Sleep? What's that?

(5:30 am)

Let it not be said my wee hours of this morning were wasted.

I greeted the second of this November with oh, nothing much, just a detailed six- (or was it ten?)page Methodology, and two hours of seemingly non-existent sleep. Mama mercifully let me sleep just one hour more before she roused me to pay our respects to our dearly departed in Loyola. I can't thank her enough.

And today? Starting from 11:00am yesterday to 5:30am today, It's been a nerve-wrenching comparative study between four versions of In My Father's House and profile composition for all six artists well into cockcrow. Aside from the usual three square meals and small bits of candy to ensure my sugar fix ( and coax out of me a sorry excuse for a smile), I've currently been running on nothing but eight cups of hot water, three cups of ceylon tea, and about forty-one tracks of the Beatles.

John, George, Ringo, Paul,
Bring us to Heaven, one and all.
Ringo, Raul, George, and John,
Rest this tired head I lie on.

At times like these, All You Need Is Love, Penny Lane, and Yellow Submarine is a comfort.

No, I don't think I'll be catching any sleep tonight. Er, today. Um.

-------------------------

(12:00 nn)

Try to see it my way
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong
While you see it your way
There's a chance that we might fall apart before too long
We can work it out
We can work it out

And we did.

An obscene amount of non-sleep can do things to someone's brain. On the other hand, it's sometimes best to asess your work priorities before going ahead and doing it anyway.

Lesson learned.

Observe.




Observe the estimated size and bulk of my thesis. If we do decide to include all the copies of the plays I've found, the interviews, and of course, thesis in question, the whole thing's gonna be this high. Observe, in reference, a regular-sized Dong-A gel pen.

It still wants a couple of thick, hearty chapters. Plus Reviews. Plus transcribed interviews. Plus DVDs of the Interviews. And the print out of this yours truly journal.

Oh. Wow.

Batteries not included.

Let's get this straight.

You're done with the first draft of your introduction, and your RRL (Review of Related Lit.), and you can't even get your Methodology straight?

What gives, man?

Er, well... today's not productive for me.

Not productive? More like too much TV. And Good God, your sleeping patterns are in-sane. No wonder your brain feels like it's gone through a blender and a beater.

Besides, Methodology shouldn't be too hard. Kwentuhan lang naman yan, right?

*Through gritted teeth* If you hadn't noticed, that is what makes me beat myself up, thank you very much.

*sigh, slaps forehead*

Nope, that's not gonna do you any good.

...

Alright. Re-think your strategy.

And for God's sakes, just do it.

See the baggy eyes.

Hello everyone.

After the birthday symptoms have finally worn off, I have finally begun serious work on my thesis, in the sense of turning it from proposal to thesis proper. Good.

Take note of time. also, take note of the fact that I cannot pull off the drunk driver's test, walking in a straight line. My knees are giving way with the sleepiness.

Yay.

Okay. Must... sleep... for... sanity...

... And we live on Avenue Q.

In a few more days, my life, as I know it, will soon enough come to a very quiet much awaited end.

That is, being 21.

For some strange reason, I get this feeling that... Do you ever get the feeling that for some strage reason, the cosmos is on it's painstakingly immovable route, just about ready to align and cause some great overwhelming occurence you can't control? Kind of like, you completely have no idea whether it'll do you a world of good or bad, but good God, you're going to face it head on, fists at the ready?

That's basically what it feels like now.

In a few more days, I shed my 21 title and scribble in a double double-digit in fresh-squeezed meta-ink. A new year in a hundred hours more or so.

Once again, Life cheerily comes up to me to ask me the question how I now understand is ebough to strike chaos in the hearts of men (and the eventual woman, and perhaps also in between).

Kamusta na?

I've had an swer ready and waiting for a question like this, tucked away in some unobtrusive corner of me. It's an answer I'm sure of, true, but I'm not sure Life would take it with any weight.

Well... I'm not sure.

Is it odd how I can say "I'm not sure" with such security? I suppose it's so because, well... I be pretentious with wisdom or sophistication or maturity. That would basically be lying and cheating myself. What good would come out of that?

I'm not really sure what's become of me. I can say that with the assuredness of being in one of Einstein's postulates: To someone riding on a vehicle moving close enough to the speed of light, time will seem to fly faster that to the stationary person watching the person on the vehicle. Lifetime Dilation.

But I do so enjoy the ride.

A few more things I am sure of. I cannot give enough gramercy for the blessings in my life that have come in all forms: people, situations, knowledge, wisdon, wealth.

