Hiraya's new komedya

Hiraya Theater Company premieres its new komedya billed "Ang Kapid" at the EBJ Freedom Park at 8:00 PM on May 28, to open the National Heritage Fiesta in Antique. The three-ay festival culminates the month long National Heritage Month celebration.

The new komedya "Ang Kapid" takes the first act from Hamtic's "Lucibar Filomeno" presented during the Komedya Antiquena 2007. The second act was written entirely by Alex C. Delos Santos, who also directs the play. Original music is by Bimbo Muyuela, choreography of batalla by Mclaurence Saligumba, choreography of gallarda by Alex C. Delos Santos. Technical direction and stage management by Janice Matias, production management by Richard Magbanua.

Actors include Mclaurence Saligumba as Portivillar, Jaylord Bantolo as Lucibar, Richard Salameda as Haring Cesar, Leda Tongcua Samar as Reyna Judith, Jean Matias as Pastora Jacobina, Jayro Oriel as Leandro, Ronel Guangco as Arturo, Jan Fredrick Nietes as soldado, and Lozel Lacbanes and Aljean Manalo as dama.

Hiraya Theater Company's first komedya "Kasanag batok sa sugal" had a national premiere on February 15 last year, during the National Komedya Fiesta at UP Diliman. It has also performed excerpts at the National Broadcasting Network's Sining Gising program. The same komedya was also brought to Cebu for the One Visayas Arts Fair at the Cebu International Convention Center, Mandaue City.

Hiraya's other productions include "Fray Botod" and "Kahon". The theater company represented Antique at the International Theater Week and MDG Summit at Intramuros in March 2008.

"Ang Kapid" is Hiraya's entry to the Komedya Antiquena 2009. It is supported by Binirayan Foundation, Inc., Antique Provincial Historical and Cultural Council, Cindy's, Piedra Restaurant, Arjee's Restaubar, Christine's Grill & Resto, Bread and Butter, Chowking, Paul & David's Batchoy, The Pinnacle Suites & Functions, Balay Lokal, and Datu Lubay Center.

New resto in San Jose

Last night wiz magawa ang mga beauty namin ni Weng, kaya pagkatapos ng rehearsal ko ng komedya sa plasa, napagtripan naming magdinner sa bagong bukas na Dah-bah Resto sa Gobierno Street. Curious lang kami kung ano ang mahihita namin sa resto na ito at kay tapang-tapang tumapat sa classy Piedra Restaurant, at tumabi sa isang chipangels na videokebar.

Sa pangalan pa lang na Dah-bah (ganyan po talaga ang ispeling), may ka-OAhan na ang restong ito. Plus the fact na more than one year in the making ito, gamit ng indigenous materials pa. Talagang pinagtiyagaan ang disenyo nito. Mga Hunyo last year pa sinimulan ang paggawa nito, pero May 8, 2009 na nang nagbukas. This better be good, sabi namin ni Weng. Sa signage pa lang ay talagang malaki ang investment ng may-ari dito. Kailangan ng dalawang kongketong poste na bricks-finished para kumarga sa napakalaking panaflex na hugis daba o isang malaking palayok. Obviously dito nanggaling ang maarteng pangalang Dah-bah.

Pagkapark pa lang namin ay binati na kami ng isang murat na nakahotpants, at munti ko nang mabangga ang isang malaking clock gawa sa chrome, na korteng manibela ng barko. Seaman ang may-ari? Zigzag shape pa ang pintuang gawa sa kahoy. Ang flooring ay hindi kawayan kundi spliced na puno ng isang klase ng bungang sa bundok lang nakukuha. Ang interior walls ay puro bagakay, at pati ang shade ng lights ay pinag-isipan ding gawa sa kawayan. Ang mga bar stools ay complementary din sa interior, puro hardwood ang tables. Kaya lang monoblock ang chairs. In fairness, kulay tan din to blend with the walls. Kailangan lang palitan ang Chinese-inspired frame na mukhang binili sa naglalako ng pahulogan on weekends. Am sure mas babagay ang mga framed na larawan ng mga prutas o kaya pagkaing Pinoy, o eksena sa baryo. Kung kayang bumili ng Amorsolo mas bongga, pero kahit imitation o print na lang.

May mga tatlong tables na okupado na, isang long table na parang family affair sa right side pagpasok, may isang group ng mga utaw led by isang chub na later nakasalubong ko from the restroom ay barangay kapitan pala ng Tigmamale. Chika naman kami ng lola. Sa kabilang side ay may dalawang mamang nakasando, at mukhang kilala pa ako nung isa, so may I smile naman aketch. Sa gitna na lang kami umupo ni Weng, kasama ang anak niyang si Miko. Yung isang waiter ay kilala pa ako dahil estudyante ko pala dati sa St. Anthony's College. Lumapit ang isang girl para ipakita ang menu, na sinulat sa dalawang pirasong bond paper. Handwritten talaga. Hind pa daw natapos ang kanilang menu list. OK.

So ask ako ng specialty of the house. Wisnowang pa yung waitress so may I ask pa sa kitchen. Crispy pata daw, sabi pagbalik niya. Tinginan na lang kami ng mahadera kong kasama. Di ba Crispy Pata naman ang specialty ng halos lahat na inuman? Mother, wiz yata resto ito. Beerhouse yata. So check uli sa menu. We settled for steamed tilapia, pinakbet. Pinalitan ko ang unang choice na sinagang na spare ribs to sotanghon guisado.

