FIDES CUYUGAN-ASENSIO, as Spy

MS. FIDES S. CUYUGAN-ASENSIO is an operatic soprano, actress par excellence, and librettist. She wrote: "Spoliarium," an opera with music by Ryan Cayabyab, "Larawan ng Kababaihan: Maskara at Mukha" with music by Dr. Lucrecia Kasilag, "La Loba Negra" music by Francisco Feliciano, and "Mayo- Bisperas ng Liwanag," an opera written for the Philippine Centennial with music by Rey T. Paguio.

MS. FIDES' career in classical opera spans more than half a century in various roles as singer, stage diector, librettist/lyricist, host and singer in long-running television shows, producer and mentor -- all to critical acclaim. She sang the major role of the ill-fated Dona Juliana in Spoliarium.

MS. FIDES is an alumna of the Philippine Women's University and the Curtis Institute of Music, Pennsylvania, and is currently Professor Emeritus at UP. She is also the Artistic Director of the Opera Guild Foundation of the Philippines and President/Artistic Director of the Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines.

JEANNELLE BIHAG, as Woman

JEANNELLE BIHAG

Jeannelle is a voice coach, singer and stage actress. She sang solo parts in Ryan Cayabyab's MISA in Spain and in Vaughn Williams' SERENADE TO MUSIC in Scotland with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, she was soprano soloist in Georges Bizet's TE DEUM held at the CCP with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

She is remembered as the Princess with the Golden Voice in Malaysia when she toured with the ROYAL LONDON CIRCUS "FUSION", a musical circus production by Paul L.B. Lee. She also represented the Philippines as a featured artist at THE TAIWAN INETERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR in Taiwan. As a recording artist, she interpreted the part of MARIA in the religious album HABILIN: ANG PITONG HULING WIKA NI HESUS by Bet. E. Montecillo.

As a stage actress, she played the lead roles as follows: as MAIEA in the fantasy opera WHY FLOWERS BLOOM IN MAY by National Artist Lucresia Kasilag and Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, as VICTORIA LACTAW in HIBIK AT HIMAGSIK NINA VICTORIA LACTAW by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, as CHAYONG in BAYAN, ISANG PAA NA LAMANG by National Artist Lucio San Pedro.

Jeannelle has also worked as a voice workshop instructor and voice coach at the ABS-CBN Center for Communication Arts, Inc., The Meridian International Learning Experience and GMA 7's Starstruck Kids.

EDWIN DECENTECEO as God

Edwin is a veteran actor on stage having performed various roles, both comic and tragic, in Shakespearean, European and American plays since the 70's at the University of the Philippines (UP) and elsewhere. Plays he has appeared in include, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, Tempest, All is Well that Ends Well, Fantasticks, Eugene O'Neill's Longest Journey into Night , Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, and Diary of Anne Frank.

At present he is a UP faculty member teaching clinical psychology.

RAYMOND ROLDAN, Tenor

Raymond Roldan is a singer, voice teacher, choral conductor and music arranger. A Bicolano, he was born and raised in Naga City. His elementary studies were at the Naga Parochial School, whose alumni include Sen. Raul Roco, Magsaysay awardee Jesse Robredo and baritone Jonathan Zaens. At a young age Raymond then wanted to be a priest and entered the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary. After four years he left, studied voice culture and finished a bachelor's degree in English at the Colegio de Santa Isabel.

It was during this time when he won first place in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1990, and was invited as featured artist in the National Music Festival in Iloilo City in 1991. After graduation he taught English Literature for a year at the Colegio de Santa Isabel and the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary. When he decided to pursue musical studies at the University of the Philippines College of Music, it was there that he embarked on a colorful musical journey as a singer, teacher and musician.

Roldan completed a course in Italian Opera Art offered by the Cursos Internacional de Canto Francisco Viñas in Barcelona, Spain, under the tutelage of famous soprano Magda Olivero. There he also competed in the prestigious FRANCISCO VINAS INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION with more than 200 participants throughout the world, and received positive comments from the Panel of Judges. He also was a finalist in the 1997 MARY GARDEN INTERNATIONAL SINGING PRIZE in Aberdeen, Scotland.

