SINTA 2014

Back at Dulaang Sibol

“Alalahanin, Gunitain...nang puso nati’y wala pang galos, pangarap nati’y wala pang gapos!” Those are just one of the few lines that Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan has embedded in my mind. SINTA, Mr. Pagsi’s adaptation from the Broadway play “The Fantastics” opened in 1975 and has run for hundreds of performances with most of the nights Mr. Pagsanghan’s daughter Stella playing the lead role adn Jimmy Hofileña playing Narding and Fred Ortiz as Matanglawin. As a matter of fact, the play was put into the big screen with Ariosto Reyes playing Narding.

Joji Quintos and Jocot de Dios as

Mang Anding and Mang Pedring

SINTA eventually recasted in the 90’s wherein the lead roles had Cholo Mallilin and Johnny Bondoc alternating as Matanglawin and Jimmy Bondoc playing Narding.  This year, the old and new members of the cast members of Sinta converge once again not only to reprise their roles but also to help out the Sibol Hesus School Foundation Inc. which was also founded by Mr. Pagsi. Sibol Hesus School Foundation Inc will be sponsoring scholars to the Ateneo de Manila High School and as Tito Lopez said in his speech before the play started, Scholarships don’t come cheap since the tuition fees of the Ateneo is now at P 150,000 a year while Miriam College runs at P 135,000.00 so if you do the math just having a scholar study for six years in the Ateneo will equal lots of money.

One of my favorite scenes

The February 7 and 8 playdates of SINTA had notable Dulaang Sibol Alumni take on most of the "age appropriate roles" with Joey Hofileña playing Matanglawin, Dr. Joji Quinto as Mang Anding, Atty. Jocot de Dios as Mang Pedring, Ali Figueroa as Redentor dela Rosa and Dave Ingles as Tibo. Veteran musicians took over the music of SINTA with Kedy Sanchez and Poch Ambrosio taking on the guitars. This was the February 8 playdate which I watched. The two remaining playdates will be on February 14 and 15, 2014 respectively. Tickets are included with each P 250.00 donation for the February 7th and 15th shows while P 500.00 for the February 8th show and P 1,000.00 for the February 14th Valentines day show. Donations outside of these are encouraged and will be warmly received.

Ali Figueroa as Redentor and Dave Ingles as Tibo

If ever there is a chance you want to help out and donate to the Sibol Hesus School Foundation Inc. directly you can contact either Dr. Jojo Mendoza (jojomendoza@yahoo.com) Dr. James Simpas (jbsimpas@ateneo.edu) and Tito Lopez (czlopez@gmail.com).   Donations can come even anytime since six years in high school will definitely need lots of money and the time to solicit money from family and friends will be harder since a lot of us have already given to various projects related to the Yolanda tragedy. A friend of mine once said that one thing nice about the Ateneo is that Ateneans take care of themselves and this is something definitely very "Sibol like" and definitely very "Atenean like!"   I am just lucky to be associated with Mr. Pagsi and the Dulaang Sibol family because it has helped me become a man for others.  So to my friends reading on, be the miracle and hope you can contribute to this cause.

 The music crew

Note from Dr. Jojo Mendoza (2/14/14): Due to the public's demand of SINTA, the show will be extending its 2014 run with new shows on February 21,22,28 and March 1, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Tanghalang Onofre Pagsanghan (Dulaang Sibol). For ticket reservations, you may contact Mrs. Sylvia Aldana at the Ateneo High School English Department, Cholo Mallillin at the Ateneo College Office of Student Affairs, Atty Tito Lopez at crzlopez@syciplaw.com or through Dr. Jojo Mendoza 0915-7871899.