There's so much more room to fill.

EEEEEYYAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!

Two significant reasons to scream about:

- my interview transcripts are finally done! (Eeyaaaahoo!) Save for a few additional tail-ends to attach, technically I can finally start seriously taking notes.

and...

- the deadline for my firsrt draft is next wednesday. (EEEEEYAAAAAGH! as in ... ARAY KOOOOO!!!)

must.... get... hold.. of... self....



Someone please tell me why I can do this.

DVD! DVD!

Good news, dear readers: I've finally managed to collate my video-interviews with our five playwrights into a DVD. Efficient, space-saving, high-tech. I think. ^_^ I'm glad to say the visual and audio quality is alright, or workable, at least. My fears were allayed scanning through a couple of interviews I'd feared the DVD assembler didn't capture in full or left one playwright's interview aurically mangled, but thank God, everything's fine.

I am so going to enjoy transcribing the interviews, yes I am. ^_^

The Universal Thank You.

I am happy to report that the last of the interviews have been conducted in the quiet of Ma'am Elsa Coscolluela's hotel suite in Ortigas. It was... a very rich, very contemplative way to end the long anticipation. The long-distance calls, the air-mailing, the prayers were worth it.

Ma'am Elsa had a very warm smile that morning. And her flowers were lovely.

There are just some little things, little momments -- a warm smile, a kind gesture -- that tell you it was, and will be all worth it.

Significant Linkage

Ang Mangkokolum.

Dahil astig 'to, p're.

Long-overdue update.

Dear Readers, please turn your attemtions to the new disclaimer button down yonder sidebar. Click, read, understand, reperesent.

Thank you.

I find as I go along my study, I see my history unfold before me.

I gain a deeper understanding for things because of my work. I find as I go along, I gradually cultivate a snese of history, depth, and respect for things that were. And for that I am grateful.

I gain a deeper understanding of the people I study. I find I listen intensely to the poeple I interview. There's this new-found respect for these artists, their literature, their craft, and their very own stories. Each occassion and each experience is ... something precious. There is a new-found respect for things that were, and I am grateful for that.

I am happy to report that I have already done three interviews, and am about to embark on three more. All in the same month.

In some strange cosmic manner of Divine Providence, I find Papa and I do not need to take a boat ride to Bacolod for Ma'am Coscolluela. Praise God.

For all these, I am grateful. and may this good karma trickle on until the study's final frution.

Interview the First.

This morning was the first of what I well beleive to be a long, enlightening, reavealing string of interviews.

At around 9:30am, I dropped by my dad's place to deliver the tripod and offer my backpack as additional inventory space. He would bring along and man the cam-corder, you see. In a few minutes, after a last check on our tools, we were off to the front of the Guerrero house.

The butterflies in my tummy were getting the better of me in the car.

We rushed up to the Guerrero, and said hi to Sir Alex. The audience for this morning's show were just about to enter the theater. My father calmly looked around for handy outlets and a spot with good lighting around the area; I scroured the place for two monobloc chairs. It was 10:00am; we knew Sir Floy could come right up those steps any momment then. any momment.

Fifteen minutes.
Any momment now.


Thirty minutes.
Konting hintay na lang, absolutely any minute now.

Thankfully, sir Manny happened by; he knew about today's interview, and what time it should have happened. He said hello, and asked what was happeneing so far. Soon as he learned, he fished his phone out of his sling bag and texted... er, something. a few minutes after, someone who introduced himself as Floy Quintos' highschool batchmate came up to us and asked if we were waiting for the same person. We came to know him as Sir Nick, and it looked like my Dad and he knew someone in common. Ah.

We both soon found out that Sir Floy had been stuck in a situation. He had just found himself inconvenienced of a driver, and said if he still found himself driver-less by 11am, he would hail himself a taxi.

So we waited some more.

Papa soon got the idea of having a veggie-pizza deleivered from Domino's to the Front of House. Why not? we were beginning to feel a little peckish, and some pizza never hurt anyone.

Mmm. Hot pizza. We both hadn't had pizza this good in a long time, and soon as it arrived, we fell on it with glee, munching to our heart's content in the Front of House. Let them watch, we were gonna have a big day ahead of us, soon as our quarry stepped up from the stairs.

After pizza, Papa took to the second floor AS corridors, looking for a suitable Arts Studies classroom to make sir Floy comfortable and block out the outside street noises for better audio. Thankfully, the janitress recognized Papa and let him use Room 221.

and sir Floy came up, in a slim black shirt, pants, black patent leather shoes, a studded leather belt, and brown-framed smoky shades. and a few apologies for his lateness on the side, but hey, the main thing's he's here, and that's what counts.

