Once upon a time there were 15 Ateneans who decided that they really liked Apolinario Mabini as well as music, so they decided to form a band and name it after him, shotening it to Apo. However, in real life, people must go on their separate ways. Danny Javier, who was not part of the original 15, joined the remaining 2, Jim Paredes and Boboy Garovillo, in the early 70s, during college. Thus, the Apo Hiking Society was born, making their mark in 1973 as they gave their farewell concert in the Meralco Theater.
Once upon a time, more than 4 decades and a half later, people from 9Works Theatrical just finished performing at a gig with Boboy. Little did they know, the wheels would start spinning for their 2nd original Filipino musical that night. The young but prestigious theater company, after all, was known for being made up mostly of Repertory Philippines alumni. It is no surprise that they are drawn to Broadway and English classicals. However, their collaboration with Sandbox Collective in early 2018 was a start of a new direction for the group. Mounting orginal Filipino musicals must've been interwoven in the threads of fate, because after that performance with Boboy, he casually tapped artistic director Robbie Guevara on the shoulder and mentioned having Apo songs made into a musical. "I was screaming inside my head, because I had more or less written an outline before that," said Robbie.
"Ever since 9Works Theatrical (9WT) was established, we already want to come up with new material, we already wanted to come up with new material, not just Broadway musicals," said Santi Santamaria during the press launch held almost a month ago. Since their partnership with Globe Live in American idiot, the telecommunications cmpany has always got their back. According to Denise Seva, the director of Globe Live, it has always been their advocacy to help out the theater and the live music scene. Joe Caliro, affirms that the Globe Team was hands-on in developing the script and the production design side-by-side with the creative minds of 9works. Santi affirmed that all the members of the APO Hiking Society were very happy to support the project upon the first meeting. They agreed not just regarding the use of their songs but also to rearrange the music to suite the material.
APO Hiking Society shared messages of
hope and optimism in the midst of dark times. Jim Paredes, Boboy Garrovillo,
and Danny Javier openly spoke up against the government when performing to
audiences all over the country, fully aware of the danger that they were getting
themselves into. Their songs such as “Panalangin” and “Show Me A Smile” served
as reminders of hope and steadfastness. The iconic song “Handog ng Pilipino sa
Mundo," which is inscribed on Our Lady of EDSA Shrine, was reportedly
written by Paredes in three minutes after he was inspired by People Power.
Director Robbie Guevara wrote the story
loosely based on the start of APO Hiking Society as collegiates at the Ateneo
De Manila University. Set during the era of Martial Law, Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!
tells the story of a motley crew of students getting ready to take on a singing
and songwriting competition. Their lives are seemingly carefree at first,
allowing them to focus on their music—which is undoubtedly good, but yet to be
discovered. However, their idyllic youth doesn’t last for long. Even if their
passion for music burns bright, life gets in the way. Despite the hardships, they emerge from their struggles to prove the power of
friendship and solidarity—which is what APO Hiking Society also shared with
Filipinos over the course of their long career. The group’s existence outlasted
Martial Law, and their music inspired people across various generations.
“We
captured in songs a lot of what it is like to grow up in the Philippines,” says
Paredes, who himself was active in protesting against Martial Law. APO Hiking
Society recognized the power of music to uplift people, which their songs
continue to do today. Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! pays respect
to that by reliving the songs onstage with a moving story which is about love,
friendship, overcoming obstacles, and the sheer joy in living in the moment.
More than a walk down memory lane, Eto
Na! Musikal nAPO! is a thrilling spin on APO Hiking Society’s songs by
musical director Daniel Bartolome. Featuring some of APO’s greatest hits like
“Pumapatak Na Naman Ang Ulan,” “Panalangin” and “Paano” among others, the
musical is a treat for fans and their families. Inspired by the early days of
the legends of OPM, the musical is a homage to APO and their illustrious
history. Even if you know the songs by heart, they won’t exactly sound the
same. “You'll notice right away that something new is added to the original,”
says musical director Daniel Bartolome, “…There's ragtime, swing, straight
rock.” The musical offers reinvented renditions of the songs with new and
unexpected arrangements that will surprise even APO Hiking Society’s diehard
listeners.
“Learning about this musical is really
exciting for us because there is nothing more pleasant than to have your body
of work through four decades be staged by a successfully-known production company,
and be given new life in a medium that we as a group have not quite immersed
ourselves in,” says Garrovillo. He originally suggested the idea of a musical
to director Guevara in 2013. “We also feel comfortable that our material is in
good hands. I’m more excited now to see the production fulfill their
aspirations and different takes on our music.”
Leading the cast is Mark Bautista who
has just returned from Seattle Repertory’s staging of Here Lies Love, together with Jon Philippe Go, Jobim Javier,
Alfritz Blanche, Jef Flores, Jon Abella, and Vyen Villanueva. Joining them are Rita
Daniela, Marika Sasaki, Sab Jose, Raul Montesa, and Noemi Gonzales.
Rounding out the cast are Gian Gloria,
Shalee Vicencio, Peachy Atilano-Guevara, Anton Posadas, Jourdan Bartolome, and
Derrick Gozos.
Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! is a brand new original Filipino
musical with music by Danny Javier, Jim Paredes and Boboy
Garrovillo, musical arrangements and orchestrations by Daniel Bartolome and
Orly dela Cruz.
Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! is written and directed by Robbie Guevara,
along with Jonjon Martin as dramaturg, Dingdong Rosales as assistant director,
Daniel Bartolome as musical director, PJ Rebullida as choreographer, Shakira
Villa Symes as lightning designer, Joey Mendoza as set designer, Eric Pineda as
costume designer, Dong Calingacion as technical director, Rards Corpus as sound
designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer, Ronan Ferrer as vocal
supervisor and Cathy Azanza-Dy as stage coach.
Heading the production team are
executive producers Santi Santamaria (9 Works Theatrical) and Joe Caliro (Globe
Live), with Globe Live Events Director Denise Seva, the 9 Works Theatrical Team
- Anna Santamaria as company manager, Jonjon Martin as PR manager, GM Hernandez
as marketing manager, Arma Bonilla as stage manager, Gian Nicdao as graphic
design manager and JC Inocian as photographer.
Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! will be shown at Maybank Performing
Arts Theater, Bonifacio Global City, on August 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 & 24-26,
2018, at 8:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, and 3:00pm on Saturdays
& Sundays.
For tickets, contact Ticketworld at
891.9999.
Official Hashtags: #9WTMusikalnAPO #GlobeLiveMusikalnAPO
Facebook: /9WorksTheatrical. Twitter
& Instagram: @9WTonline
Facebook & YouTube: /GlobePH.
Twitter & Instagram: @enjoyGlobe
A limited number of performances are
available for fundraising and block buying. Please contact 586.7105 •
0917.554.5560 • info@9workstheatrical.com.
Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! is a production of 9 Works Theatrical
and Globe Live, co-presented by FOXlife and FRONTROW, with MUD (Make Up
Designory) as the official make up partner, and CNN Philippines as media
partner. Special thanks to BGC Arts Center.
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