In his ripe old age, something happened in the front lawn of CCP. Luis Yee Jr., popularly known as Junyee, the protest artist who can best be remembered for his installation Wood Things, has an epiphany and a near-death experience. He falls off the stage in 2007 during the launching of Angud: A Forest Once, a complex installation at the CCP lawn made with a thousand "anguds", which he was able to gather during the aftermath of typhoons Milenyo and Reming.
An "angud" is the part of the tree trunk where holes are drilled and that part with the hole is stripped, chopped and discarded. he depiction of this scene as the opening number titled Kabaliwan, of the Tanghalang Pilipino musical about his life, Balag at Angud, is rousing. This does not come as a surprise since the production is helmed by veteran theater actor Audie Gemora and starred in by literary genius Rody Vera, whose impeccable talent in performance has been underutilized even by his home theater company, since people associate him more with Palanca, The Writer's Bloc, and The Virgin Labfest.
Junyee, like the person playing him, didn't really care what people brand him as, as long as he gets to explore his passion as an artist. However, things didn't come easy. "His story will not only resonate with artists who faced insurmountable opposition but with anyone who chooses to follow his heart and live accordingly," said the director. It wasn't until 1970s, when he's already in his mid-thirties, that his talent as an installation artist will be recognized. However, he remained seminal until 1975, which was the year when he did Wood Things.
Balag "happened" when he was the art editor of The Philippine Collegian. This Tagalog word stands for a terrace where vines crawl. It's an interactive installation placed in the midst of UP Diliman Campus in the 1970s where you can hang different messages. It's also the title of the 3rd musical number shown during the press launch. "It's a way at that time for students to express themselves through art," said JV Ibesate, a member of the TP Actors' Company who always hosts the press events and who is a member of the production ensemble.
The 2nd musical number shown was Di Mapigilan, which highlights how he first encountered his muse, played by Bayang Barrios. Originally shown at the UPLB auditorium last November 2017 as Balag: The Musical, someone offered to sponsor it that's why it ended up on the professional theater stage. The set design will be done by no less than Toym Leon Imao, another prominent installation artist, the latter being the reason why Junyee chose him, aside from being a family friend.
At 17, Junyee's original artwork was already displayed at the lobby of the Palace Hotel. Seemingly a man ahead of his time, clients of the establishment thought of it as garbage, prompting his father to try to get rid of it. Their argument eventually led him to leave home and pursue his craft while earning his keep by taking on the job of a mortuary cosmetologist. After his father's demise, he shifted his attention to helping stabilize the family income, leading him to enter the fine arts program at UP Diliman when he was already 22 years old. There, Napoleon Abueva, Sr. took him under his wing and he was able to develop his own style.
An artist against all odds, his art manifests an abiding love of life, love of nature, love for country, love for art and love for family. In keeping with Tanghalang Pilipino 32nd Season's theme "PIlipino" the musical recounts the choice he made to follow his passion amidst opposition from his father and other naysayers who don't understand his art.
Artistic Team
Audie Gemora (Director)
Dodjie Fernandez/Upeng Fernandez (Music Composers)
Ava Villanueva Ong/Al Bernard Garcia (Choreographers)
Toym Imao (Set Designer)
James Reyes (Costume Designer)
John Batalla (Lighting Designer)
TJ Ramos (Sound Designer)
Datu Arellano (Projection Designer)
Doray Dayao (Stage Manager)
William Guillermo (Deputy Stage Manager)
Jonalou Fabon (Assistant Stage Manager)
Cast: Rody Vera (Junyee), Paw Castillo (Teenage Junyee), Dune Michael Garcia (Batang Junyee), Bayang Barrios (Musa), Krystle Campos (Batang Musa), Jonathan Tadioan (Luis), Mia Bolaños (Felisa), Zoe Delos Santos (Teresa), Astarte Abraham (Tess) and Noe Morgado (Napoleon Abueva). Ensemble: Raflesia Bravo, Sigrid Balbas, Cheeno Macaraig, Cyril Balderamo, Karl Jingco, JV Ibesate, Aldo Vencilao, Lhorvie Nuevo, Toni Go, Ybes Bagadiong, Monique Nellas, Eunica Pacia and Joshua Tayco.
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