"I wanted be a doctor actually. It remains a slight regret. But I guess eventually at one point, di ko alam kung exactly kailan, I chose this path. It was I think connected to the poltical stance I took ad an artist that first made me decide eto yun. Kaya siguro di mawala kahit paano how I view art."
Fan girls of Paolo Avelino may not know him because he is not "mainstream", but he's been a household name in Philippine Theater for about a decade and a half. Now, why did I put the actor who plays the title role of Goyo and him in the same sentence? Simple. He wrote Goyo, which opens Sept. 5 in theaters nationwide.
Rodolfo "Rody" Vera started his theater career in 1976 and wrote his first play in 1979, eventually becoming known for his literary contribution and winning several Palancas, his first one being in 1992 for his play Kung Paano Ko Pinatay si Diana Ross and another material for the stage. Now, he's back setting the stage on fire with his powerful voice and rousing presence in Tanghalang Pilipino's musical Balag at Angud playing the lead role of Junyee, a Filipino protest artist and one of the progenitors of installation art in the country. The production directed by Audie Gemora runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16 at the CCP Little Theater.
The uncut version of the critically lauded Signal Rock will have its uncut version screened at the UP Cine Adarna on Sept. 4 and 5. Yes, he penned the screenplay about the Christian Bables-starrer which explores the life of Intoy and other residents of an island whose only connection to their loved ones who sought their fortune elsewhere is the literally a rock which is the only place in the island that has cellphone signal.
Ang Buhay ni Galileo, starring veteran director Joel Lamangan, was staged last November 2017 under the direction of Rody Vera and will run again at the PETA Theater Center on Sept. 28 to Oct. 7. Coinciding with the opening of the movie about the womanizing Gregorio del Pilar is the opening of a Pirandello play he translated for Dulaang UP, Anim na Tauhang Naghahanap ng May-akda / Six Characters in Search of an Author directed by its founding artsitic director, Tony Mabesa.
Vera's greatest achievement in Philippine theater is being the founder of Writers' Bloc which actively holds readings of plays for it to be further improved. This eventually led him to co-founding The Virgin Labfest (VLF) with Herbie Go, a yearly staging of new plays during July in CCP. He wrote the screenplays for the following critically acclaimed films: Die Beautiful (2016), Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013), Requieme! (2012), Niño, and Boses (2008).
Wait, did I say festival? Well, this is not his nor my festival but rather a "festival" because, really, how many people do you know who have 5 productions bearing their name being shown in a single month? Only Rody Vera can, for he is a rare gem in Philippine theater. A writer, director, singer, and an actor, we can call him a Renaissance Man without a single doubt.
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