Why Miguel feels he’s on top of the world

When theater actor Miguel Castro found himself posing for veteran and award-winning photographer/cinematographer Romeo Vitug at the roof of a building, he could only gasp, "I felt I was on top of the world, literally and figuratively. Besides, Romeo Vitug yata ’yan, so I simply followed all his instructions."

The pictorial was arranged by Miguel’s new manager, Bibsy Carballo, who also brought Miguel to the auditions for Floy Quintos’ classic St. Louis Loves dem Filipinos, the musical which opens Dulaang UP’s 30th season (slated for July 13 to 31 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City), directed by Alexander Cortez with original score by Antonio Africa.

Miguel, 31, has been in theater for more than two decades and it’s the first time he’s cast in a musical, alternating with Arnold Reyes for the role of Bulan, a Bagobo prince and warrior who, with other tribal Filipjnos, was plucked from the Philippine hinterlands and exhibited at the infamous 1904 St. Louis, Missouri, exposition in an elaborate show of American domination and imperial power.

No wonder Miguel feels on top of the world.

"He’s a good subject," said Vitug. "When I learned that my subject is a stage actor getting the biggest break in his career, thus feeling on top of the world, I thought of making him pose at the roof of a building."

Bibsy has high hopes for her new alaga.

"I felt that Miguel had ben around like forever and yet had not been given a chance to spread his wings, so to speak. He is no spring chicken and I knew it would be thrice as difficult as launching a young star. That’s precisely why I was challenged. And I do love challenges."

"Theater is where I feel most at home in," said Miguel (who runs his own papier maché business, making artistic scrapbooks, notepads, napkin-holders, etc.).

He got involved in theater as early as high school in Lipa City (where among his neighbors is one-time starlet Laila Dee) but went into it seriously when he joined Gantimpala Theater Foundation.

"I enjoyed it so much that I quit my studies at Lyceum where I was taking up Masscom," said Miguel who hopes to venture into movie-acting (he’s perfect for roles once monopolized by fellow theater actor Pen Medina who happens to be Miguel’s role model).

For the past decade, Miguel has been "at it" continuously but it’s only this year that he seems to have found his bearings. He tried his hand at directing in 2003 with the formation of Gantimpala Theater Now and the Filipino adaptation of Casa de Bernarda Alba which was so successful that it ran for two years. Then, he came up with Laro (directed by Floy Quintos), the gay version of La Ronde, which was also a commercial and critical success.

"With my entry into musical theater," said Miguel (who’s a deadringer for Side A drummer Ernie Severino), "I’m beginning to see the fruition of my efforts. I really love to sing, from way back, but no one seems to believe that I could do it enough to boost my confidence."

That is, until Bibsy Carballo came along.

"I did it on a whim," recalled Bibsy. "Somebody tipped me off that the casting for St. Louis was going on and we took a chance. I was pleasantly surprised when he landed the lead role."

(Note: Other members of the St. Louis cast are Jake Macapagal as the narrator Fred Tinawid, Mae Ann Valentin as Bulan’s wife Momayon, Rina Saporsantos and Agnes Barredo alternating as the Fat Lady of the circus Maude and Bon Vivar as President Theodore Roosevelt with Leo Rialp, Richard Cunanan and Jim Paolleli as members of the American contingent. For inquiries on tickets, call 920-5301 or 926-1349.)

Vilma The Singer

Did you know that Vilma Santos the "singer" has recorded 23 songs?

I got this interesting tidbit from reader Jeffrey G of New Manila, Quezon City, who said that Vicor Music has just released its 40th anniversary collecion of the Star For All Seaons’ pop songs.

"It’s a collectors’ item," said Jeffrey G. "It will make a Vilmanian feel good listening to those songs once again – and again. Those songs bring back beautiful memories."

Here are 20 of the 23 songs on the album:

• Sixteen

• Da Doo Ron Ron

• The Birds and the Bees

• Tweedle Dee

• The Rick-Tick Song

• When the Clock Strikes One

• Sealed with a Kiss

• Sometimes

• It’s Wonderful to Be In Love

• Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

• Bobby, Bobby, Bobby

• Breaking Up is Hard to Do

• Have a Good Time

• My Boy Lollipop

• Sad Movies Make Me Cry

• Mama, Don’t Cry at My Wedding

• Don’t You Break My Heart

• Mama

• Then Along Came You "Edgar"

• It’s Been a Long Long Time

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