AS AN artist, Vince Tanada is a playwright, stage director, actor, professor and lawyer. He started writing various plays in high school. Ang kanyang literary works included “Imelda, at ang Pagtataksil ng Panahon” (1992), “The Sound of Broadway” (1990),”Cain at Abel”, “Si Mildred at Brenda”, at “Hoy, Babae Ka Lang”.
Year 2001 nang itayo ni Vince ang Philippine Stagers Foundation (previously known as Dulaang Bedista Alumni Production), bilang president at artistic director. Nang dahil sa pagmamahal niya sa sining, tinanghal na Best Actor for Aliw Awards for Theater in a Musical in 2007 dahil sa kakaiba nitong performance as Ramses in the play O’ Moises at Best Actor in the 2011 Broadway World Awards Philippines. In 2009, he was awarded as Best Director for his work in the play he also wrote “Ako Si Ninoy, A Filipino Musicale”. The same play was also awarded as the Best Musical. Nagwagi uli siya as Best Director for the play “Enzo… Cory ng Edsa”.
After the big success of “Bonifacio”, kakaibang stage play na naman ang ihahandog ni Vince para sa mga Pilipino, ang “Filipinas 1941”. Ayon sa kanya, one week lang niyang ginawa ang script at couple of weeks niyang tinapos ang music ng play. “We will give you a spectacular musical experience that would show our history through the eyes of our countrymen and how the resilience of the Filipinos won the day for the Philippines.”
Nakaiintriga nga ba ang kuwento ng “Filipinas 1941 ? “It’s about the Filipino invasion of the Japanese. Ang nakakaintrga kasi, a lot of people now are expecting that we will pretend something which is far from what we did in “Bonifacio”. Kaya lang, when we did Bonifacio, I had artistic awakening. Sabi ko, kailangang ituloy ko pa rin ang advocacy na i-present pa rin ‘yung Filipino pride at saka ‘yung cultural identity natin.
“Kasi, if we just import Broadway, nawawala ‘yung cultural identity natin at saka sa palagay ko, ako na lang ang gumawa ng ganito. The rest of them, ‘yun “Wicked”,”Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”. So, bahala na sila du’n. Basta ako, I will continue with my advocacy to utilize theater art to educate people, youth, ganu’n pa rin. So, kung may kakaiba, siyempre, ‘yung istorya kaiba. Kailangang maging objective, inspiring our Filipino youth.”
“First time kasi, ‘yung “Bonifacio” talagang historical figure talaga ang nandu’n. Ang ginawa ko rito, I injected fictional character they relate to historical figure. Halimbawa, 1941, sina Manuel L. Quezon, sina MarcArthur, Jose P. Laurel, pinagsama-sama ko sila. Tapos, nakiki-relate ‘yung magkapatid, sina Felipe at si Nestor. They represent modern Filipino, ‘yung active na Pilipino na si Felipe at saka si Nestor, collaborator with the Japanese. In the end, magkakatagpo sila.”
Naikuwento ni Vince na magkakaroon ng international tour ang Philippine Stagers Foundation para sa “Filipinas 1941”. “Ngayon nga, makakapag-international tour na ito. Mayroon na kami, Quatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi show na na-close namin. First time na magkakaroon ng international tour ang isang play. ‘Yun ang main objective namin, aside to penetrate the school. We also want to penetrate Filipino community abroad. Ngayon nga galing ako sa Japan, isang punta ko pa roon, mako-close ko na ang deal. Ang isa pang gusto kong puntahan ang Hong Kong. Kasi we have a very strong Filipino Community in Hong Kong.
“Kasi ‘yung mga internatiopnal community abroad, kapag Independence Day celebration ng Filipino community, ang dinadala nila du’n usually, hindi mga artista. Sa ngayon ang dinadala na nila abroad comedy bar talent. I’ll try to convince ambassador of the Middle East na ang main objective, to entertain our Filipino community, but the most important thing, we will inspire them as well. Kahit nasa abroad sila, kailangan pa rin. So, ‘yun ang ating objective, to entertain and to inspire them.”
Habang nagtsi-tsikahan kami ni Vince, nagbigay ng kani-kanilang number on stage ang grupo ng Stagers na para bang nasa comedy bar kami with all the outfit, make-up with their golden voice. Ipinakita lang nila kung gaano sila kagaling as actors. Lahat puwede nilang gawin. Hindi nga sila mahuhuli sa mga stand-up comedian natin.
“Tapos, ang ginawa ko, ang pinag-tripan ko ngayon. Sabi ko, kung gusto nilang comedy bar, kaya ko ring mag-supply nu’n. After the show, ‘yun ang entertainment. Mayroon naman tayong parang comedy style na gusto nila,” aniya.
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