In 2009 Roldan was tenor soloist of Georges Bizet's TE DEUM with Jeannelle Bihag, Jai Sabas Aracama and the Manila Symphony Orchestra in MASTERWORKS, Ballet Philippines 40th anniversary presentation at the Cultural Center of the Philippines . Roldan also sang the role of Foresto in the Philippine premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's opera ATTILA, with Jeannelle Bihag, Rainier Cruz, Reuel Tica at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium, University of the Philippines. He was also featured in NBN 4 weekly show PACO PARK PRESENTS in celebration of Women’s Month with soprano Jeannelle Bihag and pianist Fiona Rivera, and the 2009 Philippine Independence Celebration CANCIONES ESPANOL Y FILIPINO concert at the Podium.

Roldan was music conductor of the musical FACES OF LOVE, performed at the RCBC Yuchengco Auditorium, Makati City. He is also slated to compose SONGS OF ST. JOSEPH, the musical with Fides Cuyugan-Asensio as librettist at the Meralco Theatre, Manila on November 2009 .

In 2008 Roldan was featured in the opera L'ELISIR D'AMORE as Nemorino, with Jeannelle Bihag as Adina at the University of the Philippines Dalisay Aldaba Hall, UP Theatre. He was also part of the 2008 WORLD VOICE DAY Medical City celebration concert with soprano Joscephine Gomez and baritone Vladimir Valera.In 2007 Raymond and his wife Jeannelle were featured as the SINGING SWEETHEARTS in the PRELUDIUM concert, together with the Choraliers, Bert Robledo and Dean Raul Sunico. He also sang the role of Marcello in Giacomo Puccini's opera LA BOHEME. It was the same year that the couple were invited to be part of the ROYAL LONDON CIRCUS as the Singing Ringmaster and the Singing Princess, where they toured parts of Western Malaysia together with their son Giancarlo Ray.

In 2006 Raymond and his wife Jeannelle were invited by the Amade Virlaine Foundation to perform in the presence of Prince Andrea Casiraghi of Monaco in his visit to the Philippines. The same year Raymond performed the tenor part in W A Mozart's opera DER SHAUSPIELDIREKTOR as part of the MOZART AT THE MALLS series at the Podium and The Block SM North EDSA together with the UP Symphony Orchestra, and the tenor soloist of the UP College of Music Christmas production of G F Handel's MESSIAH at the Nicanor Abelardo Hall. In October 2005 Roldan was featured in a solo concert at PACO PARK PRESENTS, where he performed arias from TURANDOT, L'ARLESIANA, L'AMICO FRITZ, LA BOHEME and WEST SIDE STORY. In February 2005 he was featured in the concert AN EVENING WITH FILIPINO TENORS: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL ARTIST LEONOR OROSA GOQUINGCO.

In 2004 he was seen with the best in Philippine Music Theatre in the 3rd NATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He is cast as the lead role of Tino in the Filipino zarzuela HIBIK AT HIMAGSIK NINA VICTORIA LAKTAW, written by Lucien Letaba and National Artist Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera. In 2003 he was chosen to be the tenor soloist of Vaughan Williams work A SERENADE TO MUSIC in the International Gala Night of the 2003 ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL with the Netherlands Youth Symphony Orchestra and the UP Concert Chorus in Scotland.

Roldan debuted his first solo international performance at the World View Festival at Sacramento, California, USA, with the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra as the soloist of National Artist Lucio San Pedro's SA DALAMPASIGAN. From then on he has worked with various music ensembles in the Philippines, among then the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Metro Manila Community Orchestra, the UP Festival Orchestra, the Crosswave Symphony Orchestra and the Velvet Mood Music Ensemble.
From 2002 till 2008 Roldan was voice instructor at WORKSHOPS@ABS-CBN, under the supervision of Beverly Vergel and Johnny Manahan, where he tutored up-and- coming talents of STAR CIRCLE and STAR MAGIC.


visit his website and blogs at
www.geocities.com/rymndroldan
rymndroldan.multiply.com
http://www.rayjenpopera.i.ph/

KOMEDYA SA PILIPINAS, Isang maikling pagtanaw sa kasaysayan

Sinulat ni WILHELMINA S. OROZCO

Ang paggamit ng entablado para ilahad ang niloloob ng taumbayan tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa ating bansa ay matagal nang ginagawa. panahon pa ng pagsisimula ng dantaong 1900 ang mga mandudula ay nagpapalabas na ng mga dula na tumutuligsa sa mga pamamalakad ng mga Amerikano at Kastila. Nguni't ang mga ito ay naglalaman ng mga simbolo ng mga nagtutunggaling puwersa sa lipunan. Seryoso ang mga dula subali't may mga nakanakang komedyang eksena. Pamoso noong mga panahong yun sina Pugo at Togo.

