Well loved ABSCBN series "Tabing Ilog" will once again reprise the musical version of their show at the PETA theater in Quezon City. This is different from the 2020 version of Teatro Kapamilya, so do expect an entire re-telling of the story by director Phil Noble. This is written by Eljay Deldoc and will have a different take on both the storyline and music that talks about relationships, love, friendship.
Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Director Beng Santos-Cabangon says "It hasn't been a year when we worked with Star Magic doing Walang Aray, and now we are coming together to make sure artists are equipped with the best set of skills doing live at the PETA theater. It has been a continuing tradition, as it is a different time, but it's so nice to bring in a show in a coming of age series. I hope this brings forward how art and culture develops, this is a happy collaboration. Thanks for being here today!"
Direk Lauren Dyogi says "Maraming salamat to Direk Phil and Vincent to everyone who made this possible. This will be watched by more people, to hopefully talk about the issues of the new generation. We are excited to see Tabing Ilog the Musical on October!"
The run will begin on November 10, 2023 up until December 17.If you want to buy shows, call or email them via 09176373655 or tabingilogthemusical@gmail.com. You can also get tickets via KTX.PH (your ultimate key to various experiences online!) as it's all there!
When word got out that Star Magic artists Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada was venturing into theater, I was so happy to see them spreading their wings to try something different. Even with years of experience on workshops, TV and Movies, this was no ordinary feat as it is unfamiliar territory. The stage certainly asks for a different skill set especially for a new material like "WALANG ARAY!".
I watched with gusto last February 14th. It was a special screening on Valentine's day. PETA has certainly done a lot of hit shows in this joint but the pandemic has really made the facility go through hardships since they couldn't do a show. It was a proper comeback, an all original musical which tells the lives and love story of Tenyong and Julia. Alexa already had a solo number in the first few minutes which required powerful vocals from the Kapamilya actress, by any standards, she really did good. Theater requires a bit of strength, over acting, exaggeration so the people in the back experience the same show as with the people in the front. They exhausted establishing who she was, and their relationship. If I may, KD Estrada felt a little like a diesel engine that started to warm up. There are serious talk, but all of it was executed it with good comedic timing.
The play was based off "Walang Sugat" a Severino Reyes sarsuela told in a modern and funny way so it does strap itself to tell the revolutionary story and see to it that current, modern day comedy in a Filipino setting take the spotlight. Entertaining is an understatement, because you'll be surprised about the small quirks they inserted in each scene. The play takes a little over 2 hours to do but they made sure it wouldn't get boring in each scene. Much of the ensemble cast had their own time to shine, from their parents, the Friars, the other man, the house help, the fan girls, they got to play along with the audience without veering off the romantic angle they all needed to tell. Alexa took this by the neck and made the show hers. I've never felt so proud to see how she's become. She completely changed imho, and having this as part of her repertoire just screams she can do more. KD on the other hand used his charm much of his time in the musical, so try not to fall in love with him while he's in separate acts.
For the KDLex fans there (much like me) that I've spent hours updating on Twitter, there's certainly more content I've left out on the platform so you could have your moment to enjoy in the show starting today. There's a reason why there's a sold out crowd here.
If you haven't bought a ticket yet, you may get them via ticketworld.com.ph and see how it's funny, love story would make you agree it's fine to fall in love. Make sure you take the trip to Quezon City and watch PETA's Walang Aray on it's last few dates. This is directed by Ian Segarra and music is by Vince Lim, The fun choreography is also done by Gio Gahol, which he made really fun and interactive. KDLex will be appearing on 8PM shows on Feb.17-18, 24-25, Mar. 4, April 14-16, 21-23 and April 28. They have alternates Gio Gahol and Marynor Madamesila doing the other dates, both seasoned theater actors that can do justice to Tenyong and Julia's role.
This would be a dream for any KDLex fan, go watch it for them, and the love story they will tell.
Aicelle Santos isn't really new to the singing and performing. We've all loved her during her stints in the group La Diva. You might have missed her performing every week in Sunday All Stars or any program on GMA, but when she decided to turn a leaf and make her own path, she didn't know opportunities like these would open up for her. Aside from her great performances and awards in the critically acclaimed runs of "Rak of Aegis", she's now braving to have her own concert entitled "Class A" at the PETA theater on the 25th of February. She's also releasing a couple of tracks, hopefully an album too in the next few months. The concert too will be sort of her celebration, it's her birthday as well. It's the opportune time to do it, yes I believe it's her time!
