THE rehearsals were exhausting, often lasting until late midnight, for Vince Tañada’s “SA” Series at the Philippine Stagers Foundation Blackbox Theater on Calabash A corner G. Tuazon streets in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.
On the day of the show, I prayed to Divine Providence, or Allah, to guide me and Kashmir, the character played by teenager Charles Denmark Pantalita, so we could deliver a good performance. We mustered our best efforts for the characters we portrayed.
This was my first time to attend a theater and film workshop, although I once acted on stage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines when I was in high school at Saint Andrew’s School in Parañaque City.
I came from a family of actors, directors and artists. I vividly remember director Joey Reyes asking me if I was content with just writing, as he invited me to try acting in film. At the time, I was about to interview then-presidential daughter Kris Aquino for her TV series, while working as a presidential message writer at the Office of the Press Secretary.
Then a friend of mine, Regal Films line producer Arnel Caranto, invited me to be part of a Nora Aunor-Jaclyn Jose movie directed by Frank Rivera. But I first attended to my volunteer work for the late Father Pierre Tritz, SJ, a Mother Teresa and Ramon Magsaysay awardee. I served as a teacher for SABANA, or Samahan ng mga Batang Nananambakan, a group that helps former child scavengers in Tondo, Manila, and also volunteered for FAHAN, or Foundation for the Assistance to Hansenites, an organization that helps leprosy patients.
Now, at a later age, I decided to attend a workshop to harness my acting capability. It was a surprise to learn that I won Best Supporting Actor for my role as a traditional, conservative Muslim father who adheres to the laws of the Quran.
My thanks to the esteemed judges — directors Anton Juan, JP Lopez and Paul Jake Paule — who watched the six plays during the “SA” Series: “Sa Carwash,” which won for Jeremy Peter and Reign Marpuri as Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively; “Sa Carinderia”; “Sa Bubungan,” which won Best Play; “Sa Azotea”; “Sa Barong-Barong”; and “Sa Parlor.”
A day with Cecile Guidote-Alvarez
At Camp Aquino Station Hospital in Camp Servillano Aquino in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City, I attended a mural art exhibit participated in by 11 artists. It was organized by Col. Dominador V. Acoba Jr., CASH commanding officer.
I was with Radyo Balintataw host and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, president emeritus of Earthsavers ITI Philippines Center, who gave a very significant speech. National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Lope B. Santos III was the guest of honor that bright afternoon at CASH. The master of ceremonies was Mark David Magaoay.
It was indeed a memorable day with Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, wife of the late Senator Heherson Turingan Alvarez.
Johnrey Rivas in “AL.TER”
FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Johnrey Rivas delivers a powerful performance in a divided world of truth and illusion in Kho Lab Productions and Artist Playground’s “Double Take: Reverse Card & AL.TER,” a new psychological twin bill running from May 29 to June 21, 2026, at Illumination Studio, 2723 Sabio Street corner Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
“Double Take” showcases two powerful one-act plays in a single evening, delving into sexual identity, power dynamics and vulnerability within confined spaces. The result is a layered theatrical experience where perspectives shift and nothing is ever quite as it seems.
The cast also includes Gerald Magallanes, Lance Cabradilla, James Ramada, Drei Arias, John Ven Soco, CJ Tiongson, Gerhard Krysstopher, Jarold Brimbuela and Inah Evans.
It is directed by Paul Jake Paule, 2016 Aliw Awards Best Actor in a Featured Role and 2017 BroadwayWorld Best Featured Actor.
Elia Ilano joins the PSF summer workshop
I am glad that former FAMAS Best Child Actress Elia Ilano recently joined me in this year’s theater and film workshop.
She joined the Diversicat group, while I joined the Jollipeers group. The other group is Daisy Siete. Good luck to both of us for our Broadway musical performance this week.
Birthday greetings
Belated birthday greetings to Eduard Bañez.