The Actor

Teaching theater to senior high school students is fun but it’s not easy. It may seem so when you’re on the outside looking in, but it’s not. True, the course is heavy on performance activities, but I also always find time to talk to my students. I like talking to them about stuff like theater history, theater etiquette, acting techniques, and some great literary and theatrical figures. This is the part that’s difficult.

My students are very active; their minds are always picking up ideas. They like to be on their toes most of the time. They love creating. So, when we discuss something, the atmosphere is a bit different – not really quiet, but their energies are toned down a bit. As such, I’ve decided that the best thing to do would be to incorporate my discussions with the performance activities. Now, after every activity, I try to ask them questions and then insert a little bit of discussion. It works like magic!

I realize now that my students are true performers; they’re actors. They’re born to go onstage and face the spotlight. They’re born to entertain and satisfy audiences. They’re happy and fulfilled when they’re able to deliver a good performance. They know that every time they perform, the stage and the audience own them.

This reminds me of a poem I made back in 2016. This was for my friend, Donie Galigao, and his Dreamboard Artists. This is called “The Actor” and I think my students will be able to relate with it. Every day that I see them, every moment I spend with them, I cannot help but be amazed with how talented, passionate, and determined they are. They are the ones who make teaching theater fun and easy for me.

I dedicate “The Actor” to all my Arts & Design students at Liceo de Cagayan University Senior High School (Paseo del Rio).

When the lights turn on

All the faces I see disappear

It’s just me, the stage, and the lights.

And I begin to feel myself float

I begin to soar

I begin to reach new heights.

Every time I do this

I become a totally new person.

I become Juan,

Martin,

Luis,

Joe,

Andy.

I become somebody else.

But when the lights dim

I retreat backstage

Sometimes too tired to face the real world.

Up there, onstage, I could be who I want to be

Back here, I could drown.

Drown in loneliness

Drown in pain

Drown in fear

That people won’t like me for who I am.

I am not Juan,

Or Martin

Or Luis,

Or Joe,

Or Andy.

I am myself, the way I want to be.

There’s just one me

And I’m afraid it’s not who you want to see.

There’s just one me

Not the many faces you see onstage.

There’s just one me

I’m not the actor illuminated by the lights.

Sometimes, people forget me

Because all they see is who they want me to be.

But life is as it is

And the cycle continues…

I go up on stage

And the lights turn on again.

And I begin to float,

To soar.

I begin to become who I am not

Because it’s who the people want me to be.

It’s still months away (in January 2020), but I’m already inviting each one of you to watch our grand musical production entitled Manilla. We’re prepared to do six shows a week, so you’ll have several options to choose from. Watch our show and I’m sure you’ll agree with everything I wrote earlier. Watch our show and you’ll understand why theater is fun. And I’m sure you’ll then understand the beauty of The Actor.

Next week, I’ll still be talking about theater, but I’ll focus on sharing stories about my experiences in the hopes that I can inspire my students and other aspiring thespians (or directors, or writers) to hold on to and keep working on their artistic goals.