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The Acting Motif in Hamlet

February 23, 2015 Kuya

The Acting Motif in Hamlet

Characters acting on top of duties they are currently acting. And all of these functions make it exceptionally tough to differentiate who is acting and who is real. The acting concept in Hamlet is mirrored through virtually every scene, and impacts virtually every character in the play. Lets analize the acting motif in Hamlet then.

King Claudius is continually acting throughout the play to conceal his real self from those around him. Of all, the play begins out with Claudius acting as the grieving and excellent king after the loss of his sibling. The King just desires to keep Hamlet close by so he can keep a close eye on the genuine successor.

Other apparently worried acts follow as the King asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet, and to return any details the King might make use of to assist his stepson. In addition, the King has compassion with Laertes about Hamlet killing his papa, Polonius. He is just acting this method to control Laertes into disposing of his biggest danger, Hamlet.

Hamlet’s mom, Queen Gertrude, likewise does her share of acting within the play. She rejected the presence of the issue, and acted as if the only possible cause of Hamlet’s habits was “his daddy’s death and our o’erhasty marital relationship”. In other words, was Gertrude purposefully acting the whole time with the sense of guilt near the surface area, or did she bury this sense of guilt so far that she ended up being the character she was acting?

In addition, Laertes is controlled by the King to act as a reasonable candidate in a friendly sword match with the prince, when, in reality, he and the King are preparing on killing Hamlet. Laertes acts in the sword match as if he has no mal-intent, however is in fact utilizing the act as a device for vengeance. At the wish of the King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern act as close pals of Hamlet in order to spy on him and acquire favor with the King.

Polonius likewise carries out acts on top of the act he is currently carrying out for the King. In addition, he likewise directs a number of other characters in their efforts to act. The only times that Polonius appears not to be acting is in Act 1, Scene 3, when he is talking with his youngsters, and whenever he is talking about acting, for example, with the gamers and Hamlet.

Hamlet definitely acts throughout the play, it is tough to determine when he is acting, and when he is not. Hamlet may be believing that if he acts mad, he might be enabled more liberty to check out the information of the criminal activity, without being captured in the act. Was Hamlet acting in Ophelia’s bed room, in the Hall throughout his discussion with Ophelia, throughout the play, and in his mom’s chamber?

The only major characters in the play who do not act are Horatio and Fortinbras. And Fortinbras does anything however camouflage his objectives through acting. Exactly what I discover fascinating is that in addition to being the only primary characters not to act, they are likewise the only primary characters left alive at the end of the play.

In general, we have actually seen how the acting theme has actually impacted the major characters. The acting concept in Hamlet is mirrored through virtually every scene, and influences practically every character in the play.

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Gabby Barredo Artist – Meet The Family

February 18, 2015 Web Master

When my uncle, Gabby Barredo, who was an artist had an exhibit entitled “Opera” in January 2015, I then assumed the role of an opera singer in his latest exhibit as the guests viewed the kinetic sculpture that he presented for his one-man show.

My Tito Gabby Barredo giving instructions for my performance at his expo.

But here, I will discuss mostly the exhibit was named “Asphalt” staged way back in 2013 where he proved that his art is dynamic plus a glimpse of his entry to the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2009. Sure there are instances where the accolades get mixed up with the follow up question “Where do we go from here?” And he answered them with an exhibit that dared go dark if not political.

Art usually succeeds when it gets appreciated not only for its beauty but for the message that it tried to convey. Sometimes art is meant to disturb the audience and make them think. And that was exactly what was seen in his latest exhibit. Political figures whose statuses in their home countries were almost God-like, either perceived or manipulated, were seen here.

Art imitates life and it is inevitable when an artist like him can produce art best when there is something in him waiting to be blurted out. Artists would like to recreate pieces that would remind people of real life and help them appreciate the artworks more. It quite agreed with my philosophy that controversy is inevitable in artistry. You don’t become controversial for the sake of seeing attention or just for the heck of it. You need to address the elephant in the room? Do it in the best way that you could. He did by presenting these creations.

Now the interesting part about the kind of art he is famous for is that I can present some of them better as animated images. You see, his expertise is in kinetic sculpture. They are lovely works of art but you end up appreciating them more the moment you witness them moving.

There is a level of creepiness made cool in some of the moving pieces found in this exhibit. But compared to the static pieces presented alongside the moving ones, interpreting them is more dynamic. That Mao bust with the red circle can be interpreted as how he was almost a God and at the same time, a target of the West. This baby with the marionette strings and a split face for a breastplate? I can guess how it’s about how babies were operated in the past in concentration camps but the artist knew better what was it for really.

And he’s been doing this for years. They range from the surreal yet fascinating to the dark and disturbing. If ever there would be one artist that can manage to turn their subconscious dreams into physical art, it would be Gabby Barredo.

