Opening night tomorrow!

Why we think you should care

We are members of the Filipino-Australian community doing a play on the martyrdom of our Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, on June 17, 18, 19, and 20.

So what, you ask. Why should this be important to you?

Because a community is not a community without art.

Because decades ago, the first Filipinos settled in Australia. Several generations later, we believe it’s time we let people know our story.

Because our Australian-born descendants will someday ask, “Dad/ mom/ lolo/ lola, where did you come from?”

Because like us, Jose Rizal was an overseas Filipino who left his country to see what he could make out of himself.

Because were he alive today, he would marvel at those who have used their hard-won independence to build proud, contributing communities both in the Philippines and overseas.

June is Philippine Independence Month.

“Her Son, Jose Rizal”, directed by Armando Reyes is showing on June 17, 18, 19, and 20 at the Tom Mann, Theatre in Chalmers St., Surry Hills.

Tickets can be purchased at Ticketek.com.

Filipino parties

When going to a Filipino party, expect to be asked to provide entertainment. (If you cannot provide entertainment via singing or dancing, then bring food.)

Through time, you will realize the convenience of owning “minus-ones” of your chosen repertoire and having them handy at parties in case you are asked to sing (and for sure, you will be asked). 

At any Filipino party, there will be at least 5 people who are absolutely fantastic singers (and they’re usually the ones with the minus-ones).

There’ll always be ann older tito who will sing “My Way”.

Afterwards, the oldies will ballroom dance to classics such as “Shalala”, “Mambo #5”, and “Macarena”, while the little kids run around screaming, and roll on the floor. 

I love Filipino parties :-)

Who is Soledad Rizal?

This is the only photo I could find of the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal’s youngest sister, Soledad. There seems to be little known about her, save that she married a certain Pantaleon Quintero, also a native of Calamba, Laguna. 

She appears to be 6 or 7 years old in the photo, which doesn’t seem to say much about her either, but I like to think that I detect a certain quiet steeliness present in her facial expression, a trait unbecoming of the docile, subdued Filipina women of that period.

I’m playing the role of Soledad Rizal i our upcoming production of “Her Son, Jose Rizal”. What I wrote in the first paragraph above, and the old blurry photo are all I’ve uncovered of this mysterious lady.

Plenty of room for creative license, but I want to do her spirit justice even in a small way. 

If you happen to be in Sydney in June (which is the month of Philippine Independence and also Jose Rizal’s birthday), please try and catch “Her Son, Jose Rizal”. It’s a brilliant theatre piece written by late national artist Leonor Orosa Goquinco. 

The story is not a textbook account of history, but focuses on Rizal’s last hours before his execution, and his relationship with the woman who have him life, Teodora Alonzo. As Wikipedia quotes: “It reveals the emotions going through Rizal’s mother at that time and the similarities between Rizal’s life and that of Jesus Christ.”

We are a new theatre company, and this is our first production, hopefully the first of many more to come. I really believe theatre is a great way to promote community, culture, and art all in one. So if we can get lots of support, it can only get better and better.

I’ll be posting more about it when I know exact details, but for now I leave you with the dates and venue:

“Her Son, Jose Rizal”

Tom Mann Theatre, Surry Hills

Walking distance to Central station, ample parking

Playdates: 18, 19 & 20 June, 2010

*If you can find it in your heart to reblog this, please do!