Aicelle says "After the second run of Rak of Aegis, I thought of having a concert and do it in February so it coincides with my birthday. I suggested it to GMA Artist Center and they agreed, Stages came (production of Carlo Orosa) and it was conceptualized then. The guests, we started calling them one by one and they all agreed to take part in this. I am so happy because I will be with my Nanay Regine Velasquez Alcasid, with my Ate Kyla with my friend Gian Magdangal and with my idol and icon Ms. Celeste Legazpi. It's definitely is a concert where I'll be singing songs that would be really close to me, some even more musical in nature, but all the production numbers will have a bit of dancing.
It's a Wednesday and People Power day so I hope everyone would come. The songs really, would be a surprise. The guests. all really play an important part of my life. It's my personal favorites, everything was penned by me, the list of songs will be a story. It's the story of Aicelle, my journey, we'll go there. I consider the two musicals as my biggest break, I've known my self as a singer but with musical theater, it's a new thing, it's a wonderful thing to come back to. Rak of Aegis was a blessing because I won an award for it. I see friends per group, but usually on my birthday I just spend it with my family.
I actually was a littlekiligwhen I saw that Mr. Gary Valenciano told such wonderful things, when he saw me perform too together with Ms. Cherie Gil and other great actors, you would want to do more, it gets you fired up and get you inspired. You want to explore a lot of roles now, with the recent discovery of this path, this process, I want to do other things. You don't stop learning, I though I only was here on earth to sing, when I got to GGSS I even did Jaya. It's at that point where I want to try new things, I want to swim, climb mountains, things like that. TV, I've done small roles in soap operas, well in times that I didn't do any soaps I was busy with recordings and Rak of Aegis.
She gave us a short sample of what to expect during her concert, it's a surprise she says but we can always give her a nudge to let us know how it'll look like live!
Kapangyarihan ng Pagibig(Power of Love) is by Junjee Marcelo is so nice, it's got really good melody. It's out on itunes and other streaming sites, in a few months I hope it's going to be an EP, perhaps to be distributed by Ivory Records. I'm very hands on with this because this is self produced. It's a different sound and it's totally different with the La Diva vibe. I grew up with this vibe, with this sound. The EP will kinda sound like this and I hope people would go and download it off these sites. Valentines day I was with my family, about love, for now I'm very single but not really ready to mingle. I'm not dating. The track by the way is the power of love from the creator, from the one you love. It's a way of giving thanks, there are so many miracles in my family that I want to share that. I turned Christian two years ago and that made me realize a lot to be thankful for. I'm excited to hear what people would think. I don't think La Diva would be out for good, we're still friends. This doesn't mean we're not going to perform as a group soon, but we're all good, we're just taking time apart doing solo stuff which I think can be helpful to our careers.
For a newbie to be nominated was an overwhelming thing, usually you get to only receive things in singing but getting that was not in the plans. I pray for things to happen but I don't know in particular what will happen and when it does, it just startles me. I'm very thankful. This sound that you'll hear from my concert is something very close to me, I chose these tracks all by myself and I'm thankful for the composers for working for me. The song Liwanag is my own work, I wrote and put in music so you'll hear a piece of me when the album comes out too. I got frustrated going out in events singing foreign songs and a single OPM track so I made my own song. Funny, it wasn't a prayer but the feeling was, I had like divine intervention. I finished it the next day so it was quick, it only took me about more or less 20 minutes. I have others, but it was all about young love. For now I'm happy with how my career is going and I would love to perform with La Diva again, I think we just had to, I feel it was just time to make our own tracks. We all have our own taste, I just pray they like my singles. I hope someone notice how nice it is because this is what I do, this is how my sound is like now. I'd like to have a duet with Mr. Gary V, it would be a dream to have one with him. Also, Ms. Lani and Sir Martin. With singing, I'm really thankful for it and I hope I could do more theater stuff. I would audition for any role that would have a big voice. I couldn't handle anything too sweet, but I would do it too as a challenge. If given a chance, why not."
Then when I posted her wish on Instagram (because Ms. Angeli Pangilinan follows me there and on Twitter!), this happened!