The movements turn simple items like this (I presume) a mirror into something darker than it actually seems. Just when you thought dark mirrors with moving hands that try pulling you in exist only in nightmares, you end up seeing in previous clips of exhibits that he has staged. It’s the mystery that captures the attention of art enthusiasts and curious onlookers than happened to drop by.

Enthralled? I can’t blame you. I am proud of my uncle in the same manner that the artistic community in the Philippines gets represented in exhibits abroad with such eye-catching creations. Hopefully I get to perform in one of his exhibits again.

Speaking of performances, most of the are usually displayed on my social media accounts. So I would really appreciate if you like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Baby Barredo Repertory Philippines Mother – Meet the Family

February 17, 2015 Web Master

Ms Baby Barredo, one of the founders of Repertory Philippines, is better known in the theater community as “Tita Baby”. Being almost everyone’s “tita” really made this community one big happy family. And just like how in any family, the children grow up and start putting up their own families, most of the new theater companies that get built up are mostly alumni of Repertory Philippines – something Tita Baby is very proud of.

But how did Repertory Philippines start? Of course the most reliable would be Tita Baby herself. She granted an interview years ago sharing how everything began with her talking to Tita Bibot (a.k.a. THE Zenaida Amador).

At that time in 1967, the only productions, the only theater productions, were school productions. And Amador and myself, founders of Rep, we were both teaching in St. Joseph’s College. And we were like this, a play was going on ‘Arms and the Man’, Bernard Shaw. And Amador and I were in the wings, waiting for our cues.

But we knew that the actors that were coming out in the play, they were all frustrated because all that they wanted to do was to act. But because we couldn’t make a living out of it, they were forced to be account executives in advertising companies. Subas Herrero – he’s gone now, may he rest in peace – he was frustrated because his parents forced him to take up medicine. They were very unhappy.

And then Amador and I said ‘Why don’t we start putting a theater where people can use their talents and develop their talents?’ And that’s how we started. So we put in 250 bucks. We were 5 of us.

That’s Php250 for you. Don’t laugh. She’s serious. It’s the 60’s. Php250 can still go a long way at that time. Multiply Php250 by 5 and Repertory Philippines was born. Tita Baby continued her story as she mentioned feedback upon putting up one of the first theater companies in the Philippines.

Anyway, actually we used to rehearse. We used to beg, borrow, steal rehearsing houses … in schools, wherever we were invited to rehearse. We would beg, borrow, steal costumes and stuff like that. We’d either borrow from different schools or we steal them. But the office was the little beetle Volkswagen of Bibot and that’s how we started.

Apparently the drive was way stronger than the obstacles thrown their way. I can only imagine the kind of struggles they went through. Tita Baby sharing these roots herself makes you understand better how tough the road to success really turned out to be. And then there’s feedback. Not all good but still worth noting as she shared thoughts about high expectations.

Well in a sense we liked it because when we were doing theater, they were already comparing us to Broadway. And we were saying ‘My gosh! These people who were viewed, these critics! They expect us to be like Broadway! We just started with 250 bucks each! Are they crazy? The car! The office!’

Anyway, then we started doing plays. We opened our season with a Tagalog play which very few people know then. We were called elitists. We were called that we were not Filipino citizens because we were doing just American plays and English plays and musicals and stuff. They don’t know they first play we ever did – sure it was Strindberg, ‘Miss Julie’ – but it was in Tagalog. It was an adaptation.

Repertory Philippines starting out with a Tagalog play. And naysayers have the nerve to say that they are not Filipino. Between them and Tita Baby et al, who managed to establish a legacy anyway? Besides if you really love what you do, not even the scariest storm can scare the crap out of you. That’s when she started sharing about one performance that they decided to push through despite the heavy rain downpour. It happened in the theater where they commonly perform – in the Insular Life building in Makati.

Rep is like a family. And we were in Insular Life for like 25 years in the 12th floor. In the very beginning, we used to pay rental. And one day we were doing ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ It was raining cats and dogs! Raining! And we said ‘Are we gonna go through the show tonight?’ And I was playing Virginia Woolf. I was playing Virginia. And I said ‘Yeah. Who knows? There might be an audience.’

The water was entering the little Volkswagen. I was steeped in water. We went to the theater. There were, I think, 9 or 10 people in the audience. They outnumbered us. We were 4 onstage, 4 characters. And we did not know that one of the people in the audience was Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala who owns Insular Life. We didn’t know that. And then during the acts, my husband Leo Martinez who played the role of Richard Burton in the movie, he had some kind of an attack or something. So it was between acts. And so we have to call somebody to give him oxygen. There was an oxygen tank but nobody in the Insular Life know how to run that oxygen tank. So my God! You have this oxygen tank for you but you don’t know how to use it now that we need it? And so because of that, he was so impressed with our performance. They didn’t charge us for the theater. And that was our home for 25 years.

