Our Best Filipinos Reduced to A TV Entity

I was in an intimate cafe show last night with a presumably "The Voice" crowd and theater veteran actor Audie Gemora was there as well.

To regular local theater goers like me, Audie ranks there alongside our other musical theater greats like Lea Salonga and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. I mean, these guys can do anything and sing anything. They not only can act, they can also sing very well!

They have paved the way for the lively theater scene we take so much granted these days.

Kaya I was shocked when I was talking to one of the audience members and he remarked, "Ay di ba isa sya sa mga judges ng (forgot the name of the show)".

And I was like, ha?

It's like saying, "Who is Lea Salonga?" "Judge ng The Voice."

or even worse,

"Sino si Ninoy Aquino?" "Tatay ni Kris Aquino."

Some of the best Filipinos reduced to a TV show entity.

How sad. Di ba trabaho eto ng Social Studies teachers to tell students what these people have really achieved?

Oh well, at least Channel 2 is bringing them to the masses. The theater world is still so small kasi.

My Ten Favorite OPM Songs for 2015 #9 Audie Gemora and the Cast of La Cage Aux Folles

It's actually a pity that our local theater groups cannot release their own version of the Broadway plays that they do, because every year, there is always one or two musical theater plays where our local actors stand out.

This year, it's this song from the Broadway play, La Cage Aux Folles.

In our local version, Audie Gemora played the gender-bending role of Albin aka Mother while Michael de Mesa played George.  This is one of the festive songs of the musical.

Since I cannot record the play, you have to content yourself with this sanctioned version from the 2010 Tony Awards.  The spirit of their performance can be gleaned from this one.

I would still watch this musical even if they restage it!