Let's Fall, Now.

faith, friends, family.the challenges faced by lgbt couples. watch it tackled in this wonderful stage play i thankfully discovered yesterday. :) super relate! 'hope you can see this also as it's not often we have a stage play about a gay couple here in the philippines.

not rushing you, but it's showing TODAY and tomorrow is the LAST showing at OnStage. Sad! i know! had i learned of this earlier i would have posted about this instantly. but i've been sick for the last two weeks. lea salonga plugged this in her inquirer column. please WATCH! and let me know what you think. if i have time, and err, money, will watch it again tomorrow. =)

Written by playwright Geoffrey Nauffts, “ Next Fall ” is an exploration of faith in a modern gay relationship involving Luke and Adam. So what happens when a Christian gives an Atheist the Heimlich? The play chronicles the five-year relationship of the gay couple as they wrestle with their respective demons. Timely and compelling, the play“ places the Proposition 8 controversy in a human context by exploring what it means to 'believe' in this day and age, and what it might cost us not to".

“Next Fall” is a romantic comedy, a tragedy, a family drama, an issue play, and a coming-of-age story. Whichever path you take into “Next Fall” - the notion of faith is central to the experience.

“Next Fall” won the 2010 John Gassner Award for Geoffrey Nauffts. In the same year, the play was also nominated for the Drama Desk Awards -- Outstanding Play; Tony Awards -- Best Play; Outer Critics Circle Awards -- Outstanding New Broadway Play.

full info -> here

Schedule/Venue

Onstage Theater
Greenbelt 1

2nd Level, Greenbelt 1, Greenbelt
Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St., Ayala Center
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

Saturday February 4, 2012
- 3:30 PM
- 8:00 PM
Sunday February 5, 2012 3:30 PM

Tickets are at P800, P600 and P400.

When you but at GB1, the ticket price left is at P800. But the lower prices are still available in Ticketworld.

modern women

Lez Pride

Something to cheer about! :) Rumored lesbian Eugene Domingo and lesbian role played by Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino both got nominated in the prestigious 6th Asian Film Awards. The former for best actress category, the latter for the best supporting actress category. Both also won in 7th Cinemalaya.

I was able to watch the film Niño in Cinemalaya and there was a scene that really cracked me up.

as background, Merced (played by Sharmaine) is the eldest daughter taking care of the family who lives in their uncle's old-rich house. Merced as a means of additional income, took in a nurse boarder, Kat. Below they were talking about a seeming clandestine incestuous affair between Merced's brother and their balikbayan cousin (daughter of the uncle).

scene: both were on bed, Kat massaging Merced's tired back.

Kat: Boarder nga lang ako rito, napansin ko na agad. Ikaw hindi?
Merced: Paranoid ka lang. Kasi may sikreto rin tayo.
Kat: (looks of realization)
Merced: Isa pa, hindi na nakakakilig isiping nag gaganon sila no. Matatanda na sila.
Kat: Sabagay..
Merced: Eh ano tayo?
Kat: Modern tayo no!

------------------------------------------------------
here's the article from Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Another Pinay in Asian Oscars

Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino joins Eugene Domingo with best supporting actress nomination

January 20, 2012 | 12:45 am

Apart from the two nominations of Marlon Rivera’s “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” another Filipino, theater stalwart Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, clinched a best supporting actress nod, for “Niño,” in the 6th Asian Film Awards.

Buencamino joins best actress nominee Eugene Domingo and best screenplay nominee Chris Martinez (both for “Septic”) in the honor roll. Three years ago, Gina Pareño won best supporting actress for Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Serbis” and her costar, Jaclyn Jose, was nominated in the same category.

Regarded as the Asian Oscars, the AFA will be held in Hong Kong in March.

When Buencamino heard the news from “Niño” director Loy Arcenas a few days ago, she was initially incredulous. “I didn’t expect it because, during the film’s screening at the Busan fest last year, my costars Art Acuña and Raquel Villavicencio were the ones who got noticed,” she explained.

She feels it’s a welcome development that theater actors like her and Domingo are being recognized in the mainstream— locally and but internationally as well.

“In the past, theater actors didn’t get meaty roles,” she recalled. But the indie film movement, she said, allowed them to break the star system slowly. “Uge [Domingo’s nickname] made

EUGENE Domingo

headway. She proved that theater actors can do comedy and drama.”

In her Facebook page, Domingo said that she is “honored” to be nominated alongside Buencamino. “Shamaine is one great actress,” Domingo said. “She is my senior in the theater… [someone] I’ve always admired.”

Domingo dedicated her AFA nomination to all her teachers at the Speech Communication and Theater Arts department in UP Diliman— including Buencamino, who taught there when Domingo was a student.

Buencamino also won best supporting actress for “Niño” at the Cinemalaya last year.

When she was nominated at the movie press’ Star Awards in the best supporting actress category for Joselito Altarejos’ “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” in 2008, the souvenir program stated that she’s a veteran in acting derbies.

“Actually, I hardly get singled out,” she admitted. Apart from Cinemalaya, her only other acting trophy was from Cinema One for Lawrence Fajardo’s “Prinsesa” in 2007, she pointed out.

A newcomer

She feels she’s still a newcomer when it comes to acting in front of the camera. “Some mainstream stars think one workshop is enough. But it’s a constant learning process. Until now, I still watch and study my playbacks. I get worried that my gestures are too big or that my face moves too much onscreen.”

SHAMAINE Centenera photo by rodel rotoni

Buencamino, who’s in the cast of the GMA 7 afternoon soap “Kung Aagawin ang Langit,” is optimistic that theater training and discipline will finally get affirmed with these recognitions here and abroad.

“I hope these honors will mean more acting jobs,” she quipped.

But will she attend the Asian Oscars in Hong Kong?

“I’ll be unemployed by then. I hope I’ll get another job soon, so I can afford to attend the awards show. It’ll be my first time in Hong Kong if ever,” she remarked.

quote in the moment

putsa! relate! wehehehe. ang sarap idelete ang number nya pero memorized mo rin naman. syeet.

or sometimes no reply pa nga.

quote in the moment

my coming out story

in my Diaspora post last year, i shared that my family's shrinking. not because we have midget genes, *ehem, 5'6 ang bunso namin* but because my sisters are leaving.

last dec.28, my sister from US arrived with her fil-am kids. i was meaning to come out to her first because first, her American sister-in-law is a lesbian lawyer with a partner of, gasp! 20yrs!. second, she's the most liberated among us. i think she's seen it all but my being gay. and third, two years ago, in her high school reunion, we learned with shock from her fb pix that she mostly had butch friends then. when we asked her of it, she simply said, "e medyo totomboy tomboy ako nung high school." mygawd! and we didnt have the tiniest clue of her dark past. haha. i guess gay secrets run in our blood too. i then planned to come out next to my sister who's going to migrate to Italy in the summer.

attempt #1
we were slouching on my bed, talking about various stuff while waiting for a sister to finish in the cr. since she's into lace and sexy stuff, i decided to give her the hides-nothing lingerie given to me by a friend from this blog. i would have kept it had it not been one size bigger. anyhoo, i started,

fw: this lingerie, it's a gift to me by a fan.
US sis: fan?
fw: oo, madami akong fans *not looking at her*
US sis: fan saan?
fw: sa blog.
US sis: give me the link, para may mabasa naman ako.
fw: err, *tension building on my throat* secret sya e.
US sis: *gave me the puzzled look*
fw: basta.

my other sister suddenly opened the door with a bang and announced, "am done, cr is free." US sis quickly stood up and left. and i was left hanging, cussing to myself for being such a coward.

attempt #2
last day of 2011, i asked my US sis and Italy sis to go out malling. i was imagining us three in a resto, the two of them on one side and i opposite them as i do the big reveal over pasta and wine. what happened was, US sis went to the salon to get her hair done, Italy sis to the other end of the mall to find kiddie clothes. and i was left in the middle, my cloud of a plan pffft! i just went shopping for clothes. when both sisters finally finished, i urged them that we eat, even though my tummy's full with tension already.

as we were eating, i kept practicing in my head what i will say -


am glad the three of us are together like this. it's been a while. *getting teary eyed* you two being the eldest of my sisters, i want to tell you something important. you see, *drumroll* i have come to fall for ... women. i did not plan for this. but i realized that i am happiest with women. i hope you don't think differently or lowly of me because i love you both...

with each bite and gulp, i stared at them looking for the perfect timing. they shared stories, kwentos of our childhood, laughter, picture taking here and there. i just laughed and nodded with them, the stories not really sinking in because i have a different story brewing in my mind. i look at them and they were happy, not a clue how uneasy i was in my seat. my nervousness eating away the words i wanted to tell them. i wasn't able to enjoy the food i paid for. i was quiet on our way home. partly mad at myself for another wasted opportunity.  why is it so hard?

attempt #3
first week of January, a promo fare to Italy was released. it will save my sister around P70k. the catch is, the flight is Jan. 14!!! it's barely two-weeks preparation for a migration!