Wow! The kind of appreciation that people give you when you decide to push through with a performance heavy rain and sickness be damned. This is a heart-warming part that Tita Baby shared. And the appreciation from the theater community itself is just as heart-warming knowing how most theater companies today come from the roster of students that the Repertory Philippines had in the past.

And they were all trained with us. And I was very touched by Audie Gemora. At the first directorial job of Menchu [Lauchengco-Yulo] was ‘West Side Story‘ that she did for stages of Audie. And she said ‘Tita Baby, can you please come and give me notes? [Etcetera]’. I said ‘Sure. I’d go’. It was in Meralco [Theater] so I went. And then when I was going home, Audie escorted me to the car and said ‘You know, Tita Baby,’ I am very touched, I almost cried, ‘we’re only doing this so that the legacy of Rep goes on’. Isn’t that something?

I was so touched because you see, you think that they’re still there. They are passing it on. And that’s what we really want. Although I dreamed that even if I am not anymore around, that Rep will still go on coz I think Bibot would have wanted that too.

It’s stories like these that really get you thinking how Tita Baby’s efforts in establishing the Philippine theater scene are appreciated. And it all started with the passion everyone harbored as gifted artists. They were frustrated in the beginning sure but at least they did not stop there. They did something about it and now they are reaping the fruits of their hard-earned labor. No wonder everyone is thankful to have Tita Baby around whether to lend a helping hand or be a guiding light to everyone that wanted to keep the legacy of Rep alive.

And Rep is now on Facebook. Please like their page by clicking here to be updated with their latest shows. Who knows if you can find me in their current season? You can find out the next projects or updates about me on my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and on my Twitter account @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Jose Rizal Biography – Meet The Family

February 16, 2015 Web Master

Writing the Jose Rizal Biography is a nice deja vu for me. In the opera version of the controversial book “Noli Me Tangere”, I played the opera’s lead character, Crisostomo Ibarra. I admire Dr. Rizal not only because I am Filipino but more so because he is my great great granduncle.

Fast Facts
Born: June 19, 1861
Father: Francisco Mercado Rizal
Mother: Teodora Alonzo y Quintos
Siblings: 1 brother, 9 sisters

He became my great granduncle because one of Teodora Alonzo’s sisters, Gabriela Alonzo, is my great great grandmother. As a great person, it is not enough to simply mention him as a great hero.

Sure he was born of a relatively wealthy family with prominent parents such as Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos. But he was already gifted artistically at a young age. It started with clay moldings and pencil sketches until he found his love for writing. It was in his writings where his early signs of nationalism became evident. In his poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” (loose translation: To My Childhood Friends), he preached the virtue of loving your own language. Often it is viewed as a response to how some kids at that time learn Spanish and end up almost forgetting how to speak their native tongue.

The nationalism sparked at an early age was even agitated more when he realized that he had to stop his medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas due to discrimination. When students are viewed by their race instead of their academic accomplishments, you know you have to go elsewhere when you want to finish your studies. He had to leave the Philippines for Spain and continue his studies at Universidad Central de Madrid, earning the degree and expertise to finally operate on his mother’s eyes.

As you see, by profession, he is an ophthalmologist. But by passion, he is a nationalist that expressed his views through his writings. He took pride in his roots by publishing “Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas”, a historical treatise on how the Philippines is already a civilized nation long before the Spaniards arrived. He then critiqued the constant interference in political affairs of the Spanish clergy in the country by publishing his first novel, “Noli Me Tangere”, a fictional account of the excesses of the Spanish government. He did not hesitate in mentioning how the friars often spear-headed the maltreatment of his fellowmen – citizens whom the former often derogatorily referred to as “indios”.

While in “Noli”, his pacifist views were evident despite the need to call on the Spaniards for their excesses, he then shared his views on destabilizing the government through armed means in “El Filibusterismo”. He entertained the thought of an armed uprising in toppling the status quo at the time. The ending sometimes served as a supporting literary canon to his observation that the Filipinos are not yet ready for an armed uprising.

The Spanish government at that time punished him by exiling him to Dapitan, thinking that the desolate condition in that place would crush his nationalist spirit. It didn’t work. Instead, he taught the youth how to speak Spanish and English as well as the liberal arts. He contributed in improving the lives of the townsfolk by engaging in agriculture. It was also here where he met his common law wife (the then acceptable term for “live-in partner”), Josephine Bracken. Here in Dapitan, he got the chance to escape with the help of emissaries from Katipunan, the revolutionary movement founded by Andres Bonifacio, in an effort to liberate the Philippines from the clutches of the Spanish inquisition through an armed uprising. Again, he reiterated his stance against the method, not the group, just so he could get himself clear about the issue.

