branch of an old tree nearby. The kids all happily exclaimed that I was lucky that a casay casay bird came and showed itself to us as if welcoming me.

The Sta Lucia Well

The Kids and the local Getting Water from the Wells

Closer look at one of the Wells, This is the left one for Baptizing

An old rock church facade greets you as the "Banal na Pook" (Holy Place as the locals call it) or the Santa Lucia Well comes into view. I lighted another candle on the grotto beside it and went down to the well. A local was there to assist me in getting some water. There were 2 holes, the left side was for baptizing and the right was for relief from aching parts of the body. The local first gave me water from the left side and he left me there to sprinkle some on my head and my face, after doing that he then reached into the right hole and gave me some water to wet the parts of my body that ached. I wasn't able to wet my foot then because I was wearing socks and slacks and probably that was the reason why my left foot did not get the healing properties of that water.
                                        
The kids led me to the church where I went inside for a last prayer and left with happy thoughts and a feeling of blessedness.

View from the Altar

Maybe God didn't want my other trips to pursue because he wanted to send me to Our Lady of Caysasay. If I was able to do any of the things I planned, I would't find myself on the internet searching about Taal, Batangas and I wouldn't have come across Caysasay. Most of us Catholics in Luzon have visited Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan, or learned about the colorful fluvial procession of the Penafrancia in Naga and the extravagant Flores de Mayo for the Nuestra Senora la Naval at Quezon City. Maybe its high time that you also visit and pray to Our Lady of Caysasay which is in almost the same gravity as that of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. The first time Our Holy Mother appeared and made herself known to Filipinos is in this small place almost hidden by obscurity. It would be a pleasure to be one of the tools to increase devotion to Her. 

Inside the "Pahalik" The back of Our Lady of Caysasay

In this small quaint Church lies a rich and colorful History that Filipinos should not miss. Its not too late. The trip to Taal Batangas takes only 2 hours from Central Manila. Next weekend, I hope you bring your family there so that you can experience the richness of our culture and be blessed by Her.

Further Up the San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps

 Wag maging Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan! (Don't be a stranger in your own country)

The Expert Tour Guides of Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine