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.