World Youth Day (WYD) is a Catholic Church celebration pioneered by the late Pope John Paul II. The youth from different countries will come in the country who’ll host the WYD to have an overnight vigil. This year’s host is Madrid, Spain.
The organizers in Manila organized an event for the Filipino Youth to experience the WYD that will happen in Madrid to Manila. My school, St. Paul University Manila will be opening the pre-program of the said event. Since I was part of the official theatre guild of my school, Tanghalang St. Paul I did not hesitate to participate in this one-of-a-kind event.
The first proposed project was a skit about the history of the WYD celebration, but our director “killed” (a term used by the production team) the skit. Our director suggested “Jesus Christ Superstar” so that people will not bore.
Jesus Christ Superstar (JCS) was a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Thank you http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ_Superstar). Okay a musical. Okay I will sing? I will dance? I don’t know how to sing and dance! I know how to act. Maybe I know how to sing but the music hates me. I know how to dance but I am stiff. It’s a challenge for me. I always arrived at home late. 10:30 pm. I almost cry because I was really sacrificing a lot of time and effort and it seems my feet do not jive with the music. I have not internalized my “mocking angel” character well. I really feel so down.
General rehearsal came one day before WYD in Ateneo. We performed. My nose bled because of the heat. I was still the stiffest of them all. I felt like I was a burden in that group. I felt like I was the only one ruining the whole production.
I woke up at 4:00 in the morning of August 20. My mom drove me to school. I was really sleepy. Then we arrived at Ateneo by 7:30 (I guess something like 7 haha). I thought we will have a STAGE but it was just a stage (I know you know the difference ^^). There were 3 big screens and I wonder what will happen to me.
(this is the stage and it looks like a STAGE in this picture)
Then, we took a rest and we ate. SPUM provided our food. Lucky am I, the performer! :D After a few hours of waiting, my most awaited moment is coming. I don’t know what will happen. We did our FINAL blocking for the event. And make up :)
Introducing me as the mocking angel :)
But first thing’s first.
Our Paulinian Animators danced, and it’s like the program proper already. I saw thousands of youth and youth at heart dancing in the rain (How I wish to dance in the rain but I was not that immune to viruses). I was really happy to see them (the delegates from other schools) happy dancing in the rain and I was under the roof jealous of their happiness.
This is with the most kind, friendly and coolest nun in the world, Sister Vianney! Wacky shot :)
The whole cast and crew of Jesus Christ Superstar
(some of the pictures before the JCS production)
It rained. It always rained whenever TSP will perform. =) It was raining so hard. Seeing the people in front of me made me intimidated. So I looked at one person, and I think she is not paying attention to me but to other casts. As I estimated it, there were thousands of people watching.
What a relief. Performing in Ateneo in front of ten thousand ++ youth and youth at heart was a relief. It was more of sharing my not-so-good-talent-in-dancing-which-went-good charism. I was proud of myself because firstly, I fearlessly danced in front of many people. A lot of people knew that I was a bad dancer and dancing was really not my forte. Secondly I felt that we (as a group) performed GOOD (better than GOOD!) and lastly, I served God even though I was bad in dancing.
(our picture after the production with my ABMC-COM2 friends)
(Paulinian Animators Dancing)
Twilight came and Ateneo was really crowded. I never knew that some people where inside the Blue Eagle Gym! So there were at least 13-14k youth and youth at heart in Ateneo! I can’t believe it. The spectators saw the production; they saw me dancing with the wrong foot. Kidding aside, I was proud with the whole production of St. Paul University Manila because it’s like a mini WYD.
I was with my friends lying at a sleeping bag because I was really sleepy. I decided to sleep (or at least close my eyes). I really can’t sleep because I really can’t! HAHA. Then I watched the program and glanced at something, the media was heading towards our place. I realized that they were interviewing somebody. HE IS NOT JUST A SOMEBODY! He was Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. I was able to get a mano (sign of respect) to him. I feel so blessed.
Then I saw Chris Tiu. AFTER that, I sleep at the grounds. AFTER that, I woke up because of the people laughing. While my eyes were still close, I hear someone (a performer) cracking a joke and singing songs, then I was laughing while hearing him cracking a joke then I rose up. I saw Jimmy Bondoc then I chased him and got a chance to have a picture with him. He was really humble. He was perspiring and tired but then he still gave us a chance to have a picture with him.
That guy in white shirt is Chris Tiu (believe me!) I was quite near the stage! (that's the advantage of being a performer.!)
He was the reason why I woke up! :)
My friend Eunice, and I roamed around Ateneo and we ate and took pictures. I also bought a shirt from Ateneo that states “The Heart Bleeds Blue.” I already wore the shirt. I sleep again. I was hearing the mass then I never noticed that I was asleep on the grass. I rose up again when I heard the priest says “peace be with you”. I hugged my friends.
This is in the CR (obviously) new CR of the new theater building in AdMU
In front of the Blue Eagle Gym
(L-R) Yours truly, Louren, Camille and Valerie
Me, Camille, Val and Eunice
Louren, Me, Val and Eunice
Me, Eunice, Louren and Camille
The dawn broke. Seeing the sun made me happy because I was alive, kicking and happy for a new day.
"I'm not much for dancing but for you I did" - Last Kiss by Taylor Swift
My Version: I'm not much for dancing but for God I did! :)
The fruit of the production of my school, St. Paul University Manila is to share our talents to all the youth and youth at heart.
After few hours after the production:
I saw the article from the newspaper
Inquirer - mentioned the mini version of Jesus Christ Superstar! (3 minutes or less than 3 minutes of fame!)