Despite not wanting to have any of it, Rizal still ended up getting pinned for the revolution that exploded after his exile to Dapitan. A trial was staged despite everyone’s knowledge how the end is already predetermined at this point. He was condemned to death by firing squad on December 30, 1896.

Apparently, the only thing that died in him is his physical body. His ideas and literary works still remain to this day, the kind of nationalism that has sparked in me ever since I discovered my Filipino roots. I occasionally share the lessons I learned from him on my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and I would be more than thankful if you like it. Follow me as well on my Twitter account @kuyamanzano so we can interact in real time as well. I’d be expecting you. Gracias!

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Julie Borromeo Performing Arts – Meet The Family

February 16, 2015 Web Master

The reason I enrolled in the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation is simple. Maintaining a career in musical theater meant that the talent I have at the moment is not enough. Don’t get me wrong but in musical theater, you never stop learning. So I would take this opportunity to share with you how this institution would help even individuals that have decided to get into theater especially now that summer is approaching in less than 2 months.

If you want to make your summer worthwhile, learning new skills that fit your passion would be time well spent here at the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts. A learning institution initially put up by Ms Julie Borromeo as the Dance Arts Studio, it eventually branched out into teaching musical theater and similar productions. Let’s take a look into some of the courses offered:

– Social and International Ballroom

Why the word “social” into learning ballroom? Some would only like to learn some ballroom dancing so upon attending dance parties, they could at least bust a move, so to speak. Everyone enjoys dancing but would rather learn the basics first before using the innate dancing skills in mingling with the others.

As for international ballroom, with dancesport getting some Olympic exposure, if you have been dancing professionally, learning the competitive version of ballroom dancing would be an advisable upgrade to the talent you have at the moment. Doing what you love is fun. But getting recognized for doing what you love is better. So in case you wanted to level up professionally and gear up for the dancesport competitions, getting enrolled into this course is highly recommended.

– Fitness

Dancing as a way to lose weight has been proven as a fact for years now. Attaining an athletic body and admirable physique due to rigorous dance routines sparks interest in courses like this. At first it seems like you only wanted to enroll into this program for the sake of shedding off unwanted weight. But once people start noticing your slimmed down figure, they would start asking questions on how you did it. Of course the next sensible thing in becoming a walking advertisement for the school is referring more students to the same program that helped you with your all-new fitness routine. Sometimes, this program ends up becoming a decent springboard to another program offered in this school – street dancing.

– Street Dancing

You may not know how to break dance but you can at least dance. Not everyone can do back flips but some can manage to start learning on their own by doing the worm or the robotic dance. But some students enroll into this program knowing that having the talent is not enough. Raw talent, at the end of the day, is still raw. To nurture that talent, getting enrolled here would help you build the confidence you need in getting the dance moves right.

– Spanish flamenco

The kind of dance known more for its intensity and the castanets, it would be amusing how the intensity got into the equation for a dance genre named after an exotic bird. Perhaps the most common misconception about this dance is that you need to be angry or intensely emotional to get yourself into the groove. Maybe it’s the furrowed brows and the loud taps that come with learning the basics. But if ever there is one dance worth learning if you need to delve into Spanish culture itself, it would be Spanish flamenco. Certified Spanish instructors are available to even share you a culture that has been ingrained for centuries as they have experienced it.

– Tap dancing

And speaking of loud taps, we find tap dancing classes here at the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts as well. This course is also intense but more on the steps (pun intended) and less on the emotions if compared to Spanish flamenco. Some folks get interested after attending classes after seeing them first in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville may no longer be mainstream today but it doesn’t stop the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts from offering this course as there is still a number of enthusiasts willing to learn this art.

– Classical Ballet

Last but not the least is classical ballet. I have written about classical ballet before through this article. But the tips I shared barely scratched the surface on everything you needed in ballet. It’s a good start to learning more. And learning more would mean trying ballet courses offered in the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts. You’d be thankful to learn the grace needed in dancing with classical ballet to serve as your baseline in establishing a seamless performance once you are ready to take the spotlight.

Nice lineup, isn’t it? From the modern to the classics and everything in between, summer workshops that leaned towards infusing grace would mean upgrading whatever talent you already have prior to enrollment. Click here to check on their schedules since you would surely see a lineup that would fit your schedule. Other updates can also be viewed by liking their official Facebook page by clicking here.

And since I still attend some classes with them, the progress I go through myself would be shared as well. You can see them once you like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias.

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Maniya Barredo Atlanta Ballet – Meet the Family

February 16, 2015 Web Master

Looking back at how accomplished my aunt, Maniya Barredo of Atlanta Ballet, had become, I eventually got encouraged to attend ballet lessons myself. Since I want to excel in dancing as well, why not refer to our own family tree in order to get inspiration and positive motivation to keep practicing?