We three headed up to Room 221, and after a quick set-up, we began the interview. Sir Floy did work with Papa some time before, so I discovered, and mistook Papa for perhaps another friend of his who had planned to buy land up in Baguio.

Anyway.

The camerea rolled. The questions rolled. Theme for the interview? "There's no great shakes", Sir Floy would often say. Sir Tony and he were good friends, so there's no great shakes with how they worked. It was really a give-and-take thing; he's been around in theater long enough to understand and live that. When the play's concerned, with him it's always first to put his ego aside and do what's best for the play.

The interview was over in a quick fifteen minutes time.

He wasn't really a profile-person, in the sense that he didn't list or write down his achievements or so. And as his answeres reflect, he's not so much into details as he is for what works. Papa said the way he answers also reflects the way he thinks. I guess that's true for most people.

After a quick pack-up, Papa and I headed back to the car, and we both had sorbetes on the way out to PHILCOA. Truth is, Papa would have wanted to have fishballs by the college of Music, if only he didn't have so much work to do.

we contented ourselves with remeniscing old memories of picking me up from school at Grade two and three, crunching on our liquid-icecreamed waffle cones.

Quick update...

... since my Dad will be wheeling into the UP Shopping Center's Parking to pick me up, drop me off somewhere in Ortigas, and speed off to a gig in Shangri-La.

So far, I've achieved several profiles of Isagani Cruz, Domingo Landicho, and Elsa Coscolluela. Wonder of wonders, I've stumbled across Cruz's Josephine. Four plays down, one to go.

Yes, I've passed by the Palanca Foundation, and picked up my Copy of de los Reyes' Daungan... Laot... Daungan/ Rehas sa Tubig That's why there's one last to go.

So far, Sir Floy is up on Saturday, and Sir Tony is up[ on Monday. And I'd best prepare either way. I'm stoked, and I'm nervous.

Best we keep our fingers crossed.

So far, I've gone rabvidly a-hunting for that last play, and I've been vaulted to and fro from DUP to the Department and vice-versa. Well, not really vaulted, just passed. Sir Manny says, "go check the Department.", and Ma'am Edna says, "do check DUP". Either way, I've come up empty-handed.

Must concentrate.

Must finish reading whatever plays and profiles I've got, and well... we'll see.

Oh yeah.

I'm glad to say things are going spiffingly. (Er, is there such a word?)

As of this afternoon...

- a final format for the letter to our playwrights,
- a letter and a long-distance call to Ma'am Elsa Coscolluela (or at least, her secretary) in DLSU Bacolod,
- and best of all...


Sir Tony's okay for an interview on Monday, 9:00 am, at his house.

Another good thing: Sir Tony did happen by the Department, and did pick up the green package I sent him. He opened. He read. And had only one comment: I really didn't need to do two plays for one playwright. He advised me to drop the older play (Toreng Garing) in favor of the newer one (Elias at Salome: A Musical). He said, it was a much cleaner make.

*does a mini-victory dance*

So what I have to do now: read, read, read whatever plays I've already secured, much as possible secure the rest, come up with a good profile of Sir Tony, get myself and Papa's video-cam ready, get there on time, and hope & pray for the best.

Bristle, bristle, bristle. ^_^

Big Break

I have good news. and today is Monday.

As of Sunday, 5:00pm, I have finally confirmed an interview date with sir Floy Quintos: Saturday, 10:00am, Gurerrero front of house. Bring videocam.

Wow.

Up next for this week: a trip to Makati to the Palanca Foundation, a play consult with Ma'am Edna, and more thesis work.

*makes two thumbs up in the air*

Rain.

Today has been an emotionally-taxing day.

I'll just leave it at that.

Other than that, I finally got to give Sir Floy Quintos the letter and list of questions for the playwrights. Hopefully I'll recieve a response from him when Mama S and I go watch his musical. That's good.

Poor chap, he's lost his voice a while ago. Hope he's better.

The weather's getting to me.

Ganda ng update ko. ^_^

Magpapakabait na po ako. Pramis.

Kasi sayang na po ang oras na hindi koo nagagamit mg matino. Kung hindi ko pag-igihan ang pag-aaral ko, sayang din. Kelan pa ako makakatapos? Sayang ang kuwento.

Basta.
Magpapakabait na po ako.