Samantala sa entablado naman ng mga eskuwelahan at sa mga syudad, ipinalabas din ang dulang New Yorker in Tondo, isang komedya tungkol sa isang balikbayan na mas Amerikano pa kaysa Amerikano pero kayumanggi naman. Nauso rin sa radyo ang komedya tulad ng Sebya Mahal Kita na pinalabasan nina Sylvia Guerrero at Eddie San Jose. Ang iba pang pamosong mga komedyante ay sina Oscar Obligacion, Chichay at Aruray atbp.

Noong panahon ng diktadura, ang mga kabataan ay nagpapalabas ng mga dula na dinadala nila sa mga palengke, sa kalye. Kadalasan ay slogans ang mga nilalaman nito. Ang katatawanan dito ay lumalabas sa paglibak sa mga tuta ng diktador na walang gawain kundi maging sunud-sunura. Pero hindi rin gaanong naging katatawanan sapagka't sa mas malawak na lipunan naghihirap ang mga tao dahil sa panunupil ng mga karapatang pantao.

Sa ngayon, ang komedya ay napapanood sa telebisyon. naririyan ang mga programa ni Michael V. at Ogie Alcasid, ang Bubble Gang na panakanakang naglalabas ng mga skits na may patungkol sa pulitika, subali't sa ngayon ay parang natigil na. Naririyan din ang mga domestic comedies nina Vic Sotto. Nasasapawan na ang mga nakatatawang programa ng mga telenovelas na kadalasan pa ay mga imported mula sa Korea at ibang bansa.

Kung minsan ay lumalabas din sa entablado sina Ai-Ai delas Alas at si Teysi Tomas na nag-impersonate ng mga kilalang tao sa lipunan upang maging katatawanan.

Sa larangan ng pelikula, si Ai-Ai pa rin ang bida sa mga komedya, na marahil ay namana ang kanyang pagiging komedyante sa mga "greats" tulad ni Chichay at Aruray na sumikat noong mga 50's at hanggang 60's.

Bandang 70's o 80's ginawang katatawanan ang isang artista na sobra ang dunong daw.

Sa kasalukuyan may mga lumalabas na katatawanan sa YouTube, si Mae Paner bilang Juana Change na nagsa-satire ng mga pulitikal na personalidad at mga patutsada niya sa mga karakter ng mga tao. Lumalabas na rin siya sa entablado.

Ang pagpapalabas ng WHEN GOD DISPENSES JUSTICE ay isang paraan upang mailahad ang mga saloobin tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa ating lipunan, ang palihim na panunupil ng mga kritikal ng rehimeng ito. Ito ay may kasamang mga kanta -- himig at titik pa rin ni WSO -- na acapella. Sana'y marami pang magsunuran sa paggamit ng pormang ito sa ating lipunan. May kasabihang, "laughter is the best medicine."

ARISTOPHANES, FATHER OF COMEDY

Aristophanes (Ἀριστοφάνης, ca. 446 – ca. 386 BC), son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus,[2] was a prolific and much acclaimed comic playwright of ancient Athens.

Eleven of his forty plays have come down to us virtually complete.

These, as well as fragments of some of his other plays, provide us with the only real example we have of a genre of comic drama known as Old Comedy and they are in fact used to define the genre.

Also known as the Father of Comedy[4] and the Prince of Ancient Comedy,[5] Aristophanes has been said to recreate the life of ancient Athens more convincingly than any other author.

His powers of ridicule were feared and acknowledged by influential contemporaries - Plato[7][8] singled out Aristophanes' play The Clouds as slander contributing to the trial and execution of Socrates although other satirical playwrights[9] had caricatured the philosopher.

The demagogue Cleon once prosecuted Aristophanes for slandering the Athenian polis with his second play The Babylonians (now lost). Details of his trial and punishment are not recorded but Aristophanes replied with merciless caricatures of Cleon in his subsequent plays, especially The Knights.

"In my opinion," he says through the Chorus in that play, "producing comedies is the hardest work of all."

-- Wikipedia

MS. FIDES CUYUGAN-ASENSIO