Her name was actually Honey Barredo, real name Josephine Carmen Imutan Barredo. She earned her stage name, Maniya, after proving one of her critics, Robert Joffrey of the Joffrey School, wrong. Joffrey then renamed her after the capital of the Philippines – Manila. After accepting an offer she can’t refuse, she took it and ran away with what she got and eventually become one of the first prima ballerinas the Philippines ever had.

She’s been dancing since 4 years old. She then earned a scholarship in New York and ended up becoming one of the resident dancers of Les Grandes Ballets Canadiens. It helped that some of her performances from Ballet Philippines are still available to view on YouTube like this excerpt of her performance in the ballet version of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”.

The colorful career she once lived as a prima ballerina is a goal that came with hard work, perseverance and guts. I mentioned guts since it takes a thick face to defy harsh advice such as ditching dancing for nursing. It must have really strengthened her resolve to maintain the scholarship she earned and keep on dancing until her critics eat their own words. The kind of adulation she then enjoyed in several performances of Giselle was enough to know how everything turned out to be worth it.

One of her signature moves in dancing is her fast “chaines tournes”. Better known in local circles as pirouettes, it refers to her ability to do a 360 spin as you saw on the excerpt. Her pirouettes are faster than most of her contemporaries, the kind that makes you wonder if she even gets dizzy at all. When they say that practice makes perfect, they didn’t realize quick enough that in ballet, it includes the ability not to get dizzy in getting those turns done on stage.

Upon retirement, she decided to use her talents to teach the new breed of ballet dancers. Her first days as a ballet mentor happened in Atlanta Ballet apart from the summer classes she facilitated with the Mount Dora School of Ballet. Today, she is the Artistic Director for Metropolitan Ballet Theater located in Alpharetta, Georgia in the US.

The same gift of giving life to characters adapted and created were also seen in her newfound role in the world of ballet as artistic director. Most excerpts of ballet productions were on the official YouTube channel of the MBT, a visual treat for everyone familiar with her dancing style.

But it’s still different when it’s THE Maniya Barredo dancing to the delight of her ardent admirers and solid fan base earned through the years. Perhaps the biggest advantage for her in maintaining the kind of talent that could get her as much as 20 curtain calls in one production is getting surrounded with people supportive of her art. Ballet is an art and she loved it. The kind of love she poured into her art is seen with her performances. The art form ended up loving her back through the adulation earned with audiences worldwide appreciative of her excellence. When one of the greatest prima ballerinas in the world, Dame Margot Fonteyn, gave her seal of approval upon watching her, you know she has “arrived”.

From the romantic innocence of Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” to the twin role challenge offered by “Swan Lake”, Maniya Barredo has polished her craft long enough to deliver memorable performances in any production entrusted to her as a ballet dancer. It’s the kind of talent that doesn’t happen everyday. She nurtured it well enough to find a way to share her gift with her students.

I welcome the pressure as a nephew and a fan. The road to greatness is paved with several challenges, either internal or external. When your drive to succeed is way louder than any negative feedback thrown your way, you are rest assured to succeed the way you envisioned it. And I will keep you updated with my progress as far as my ballet lessons are concerned granted that you like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Luis Manzano Biography – Meet The Family

February 16, 2015 Web Master

Discussing the Luis Manzano Biography is inevitable for me. Everyone I meet end up asking me several things the moment they learn that my name is Kuya Manzano. That should not be so surprising as 2 of my relatives were already well-known here way before I decided to stay here in the Philippines for good. So I might as well share how well do I know them.

Luis Manzano Biography - Meet The Family — Image from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Let me start with the most famous cousin I have so far – Luis Manzano. Well, that was not how he first came to prominence in Philippine media. It all started with a commercial that her mother, The Star for All Seasons, Ms Vilma Santos, got signed up for. It’s an ad for a major telecommunications company where it closes with the line “I love you, Lucky!” since her hectic schedule meant getting in touch with her son most of the time through mobile phone.

Eventually, the public learned who “Lucky” is. But the moment he entered showbusiness, he opted to go with the name “Luis”. I can’t blame him if he wanted to make a name for himself that will not get him stuck under the shadows of his famous parents, current Batangas Gov. Vilma and my uncle, Edu Manzano. Besides, he became known more as a video jock on the local music channel, Myx, and a television host.

Of course, the acting bug bit him later on as the entertainment industry is really in his blood. One of his first films was with Star Cinema entitled “All About Love”. Since then, he found a nice niche in comedies like “Ang Cute ng Ina Mo”, “Who’s That Girl” and “Moron 5 and the Crying Lady”.