Yung sotanghon guisado malabsa, at lasang sesame oil; nahaluan pa ng luya. Aksidente lang siguro sa kitchen. Sinabi ko yun sa waiterlu, na dali-dali namang pumasok sa kitchen. OK lang, nakain ko na ang kalahati bago ko nakagat ang luya. I like luya naman, pero never sa sotanghon. Yung steamed tilapia is smothered with mayonnaise. Siguro sa Valderrama bongga ang mayonnaise. Pero tilapia ang gusto naming kainin hindi mayonnaise. Pinahiga pa ito sa bed of shredded repolyo kaya may ka-cheapan ang dating, plus sa melaware na pinggang puti. It didn't help at all. Ang medyo winner lang ang pinakbet na nakalagay sa buong kalabasa. Bongga naman ito. Hindi palayok kundi kalabasa. We hoped lang na masustain nila ang supply ng kalabasang may ganung size. Paano kung tag-ulan na at wala nang kalabasa sa San Remigio o Valderrama - the vegie baskets of Antique? Pero ang lasa ng pinakbet ay puro ginamos. Ang verdict: kariderya ang napasukan namin.

Rooms for improvement: kung seryosong wholesome, family place resto ang drama nitech, pakipalitan naman ang song selection sa napakaloud na speakers. Dambuhalang speakers pa ang ginamit, lola. May sound system din yata sala. Medyo maingay na disco tune ang tugtog kaya nagrequest kami ng mellow music. Aba, sinalang ba naman si Josh Groban na ngumangawngaw ng "To Where You Are." Feeling ko tuloy necrological service ang napuntahan. Suggest ko maghanap sila ng CD ng mga guitar Visayan folksongs, para babagay sa ambience. Yun ay kung totoong restoran ang gusto nila at hindi beerhouse. Kailangan ding i-train ang waiterlu na huwag ngumuya ng kung anu-anong pinulot sa kitchen habang nagsi-serve ng food. Buti na lang may kagwapuhan siya. Palitan din ng mas mamahaling ceiling fans. Yung mga plastic na made in China ay di na iikot pag-uminit na ang makina.

Plus points: Malinis ang CR, may lababo for hand-washing (kaya convinced akong resto talaga sila).

Ang ending, walang kwenta ang dinner namin. Buti na lang marami kaming topics for discussion ni Weng. At cheap lang ang dinner. May sukli pa ang 500 na binayad namin. Pinatake-out ko yung kalabasa.

New EBJ Freedom Park

EBJ Freedom Park in San Jose, Antique gets a facelift with the addition of the children's playground, and a walkway lined with more benches.

The park is filled with children and park-goers every afternoon. It looks like San Jose is getting a more active civic life, which is good. I hope park-going does not stop with the opening of Gaisano Grand Mall in June. There is a plan to build a civic center for senior citizens. That is a great idea.

The landscape of EBJ Freedom Park has changed a lot from how it looked like in the 70's when we were kids. There used to be a huge Mango tree in middle, where the EBJ statue is now. People are happy that the swing, seesaw and monkey bars are back in colorful versions, and the cluster of slides are always full of children.

It is also worth mentioning that the streets around EBJ Freedom Park are filled with new establishments, like Mang Inasal in what used to be the old Chinese school, and the new RCBC and RML Manokan in the new building in what used to be old Coca-Cola bodega, where my classmate Joan Montinola lived.

The park was our only playground then. We lived along Carretas Street, now Governor Villavert Street, and all the kids in the neighborhood gather at the park after school. I remember my playmates Mark Pe, Franklin Pe, the Marquilleros - Joe Rey, Gemma, Sonia, Micmic Pe, Pokwang, the Granadas, and many others.

Joey Ayala at EBJ Freedom Park

Joey Ayala performs at the Saduk Stage of EBJ Freedom Park, San Jose, Antique on April 26 to open the three-day highlights of the Binirayan Festival. Governor Sally Perez, despite exhaustion from the long walk from Malandog to EBJ Freedom Park for the torch parade, stayed on until the concert was over. She even bought a CD and went backstage after the concert for Joey's autograph and photo ops. Joey has a new fan in Inday Sally.

Lori Ocario, first Ati Lin-ay kang Antique candidate

Si Lori Ocario, 17 from Tina, Hamtic is the first Ati candidate of Lin-ay kang Antique. She was candidate number one of LKA 2009. Lori is a student of Advance Central College. There was a second Ati candidate who represented Igbanos, Tobias Fornier - Michelle Ocario. But Lori was the first to register, so that makes her - technically - the first candidate. Throughout the pageant, Lori was relatively more popular than Michelle, perhaps because of her darker skin, curly hair, and sharper features. During the welcome dinner for the candidates hosted by Alex and Marlene at the Pinnacle Suites on April 19, Lori got the attention of the guests by sharing her thoughts about ladderized education offered by her school and for her candid after-dinner speech. At the talent competition on April 22, Lori was among the judges' top choices for her funny monologue. She was a natural performer. I was expecting Lori to be in the top five, if only for sympathy votes for the judges, but she came in ninth of the ten candidates. You could guess who came in tenth. Is Antique ready for a Lin-ay from the indigenous peoples?