Dinner with Apocalypto star

I had a midnight dinner with a friend Edward Perigrino, a Filipino businessman based in the US and who so passionately loves this country. He brought along a friend, Rudy Youngblood, an American actor, musician, dancer and artist.

Rudy was born in Belton, Texas. In 2005, he moved to Los Angeles, California after touring the US with the Native American Dancer Theater. Stardom came knocking at his doorsteps when he was selected by Mel Gibson to play the lead role of Jaguar Paw in the movie Apocalypto. To prepare for his role, Rudy studied the Yucatec Mayan language to effectively portray his role. When he auditioned for Apocalypto, he expected a lesser role but Gibson saw him as the perfect man for the job.

Rudy Youngblood is a star but in that small restaurant where I met him at 2 a.m., he was a boy of 29, gorgeous, kind and straight. He spoke and listened with same energy. He has a gaze that can melt the heart of a suicide bomber. He has a smile that can cripple propriety. He has a kind of warmth that makes you desirous of life. He has a handshake that makes you want to fight anyone in the name of love.

Welcome to the Philippines, Rudy. It’s more fun in the Philippines, I promise you!

Bed Scenes/Sins at The Library

My love as a gay man is not inferior to any kind of human love. I once told a friend who was in the dark about gays. He was born at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) still listed homosexuality as a disease. (The WHO finally dropped it from its list in 1992). With casual ignorance, he asked me what it was like to fall in love with another man. He was polite and not intrusive. He just wanted to know. It was a weird moment. I groped for words which I’m not used to. But nothing would come out.

How do I describe my love without being defensive about how homosexual love has been trivialized, criminalized, immoralized for centuries by bigots and homophobes who dictated the gender of the human heart? That was not the first time this friend of mine asked. I didn’t want to get into a nasty verbal tussle with him. “Why do you want to know?” I shot back, firm and probing but not adversarial.

He was quiet. This is when I told him that my love is not less than the love of other human beings. It is what it is for me, for him, for those who are brave enough to fall in love and those who are weak of the heart. It is the same heart that beats for all.

He listened intently to my rumblings. But the silence in between our words was tense and intense.

I decided to talk about Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. This was some 20 years ago. Today my friend doesn’t ask me this question anymore. He knows and he is happier.

So every time there is something, a lecture, a play or a book launch, that explores love among gay people, I, most of the time, find my way to it almost tagging along someone who is often confused about love and sexuality. Here’s one that you might just be interested to watch.

JNP Alternative Theater presents Bed Scenes/Sins featuring J. Dennis Teodosio’s Dapo and Carmi Martin. Directed by Bong Cabrera and Paul Santiago, the play runs at The Library in Malate, Manila on July 29 and Aug. 5 and 12 at 7 p.m. The two-part play talks about gay relationships.  

Dapo stars Andrei Vargas and Jay Enriquez and directed by Bong Cabrera. Dapo (in English, orchid) is about the blossoming of a young love. This is the first part in the trilogy titled Tatlong Bulaklak (UP National Writers Workshop, 2007). 

In the play, Rupert and James are inside a motel. Before the sun rises, they will return to where they first met. They will reflect on the meaning of their previous night together and what they have learned about each other from their romantic liaison in bed. Will they have a happy ending? 

Meanwhile, the play Carmi Martin is not a pun on the actress-turned-interior designer. In the gay vernacular, Carmi Martin means karma. The play is about Gabriel and Adonis. In their effort to learn more about each other, they talked about sex, economy, subtext and love. Carmi Martin stars Paul Jake Paule and Kyle Thomas David. Director is Paul Santiago. 

Carmi Martin was first performed at the Virgin Lab Fest 6. It received nominations from the 34th Aliw Awards for Entertainment: Best Play (Non-Musical), Best Director (Paul Santiago) and Best Actor (Paul Jake Paule).

For tickets, bookings and sponsorships, call JNP Alternative Theater or text 0939-9087633/0915-7694216. You may also call 415-6684.