Yesterday, I brought my iBook to school to continue working on the original St. Louis script. I also came to school to see if Ma'am Edna May was available for consultation, and if she was, I wanted to ask what happened to my play. and I find out... birthday po pala niya today. Demo, she won't come to school today. On the upside of things, at least she'll let me see her by Wednesday next week. That's good.

Last night, I finally got back to working on my notecards. Sayang din lang kung nakatiwangwang siya na parang naghihintay na ma-anay. Yak. Not good for a student working on her thesis.

And this morning, things have nicely begun to speed up. I've been constantly nagged for a whole weeek: I want to give Sir Floy Quintos a letter and a list of possible interview questions while he's still in the vicinty before I lose the chance to do so. I mean, he's practically been on the school grounds every show day since the St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos Musical opened, and I'd be a dummy to not take the opportunity. So, I will. By Sunday, hoepfully he'll be around too, and we'll try to ask when I might have the chance to interview him at his convenience for my thesis. Let's keep our fingers crossed, folks.

Next on the long-should-have-been-done list, I call up Palanca Foundation and ask for Miss Babes, just like how Dean advised me to. Miss Babes sounded sweet and accommodating on the phone, and she was nice to help me out with what I needed. She told me she'd prepare a copy of Dong de los Reyes' Daungan... Laot... Daungan for me, and I could pick it up anytime soon. Just in case I came by after office hours, she'd leave the copy with the guard and I could just pay for it there. I also asked if it would be possible to ask how I might contact the playwright, and she told me she'd put in Sir de los Reyes' contact number in with the manuscript. Wow. That's... certainly nice of them. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the people at Palanca would be this nice, but wow. I'm thankful.

As for Sir Tony's package at his pigeon-hole, it's still there, despite the fact I heard Sir Tony's baritone voice in the loft of the Dulaang UP office discussing GABRIELA with Ma'am Jose. Sir Larry, the clerk at the Department, told me it'd be best to just let it be; he'd come 'round the Department sooner or later, see it, and pick it up.

So, there.

Mega Update

Truth be told, it's not really a humongously stupendous post, save for the facts that:

- I have finally secured myself a full copy of the original version of Sir Floy Quintos' play, ...And St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos. And yes, I've already finished reading it through and through.

- I went to see the Musical version of above-mentioned play with my good friend Rosa, and we both got a kick out of it. I congratulated Sir Alex Cortez, the director, with a handshake, and Sir Floy Quintos with a great big hug. It felt good.

- I have finally finished my play and sent it to Ma'am Edna May's pigeon-hole, nicely ringbound and all.

- I thoroughly enjoy my current Phyisics lessons on lenses an vision. Yes oh yes I do.

- I've finally sent in a huge green expanding envelope to Sir Tony Mabesa's pigeon-hole containing... One: my letter addressed to him explaining what's happened so far with my thesis, a briefer of my new proposal, and permission to interview him on video; Two: a list of possible interview questions for him; and Three: a stapled copy of my new Thesis Proposal. God help us all.

- I've gone and checked at the Department with Kuya Larry the Clerk if either Professor stopped by and picked up and hopefully took a gander at their respective packages. As of late this afternoon, the answer is a Nay: Kuya Larry has not seen heel nor hide of Ma'am Edna May throghout the day (odd, considering she has three classes up for today, or so her schedule says), and Sir Tony is still busy as anything with his production in Angeles, Pampangga.

Which leaves me to wait.

On one hand, I am constantly nagged with the thought that if Sir Tony hasn't repleid to my letter in three weeks, I'll have to completely shift topics altogether. Oh Heavens no.

Then again, There's all that time on my hands to use well.

Ah-huh.

Tatay ko yan!

This Sunday saw a couple of crests go through the family, with me and my Dad, at least.

But first, news on Papa: Just in case you subscribe to The Philippine Star, nadyaryo po ang Tatay ko!!!

I recieved news of this only later this afternoon soonest I got home from my bi-weekly meet with my Grandmother at Robinson's Galleria. So tayo, lakad, labas ng bahay, bili. Basa.

Tatay ko yun! ^_^*

The article's about my Dad, Joey Valenciano, as the Sitar Man. It talks about his experiences learning to master the instrument in India at the age of 19. ('Wag ka, he actually went lived there all by himself. O, kaya mo yun?) It also talks about what he loves so much about playing sitar, alongside his love for jazz. You can catch him playing Weekdays at Bollywood in Greenbelt 3, just in case you savvy some Indian dining and great music to boot. (Sige na, pagbigyan nyo nang i-plug ko dito ang tatay ko; blog ko naman 'to eh. ^_^)

You can catch the article on page 14 of today's Starweek Mag. Or, if you prefer cyber-ink, you can take a look here.