Jan.6 i asked US and Italy sisters for us to spa. US sis went to a party with friends. Italy sis was tired. And i am in panic. hay.

Jan. 7,  I said to Italy sis that we go ahead with the spa sans US sis. I got home early, went to my room, texted her that she just wake me up once she's ready to spa. I woke up 10ish and went to her, but she's already asleep. :( The next day I asked her what happened. she said she was too tired already. :(( 

attempt #4
Jan. 8, Italy sis left to go to her home already to start prepping. :( US sis flew to Cebu and will come back Feb already. 

outlook is getting bleak. sigh.


Jan. 9-10 i texted Italy sis frequently, almost begging for a spa. she finally agreed! :) She said she has some errands in Manila and we can spa after.

Jan. 11 night, we went to Wensha. did the shower, jacuzzi, sauna, massage and then finally the shabu shabu dinner. i figured we'd be soo relaxed that coming out would just steam off from me like vapor. an hour later, no steam still other than that from the stew. each food i bite felt like a boulder being trapped in my throat. i felt soo heavy and my chest congested. totally not relaxed. dinner ended and still nothing. *frantic*

we took a cab. tension reached my head and it's pulsating, screaming, "JUST LET IT OUT!!!*

dang! no traffic. just when you want to slow down the ride. past the mall, it's just 10min away from our house. my heart felt like it's about to jump out of my chest and just strangle me for my stupidity.

5min away from home, left with no time and choice, i finally faced her.

fw: since aalis na kayo and five years ka pa makakabalik, may gusto sana akong sabihin sa yo.
Italy sis: *looking worried* ano yon?
fw: uhm, *pause* nagkaroon na ko ng relationships sa babae.
*fireworks! it's like new year's eve all over again*
Italy sis: babae?
fw: yes.*long explanation of lack of men to admire beginning with my father, relatives, the ex-bfs*

Italy sis: tama ka dyan.
..
..
..

*walking to our house *

Italy sis: hindi ka na ba magkakagusto sa lalake?

fw: i dunno. i fall for the person, not the gender. i am not closing my doors, but it is something i don't see or feel now.

****

at past 12mn on Jan.12, 2012, after several failed attempts, i finally came out to one of my sisters. what joyful and defining moment when she said, "ang mas mahalaga ang happiness mo."

Gayest Cities

mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the gayest of them all? the mirror, or rather The Advocate has spoken. The Advocate is a prominent publication for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities

 

1. Salt Lake City - dang! i was here two years ago! and only met one lesbian colleague. maybe the straights i was with turned the others off. hehe. i should seriously go back. :)

2. Orlando
3. Cambridge, Mass.
4. Fort Lauderdale
5. Seattle - well, Grey's Anatomy is here, where the hottest lez couple are. :)

6. Ann Arbor, Mich.
7. St. Paul and Minneapolis
8. Knoxville, Tenn. (Its main drag downtown is named Gay Street, by the way, but city fathers weren't thinking sexual orientation way back when that was done.)
9. Atlanta - i personally know one hot lez from here. tee-hee.
10. Grand Rapids, Mich.
11. Little Rock, Ark.
12. Portland, Ore.
13. Austin
14. Long Beach
15. Denver

full article here.

criteria used

if I am to have the top 3 Gayest Cities in the Metro, off the bat i'd say -

1.Malate ofcourse! - no explanation needed. okay, it's not technically a city, but hey, it's a gay city in itself. hehe

2. Makati - Burgos, Makati Ave. where the transgenders/sexuals seem to be the fave companions/friends of foreigners based on visibility. This is also where the coolest gay bar,Government was located, until A-Venue came to be and the covert club ceased to exist. sigh.There are loads of fab gays too from the corporate, including moi! haha.

3. Quezon City - UP Babaylan, call centers, Palawan club (gay bar), and other gay bars too.

i think i have to make a serious research and article about this. :)

happy moment 2

news flash! i just came out to one of my sisters and it was a success! :) ang saya lang! kumakabog pa rin ang dibdib ko as i type this. hehe. saka na ang full kwento at magtata-talon pa ko sa tuwa! hehehehe.