The
rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle, or between La Salle and Ateneo has been
going on as far as everyone can remember. How this all began, no one can really
say. In any field of competition, the electricity of this rivalry sizzles,
permeates and explodes. This is most evident in every basketball game between
the two schools during the NCAA days and now, in the UAAP Tournaments.
This
rivalry has spread to include every area of competition.
And
now…..a group of very talented, professional stage group will stage a daring
musical depicting this glorious rivalry and hopes to hold the audience’s
interest throughout the 2-hour show.
This
idea germinated in the mind of Ed Gatchalian, who is the show’s Executive
Producer, Musical Director/Composer/Arranger/Orchestrator. Ed is also
co-writing the book and libretto with seasoned Director Jaime del Mundo.
Ed,
being a true blue-blooded Atenean from Grade School to High School through 2
years of College, knew what it was (and is) to live the rivalry. But Ed wanted
to be accurate, true and unbiased in his creation. So, he called on his friends
from the rival school to sit down with him and share with Ed what it meant to
be a La Sallite (as they were called during Ed’s Time). Three of Ed’s old La
Sallite friends (Juan Miguel Llamas, Tony Cervantes and Jimmy Morelos) provided
what Ed needed to progress in his story development.
Among
the many rivalry issues, the one that stand out are as follows:
1. Girls
2. Basketball
3. Girls again
4. Basketball again
5. Social Issues
6. Girls once more
7. Academics
8. Basketball
9. More Girls
10. And finally, Basketball championship
The setting is 1968, when Ateneo and La Salle were still part of the NCAA with other schools such as Letran, San Beda, Mapua and Jose Rizal.
The
story revolves around two families.
The
Basilio family, headed by Green-blooded Demetrio and his wife, Dolores. They
have a son, Tommy, who is the star basketball player of the La Salle Senior
Basketball Team.
Despite
belonging to opposing schools, Tommy Basilio and his cousins, Paco and Quito
Valencia are the best of friends. And faced with the possibility of playing
against each other for the NCAA Basketball Championship, Tommy and Paco seem to
be unmindful of this complication.
On
the girl issue, Quito has a silent love for a Maryknoller, Reena San Jose. This
very natural emotion attracts a very complicated situation, which we would like
you to know when you come and watch the musical when it formally opens.
The
closeness of the cousins is not shared by their fathers. It seems on the
surface that their long-standing personal feud is on account of their
respective school loyalties. But towards the latter part of Act Two, the real
issue was on account of how they dealt with a serious conflict in their
professional careers. Realizing the futility of prolonging the feud, they decide
to bury their hatchets.
In
Act Two, academics continues to seem to be a rivalry issue. Social issues also
awaken the sensitivities of both the Atenean and the La Sallite.
At
the end, the rivalry is clear…..the Atenean and the La Sallite have a mutual
silent respect for his rival, who he considers worthy enough to be a threat and
win the girl he loves, the basketball championship that he longs for, the
future job that he will desire….
In
effect, the cause of the rivalry resulted in the Atenean and the La Sallite to
excel in every field. The neutral group then brings up the question: “If as
rivals, you pursued excellence and became successful, what more if your were
allies?”
This
thought intrigues both camps. As they start to move towards each other in an
attempt for a hand shake, they quickly stop and say “No…this cannot be. Without
rivalry, there can no Ateneo…no La Salle! The rivalry goes on!!!” But what they
really mean is that without rivalry, the future Atenean and La Sallite will not
be as good, as excellent, as successful !
Winner
of the 2012 Broadway World (Philippines) for Best Music for a Filipino
Musical, “ RIVALRY: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical – The Second
Round ” is set to open on January 25, 2013 at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas
Center at 8 p.m.
The
much-anticipated return of 4th Wall Theater Company’s “ Rivalry:
Ateneo La Salle The Musical – The Second Round ” was written with 1968 as its
setting --- an appropriate time when Ateneo and La Salle were still part of the
NCAA together with San Sebastian, Letran, San Beda, Mapua and Jose Rizal
competing for the annual coveted title as ‘champions’ of the varsity league. Different issues were tackled like the parent
vs. child, the teenage boys vs. teenage girls, varsity games specifically
‘basketball’, love and courtship, academic excellence and sports, and other
related conflicts among family members.
The lead roles taking the centerstage are OJ Mariano as Paco
Valencia, the Ateneo star player together with Mako Alonso as Tommy Basilio,
the La Salle Star; Athena Tibi as Reena San Jose, the
Maryknoller who captures the attention and affection of an Atenean and a La
Sallite; and Red Concpecion as QuitoValencia.
Cara Barredo (Reena San Jose - understudy), Altair Alonso (Tommy
Basilio - understudy), Fred Lo (Quito Valencia – understudy) and Mayen Cadd
(Andrea Valencia) are the four new faces who will surely infuse an all-new chemistry
and onstage energy with the original and fellow Rivalry cast members.
The supporting cast includes Juliene Mendoza as Anton Valencia, Raymund Concepcion as Demetrio Basilio,
Sheila Francisco as Dolores Basilio; Joel Trinidad as the Ateneo coach and
Chino Veguillas as the La Salle coach, and a special appearance of Noel
Trinidad as Eliseo Genaro
Also featured are veteran theatre artists
Caisa Borromeo, Kyla Rivera, Kakki Teodoro, Robbie Zialcita, Jun Ofrasio, Steve
Conde, Will Angeles, Jenny Villegas, Diana Alferez, Angela Padilla. Bulinggit Delgado, Nelsito
Gomez, Bym Buhain, Mark Tayag, Kevin Concepcion, Andre Calixto, Fran Jose. Jay Pangilinan, Francis Jovina, Harold Cruz and Anthony Tarossa Ong .
Rivalry: The Musical was first presented last January 2012
and received unanimous praise from the audiences and the press for putting up a phenomenal original Filipino production
about the real lives of students and how they cope up with day-to-day family
rules and chores, school norms and academic proficiency.
The
artistic and creative team of “ RIVALRY
Ateneo- La Salle The Musical – Second Round ” is led by Ed Gatchalian (Musical Director, Composer, Arranger and
Orchestrator), Jaime Del Mundo (Book and Director), Joel Trinidad (Lyricist), Nancy
Crowe (Choreographer), Johnsy Reyes (Lighting Designer), and Lex Marcos (Set
Designer).
The
production staff is composed of Leah Reyes (Production Manager), Ems Bolanos
(Company Manager), Ed Lacson (Stage Manager), Ace Urieta (Technical Director) Roan
Cornejo (Deputy Stage Manager); Jeremy Aguado (Executive Asst); Toots Tolentino
(Publicist); JC Inocian (Photography) and Meynard Penalosa (Videography).
A
musical feast for every member of the family, “ RIVALRY: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical – The Second
Round runs from Fridays to Sundays starting January 25, 2013 until February 17, 2013. (Friday – Saturday at 8
p.m.; Saturday – Sunday at 3 p.m.)
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