Tatay ko yun. ^_^*

<><><><><><><><>

The other crest would have to be mine. Finally, after one month, nakaraos rin po: the second refurbished edition of my seventh (and good Lord, Final!) play is done. I technically exiled myself for one whole weekday yesterday just to finish the play, and yes, we are done. Fifteen pages all, sans Title page.

I had to show the manuscript to Mama S for editing and word choice fixes, and well, what can I say? The play got her thinking, and talking. I mean, I'm not sure if it has anything deeply philosophical or dramatic to offer, but in her own words, "it gives people something to discuss after seeing it". It's got her hooked, and well, if it has someone of her theatrical experience hooked, then I guess I've done my best.

Basta, masaya po ako.

Come Tuesday, I'llslip this manuscript into Ma'am Edna May's pigeon holeand listen to what she has to say about it. Then of course, ther'e still casting and rehearsals to think about, but let's worry about things when we actually get there.

Truth be told, I can feel the weight of the work slowly lifting off me, but I can still feel the heaviness none the less. Kung baga, Unbearable lightness. (Pasensya na po, Sir Milan Kundera.)

I just feel real good right now. Anticipating work with a steady head on my shoulders.

Another Side of the Stage

I find I may have to seriously re-think the way I handle my thesis.

A few days ago I ran into a good friend of mine, Kuya, John Lazam. As present, he's working on his MA thesis on the biography of Professor Tony Mabesa. After we exchanged pleasantries, we each asked how our respective theses were going. His was doing rather well, albeit a study subject with a flighty schedule( a directorial job in Pampangga plus rush alerts for tapings of a TV show). when I shared with him how my thesis had to ... progress in its own way, he advised me to include in my study The UP Playwright's Theater.

Why so?

One: The UPPT, as Kuya John briefed me on, is under the umbrella of Dulaang UP, as with Dulaang Laboratoryo.

Two: Sir Tony Mabesa himself found the UPPT. There's even a story to it. I'll try to look into it as soon as I can.

Three: It's here that Sir Tony has worked the most with Filipino playwrights, apparently.

Four: Nick Pichay's KOMEDI. KOMEDI presented three one-act plays directed by Sir Tony, and interestingly, the last one was written or tailor-made for Sir Tony. According to Kuya John who was there to observe the production process, the script went through a lot of changes over the discussions between director and playwright; the ending itse;f had come a long way from first writing to last.

What to do, what to do.

To be honest, the prospect of taking on more work in my thesis scares me. I mean, I imagine as my thesis stands there'll be many interviews to conduct, recorded plays to be viewed, scripts to be read, et al. With UPPT looming over the horizon, that will mean more work for the "In" box. On the other hand, this will mean if I pull it off well, my thesis will be comprehensive, seeing the direcotr-playwright relationship from both two sides of the UP theater spectrum.

I'm beginning to have this feeling that I owe it to my thesis to be comprehensive, even if it be the death of me. Which is good, in a way. It would be the right thing to do. I just wish it didn't sound so scary.

The Long Wait.

Hello, everyone. It's good to be back, or at least some semblance of it.

Thus far... I'm glad to say I've finally submitted my new thesis proposal (with major modifications from the last hapless one)and abstracts, and finally completed that incomplete grade. Gld to be done, we are. ;)

At present, I'm still struggling about my play. (Thank you, Dean, I still think of you.) A different locale, a different, closer time, the addition of a third essential character, but still the same two main characters. For now, it'll still be the same story, but I hope I can manage to coaxe it into better form. Or at least, something better. Well, we'll see.

How does a research facility based in desolate Antartica in the year 2025 sound?

Winding down.

Hello everyone.

I've spent my late afternoon today here at the Library, researching, jotting down thesis notes on index cards. I must confess something: I beleive I work better here in the Library than at home. sure, there's my oft-undisturbed room with a crane-lamp-lighted study table, but I find the Library so much more conducive to working on scholarly, er, work. The General Referrence Section is a favorite spot: High white walls, large open space high and wide enough for people's thoughts to swim freely inside the room without bumping into each other. and the quiet. Oh yes, the quiet is bliss.

I've come across the thought of the director-playwright-production triad. What fitting image? Mommy Playwright, Daddy Director, and Baby Production? Or Mommy Playwright huffing and puffing ang pushing for all its worth with Doctor Director in Delivery Room saying "Just a little more, I can see the head" ?

Wala lang. ^_^"


I'm hungry. Need to head home and buy popcorn.