He dabbled in acting n television as well and earned some roles that turned out to be memorable for him. 2 of the roles he bagged are in fantasy series like “Dyosa” (starring Anne Curtis) where he played a merman and “Flash Bomba”. “Flash Bomba” is a weekly TV series based on the hit comic series by Mars Ravelo where Luis played the title role of a superhero whose superpowers are extra big feet that made him jump high and extra big hands that produced thunder claps loud enough to deafen his opponents.

His most memorable film though is where he let himself get cast against type in the movie “In My Life” where he got to play the son whose homosexuality was not totally accepted by his mother. The mother was played by his real life mother, Ms Vilma Santos, and it made the film extra special. The person who played his love interest is one of the top box office draws in Philippine cinema today – John Lloyd Cruz.

In between films, he still gets into hosting gigs that get aired on TV. As of this writing, he is one of the hosts of Season 2 of The Voice of the Philippines, a hosting job he bagged after his gig at Season 1 The Voice of the Philippines Kids Edition earned good feedback. You can also say that he did a great job hosting “Pilipinas Got Talent”, a job he shared with his co-host, international pop star Billy Crawford. As quality hosting jobs eventually became his forte, he returned as a game show host upon the return of the hit program “Kapamilya: Deal or No Deal”.

As accomplishments come, most of them are earned from his hosting gigs. Accolades from major award giving bodies like the PMPC Star Awards for TV and Yahoo OMG Awards, a bright career ahead is secured for someone like Luis Manzano. Decent comic timing to go with a charming wit turned out to be excellent qualities worth emulating apart from a professional working attitude. No wonder his personal life is also rosy. Sorry to disappoint you, girls, but he’s already in a relationship with an award-winning actress nonetheless, Ms Angel Locsin.

Such are the perks of having a clan immersed in the entertainment industry. I feel so at home in this environment. Could I possibly be a topnotch host just like my cousin, Luis? It’s for me to know and for you to find out. You can keep track of that progress by liking my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and by following me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Andi Manzano Biography – Meet The Family

February 14, 2015 Web Master

I like my family. And I like writing the Andi Manzano Biography knowing how fun it can be to have a DJ for a cousin. I turn on the radio and all I have to do is switch over to 89.9 to hear her voice. So I might as well share what do I know about her.

Born Andrea Bianca Manzano, she was known on Philippine radio by her other name, Andi9, on Magic 89.9. Originally one of the hosts of Good Times with Mo Twister, she eventually got moved into an afternoon slot also on the same station. As of late, she is enjoying the married life with GP Reyes, as shown on her blog, AndiManzano.com. But since she is more known as a host, I chose to highlight everything great she did. Think of it as putting her hosting resume to the spotlight.

Magic 89.9

Currently a radio disc jockey on the upscale radio station Magic 89.9, Andi knows to keep her audience interested with that pleasant voice and friendly demeanor. And she has a good command of English with an almost neutered “twang” accent. Listening to her makes the day more bearable.

She can host a show on her own but it has become evident that she makes the hosting job more natural and extra entertaining when shared with another DJ. And she knew that having a co-host meant giving her the opportunity to talk too. It’s not just HER show, it’s THEIR show. So she doesn’t hog the microphone to herself.

This was evident whenever her co-host, Jessica, is delivering the Hollywood news on their program. Andi knew how to keep sounding interested without diverting the attention to her. She would comment in between but would limit it to a few words with respect to the news presenter. Once it’s her turn to talk in between tunes played and commercial breaks, the pleasant and friendly demeanor is still there, upbeat and perky just like how her audience loved it.

Hosting on QTube

The same upbeat and friendly manner she hosted her show was the same attitude she carried over to her light magazine show, QTube, from the now-defunct lifestyle network QTV (now GMA News TV). Since the crew already realized her strength in hosting for 2, she has a co-host for this show, Filipino Australian model Andy Smith. No wonder the blog version of their program was eventually named “The Andi and Andy Blog”.

Andi provided the perky vibes that fans were already familiar with except that they have visuals to confirm what they have been thinking the moment they heard her voice on air – she’s cute. Cute as a button but you already knew that hosting is not limited to being cute. You need to deliver the goods too.

As a host, she knew that it’s about presenting a topic or personality, if it’s an interview. She has a way to make a segment about the topic or person interviewed, not about her. I mean you can make her talk but she would make it less about herself and more about the topic. She knew that as a host, there is enough attention on her. Knowing that it’s her job to divert the attention to the subject at hand meant that she’s clearly aware of the priorities set in hosting a light magazine type of show. And she has a brilliant way of making it look spontaneous.

Hosting Gigs on MTV Philippines

Can she make her topics interesting even when put in a show where she’s the only host? Based on what was seen on her roadie type of show, MTV Full Tank, yes. And since travelling is included in the package, she would enjoy the scenes without losing track of her hosting duties. She didn’t mind getting taped with a DSLR camera hanging from her neck. All inhibitions lost in the middle of a hosting gig, everything ends up going as natural as it can get.

