My very first connection with “Ang Kiri” was through my new found friend, actress Mara Marasigan. I never knew her personally but I know that we both came from Philippine High School for the Arts. Sometime last January 2009, I got a surprise call from Mara and she told me that her theatre group Dulaang UP was looking for a music arranger.

Ang Kiri’s lead role, Nathasia Garrucha as Sesang. Photography by Jojit Lorenzo

At first I was like, “Ok, another racket for me.” However, things are not always what they seem.

On January 25, exactly a month before the first showdate, came the first meeting with “Ang Kiri” director Dexter Santos and dramaturgist (google it boy!) Patrick Valera. I was expecting a couple of old “Mabesa-like” guys in the meeting. But I was surprised to see two young artists, probably just my age group (yes young pa po ako! haha) and I was caught off guard. From that point on, my usual stereotypes of theatre music arranging was erased. I was actually expecting that I will be asked to arrange the “old fashioned” way. Oh you know, a guitar here, some skin drums, and some 2-3 part singing, usual Pinoy theatre music style. But when Dexter told me that we are reinventing the sarsuela for the younger generation, I was totally into it!

That thought alone (and an acceptable budget, hehe!) was enough to drive me into a frenzy of non-stop arranging and composing for “Ang Kiri”. As soon as I finished my 1st arrangement days after the meeting, I immediately sent it first to Dexter so he can check if the style is ok. And when he liked it, I worked everyday with the goal of finishing one arrangement a day until I finish all 20+ arrangements. I was absolutely under pressure because the choreography, chorus and lead singers will all have to wait for my arrangements before they could start rehearsing. And so I did not blink at all!

A couple of weeks later, having finished more than half of the arrangement, I decided to drop by at the rehearsal for the first time. And after spending weeks like a hermit in my room just arranging for Kiri, I finally felt connected to the production for the first time. I met the cast and crew, and made new friends along the way.

When I saw the choreography, blocking and pacing of the whole show I felt selfish! I realized I didn’t give much of myself in my arrangements, the music I made suddenly sounded raw and bare so I decided to enhance every piece and made it sound richer and more vibrant later on. Just another racket? Not anymore! I said to myself, “This is now art.”

As the show date came closer, I attended rehearsals more and more, even if I really had no essential reason to be there. I want to feel the whole show as it grew bigger and better. And soon enough, after only 3 weeks of rehearsals, “Ang Kiri” was ready for public viewing. Even my band, Makiling, became involved with the show as live musicians. And the final result? Three showdates of a fully-packed 2,200+ seater UP Theater and a standing ovation during Day’s 1 and 3.

I’ve done arrangements for other musical plays before, but I never got involved beyond my job description as the music arranger. “Ang Kiri” is the first musical stage production I arranged that I really feel I belong to, and not just some hired arranger. And I’m very proud of it.

Thank you to everyone who worked with “Ang Kiri” and thank you very much for making me a part of the Dulaang UP family. Thank you Dexter and Patrick for giving me this great opportunity to express my music, thanks Mara for being the missing link that brought me on the fray, thanks to my bandmates for being part of the show, thanks to the chorus boys and girls who really gave a lot of effort to sing especially sa “recording artists” na nag-tiyaga sa init ng kwarto ko Nat, Cindy, Jeddan and Paj, thanks Camille for bringing me the essential materials right at my doorstep, sa “Haunted Piano” brigade, sa Volleyball Club’s Team Diwa at Team Dexter, at sa lahat ng cast and crew. Mabuhay kayong lahat!