As a host, she’s very casual. She won’t let the hosting duties limit her from describing just the place and the things that she sees. She doesn’t simply describe everything she sees, she describes everything she feels including the joy of having that starfish on her hand. She would share the joy of getting submerged knee-deep into the water close to the rocks and make it sound like the best feeling in the whole wide world in the same manner that she can share the mixed positive emotions of holding a live crab because she can’t decide on whether to eat it or not.

The common misconception about being an effective host is speaking ONLY in English. Wrong. She would mention a few Tagalog words in between her spiels and would not sound awkward or forced. Well, compared to me, her command of Tagalog is pretty “matatas” (fluent). So hosting in English with a few Tagalog words only shows the kind of hosting talent she can provide for you. We’re in the Philippines anyway. Why choose between English and Tagalog when you can speak both?

Talent is really in our blood. And most of the time it’s not limited to only one thing. Some of them like Luis and Andi found their strengths in hosting. For events and bookings, she can be reached on her aforementioned blog, and her social media accounts – her Facebook, her Twitter, her IG and her Pinterest.

As for me, why choose when I can have all talents? I just need to keep harnessing them one by one. Of course you get to judge for yourself the level of improvement that I have reached so far. All you have to do is to like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias.

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Edu Manzano Biography – Meet The Family

February 14, 2015 Web Master

Most of my followers on Twitter know me as Edu Manzano’s nephew since I mentioned it on my Twitter description hence the Edu Manzano Biography. Well, I have been into theater for years now but it’s still a different world compared to the showbiz career that my uncle Edu still keeps. So before he got parodied in the Facebook page Putangina mo din, who is Edu Manzano as a film star?

Born Eduardo Barrios Manzano, he decided to go to the Philippines to try his luck in showbusiness. It is safe to say that he is one of the young Filipinos with American citizenship that thought of capitalizing their immigrant status to try acting.

The “Leading Man” Years

Gifted with good looks and a striking sex appeal, one of the film production companies that gave him the leading man break was Viva Films. One of his earliest films was the 1987 remake of Mars Ravelo’s “Jack and Jill” starring Ms. Sharon Cuneta and current Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. He played the role of the guy that converted the boyish Jack into a feminine figure later in the movie (not really a spoiler).

Most of the movies he got into ranged from romantic drama to romantic comedies. In “Nakagapos na Puso” (Tied Heart), he was one of the leading men where one of the major characters was also played by Ms Cuneta. In “Misis Mo, Misis Ko” (Your Wife, My Wife), his role is less villainy and more human as a husband who discovered that his wife started cheating on him in retaliation to previous affairs that the character had. Maybe the closest role he got to an action hero during the 80’s was when he played the role of “Captain Barbell”, the alter-ego whenever the lead character Teng Teng (also played by Bautista) would transform with the help of the barbell.

But the most memorable role he had in this era was his role as the clueless, nerdy conservative boss in “Working Girls”. The character is not gay, just a consummate professional. It’s one of the roles that I can say he really owned since he really provided the right facial expressions and nuances that the role needed.

If this served as the peg for the next string of movies for him to shoot, it seemed like just a wait-and-see thing for everyone. And just when you thought he would be doing adult dramas and comedies for the rest of his career, well the action movie boom of the 90’s came along.

The “Pinoy Action Movie Hero” Years

During the 90’s, his movies became mostly action-packed either playing the villain or the hero himself. He was not always the bad guy. In fact if you would take time to follow his filmography you’d realize that he did not fall into the cardboard type of villain where he shoots people and laugh maniacally as usually seen in portrayals popularized by Paquito Diaz and Romy Diaz.

The only movie where he was laughing as loud as he could was when he played the villain Conde in the action fantasy film “Dugo ng Panday” (Blood of the Blacksmith) opposite current senator Bong Revilla. In the same manner that not all roles where he sported stubbles meant that he played the villain, there are roles where he wore corporate casual attire while donning the villain role.

But perhaps what served as a peg for the admin of the Facebook page of “Putangina mo din” was the action movies where his characters always would cuss in Tagalog (the infamous clip “Putangina mo“), hence the name of the page. Most of the characters he played that cussed onscreen were the villains. Although some “heroes” in these action films cussed too, it doesn’t have the same effect when it’s the villains who do. It proved that action movies in the 90’s really served a niche where cussing is allowed. It’s a man’s world so bed scenes are already expected and he was no exception to that.

Almost Typecast as a Villain

In between the 90’s and the 00’s, even if the movie genre is no longer under action, the roles he assumed still leaned towards villain territory since he has become very convincing in it. From adult drama to comedies, the commanding presence and that deep voice helped a lot in coming across as a domineering figure in roles that he assumed.

In “Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero” (loosely based on the erotic novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”), he played a sugar baron with a trophy wife (played by Patricia Javier). He almost had no mellow moments except for those instances where he was sleeping with his therapist (played by Sunshine Cruz). But even when he’s trying to go mellow, the deep voice still exerts that authority. It made such roles effortless for him.

There are roles that I can call “almost villain” due to the circumstances that the character he played like in the movie “Minsan Minahal Kita” (I Loved You Once) where he played the estranged husband to the character wife played by Ms. Sharon Cuneta. And this is where you realize the evolution of roles he played throughout the decades. While his earlier projects with Ms. Sharon Cuneta earned him the role of the romantic hero, in later movies, he was either the estranged husband or the romantic rival villain. The latter role was seen in his action-drama movie with Ms. Cuneta entitled “Pangako Sa Yo” (Promise to You) where the romantic hero was played by Mr. Bong Revilla.

The other signature role that got stuck with him was his role as the estranged husband in “Separada” (Separated) where the title role was assumed by Ms. Maricel Soriano. While not many casual film goers will know the title of the film where they heard these lines, they would sure know that it’s the characters played by the former couple that uttered these lines.

Get out of my house! I don’t need a parasite!

“And I don’t need a part-time wife!

The title alone is a spoiler. But at least the estranged husband is not the cookie-cutter type of villain where he can’t do anything right. This might be his film that co-starred with Ms. Soriano where he’s the least evil.

The comedies he starred in this era of his career was very different to the uptight (but still funny) portrayal he had in “Working Girls”. Well I can say that his role in “Wanted Perfect Father” as villain to the character of then Comedy King, Dolphy, is also uptight but not intended much to be funny. His role as an erratic husband stuck in a stale marriage in “I Do I Die Dios Ko Day!” was where he really let himself loose as he was one of the top-billed stars in that film alongside Agot Isidro, Redford White and Babalu.

I then realized that, upon closer look, if his roles in action movies almost got him typecast into machine-gun-wielding goons, his most popular roles in drama films almost got him typecast as the bad husband. Either he’s a cheating husband (in “Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero”, “Minsan Minahal Kita” and “Separada”) or a full-blown evil spouse (in “Abandonada”, also with Ms. Soriano). While almost typecast, I can manage to say that not all the villain roles he accepted are the same. This is testament to the kind of acting talent that he possessed.

As of this writing …

He just went out of his self-imposed retirement and returned to ABS-CBN to give it another shot at making movies and TV series as reported by the Manila Bulletin. Previously, he was one of the hosts of the afternoon talk show “Face The People”. He also returned to acting in movie via the romantic thriller “Halik sa Hangin” (Air Kiss) starring Julia Montes, Gerard Anderson and JC de Vera.

Do I see a collaboration with him in the future? I hope so. It would be an honor to finally work with a man known for being a consummate professional and a dedicated servant to the people. We’ll never know. But there are ways for you to be constantly updated. Just like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @KuyaManzano to be constantly updated. Gracias!

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Shakespeare Best Quotes: Valentine Edition

February 13, 2015 Web Master

Valentine weekend is a good occasion to revisit the Shakespeare’s best quotes. For me to find a bunch that would tackle love in various forms would be natural as The Bard of Avon is known to have written some of the best love stories ever staged.

I would be classifying the quotes I have gathered so far including the literary gems from which they are sourced.

The Early Stages

Love is too young to know what conscience is.
– from Sonnet 151

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.
– from Romeo and Juliet

The lunatic, the lover and the poet are of imagination all compact.
– from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
– from Twelfth Night

Handling the Relationship

The course of true love never did run smooth.
– from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
– from All’s Well That Ends Well

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
– from Julius Caesar

But it is a melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundry contemplation of my travels, which, by often rumination, wraps me in the most humorous sadness.
– from As You Like It

The Folly of Love

Men are April when they woo, December when they wed…
– from As You Like It

A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
– from Much Ado About Nothing

There have been many great men that have flattered the people who ne’er loved them
– from Coriolanus

The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch
Which hurts and is desired.
– from Antony and Cleopatra

My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
– from Romeo and Juliet

Love is merely a madness; and, I tell you, deserves as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do; and the reason why they are not so punish’d and cured is that the lunacy is so
ordinary that the whippers are in love too.”
– from As You Like It

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.
– from Hamlet

Indeed there is a method to the madness called love – the same emotion that pushed Hamlet back into his madness. The same kind of madness I am about to assume once I get to play the title role this month.

Let this serve as an invitation to one and all. Catch Hamlet at DITO Bahay ng Sining. Click the poster to enlarge and see the dates. Ticket prices at Php350. For further updates, please like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

The Acting Motif in Hamlet

The official website