Thursday,  11:05AM, Abada Apartment

 

Text Message from Kuya Miguel:

"Good Morning Nadz and Lala. Enemy Re-run opens tonight! Kung free kayo, nuod na! Seven PM, University Main Theater. See you guys!"

My reply to Kuya Miguel:

"Wow! Tonight na pala ang much awaited and anticipated Opening Night ng Re-run! Sige, so far alam ko free naman kami ni Lala! See you!"

Text Message from Kuya Miguel:

"Aasahan ko yan! Malapit na matapos ang summer! Malapit na rin matapos ang domestic leave niyo so balik teatro na ulit kayong dalawa! Hay salamat, makakatulog na ako sa gabi!"

My reply to Kuya Miguel:

"Domestic leave?! Nakakaloka ka talaga! Yes, patapos na ang apartment renovations namin so makakabalik na kami. Relax lang, kuya ha. Mahina ang kalaban."

Text Message from Kuya Miguel:

"Yung saya ko, abot hanggang langit! See you guys later!"

Like Kuya Miguel, I was also happy that the apartment renovations were finally getting done. We managed to finish majority of the predetermined work with two weeks left before classes were scheduled to begin. 

Ang bilis talaga ng summer break! Biruin mo, parang kagabi lang kami nagumpisang maglinis, magwalis at magpintura. Kung titignan nga yung apartment namin ngayon, malaki na ang nagbago kaya lang halatang mga estudyante ang gumawa ng renovations; from the heart naman ang mga ito no! Ilang beses rin kaming nagalusan, nasugatan at may mga pantalon na kaming namantsahan ng pintura. Overall, I think we did a good job planning, executing and bonding over this summer project of ours. My organizational and planning skills were really put to the test! Kaso, nakakapagod rin pala magbuhay architect, contractor and construction worker in one! Salamat at buhay estudyante na ako soon!

Now that things are finally getting ticked off my To-Do list, there's only one thing left to do---Watch a play tonight!

"Nadine? Are you home?" I heard the main door close. Lala is home from her supermarket trip.

"Yeeeeep!" I went out of the bedroom to greet her and helped with the grocery bags. "Did you get the text from Kuya Miguel?"

"Oo naman! Game ako tonight!"

 

Thursday, 6:00PM, Inside the University Main Theater

"Guys, ganito ang buhay Front-of-House. Una muna sisiguraduhin niyong malinis at maayos ang loob ng theater. Yung mga silya dapat nakalinya. Buksan na ang aircon isang oras bago ang show. Iinit rin kasi sa loob ng theater kapag pumasok na ang audience." 

Kuya Paolo was giving last minute reminders to everyone especially the members of the Front-of-House staff. I was not part of the FOH committee but I listened anyway. According to Kuya Paolo, lahat ng members ng org pagdadaanan ang lahat ng committees. Nauna lang talaga ako sa technical crew. 

"James! Tawag ka ni Sir Abet!" Kuya Paolo looked at me with urgency. "May loose wire daw. Pakiayos naman. Thanks!" I nodded and left the group.

"Going back to FOH, sa labas naman ng theater, siguraduhin niyong kita ang posters ng palabas. Pati yung mga tarpaulines ng mga sponsors natin dapat maayos nang nakapaskil. Maglagay na rin kayo ng mga signs para may kaayusan kapag dumating na ang mga estudyante. Ayaw namin ng gulo sa labas at mas ayaw namin ng gulo sa loob ng theatro."

"Kuya Paolo, lahat po ba hihingan namin ng ticket?" One trainee asked.

"There are two kinds of audience members -- paying and non-paying. Yung mga paying audience usually mga estudyante yan dito sa university o taga ibang university. Bibili sila ng ticket kasi required sila manuod. Yung non-paying guest naman usually mga alumni ng org o mga kapamilya ng cast and crew. Tandaan niyo na lahat ng non-paying guest ay nakalista sa isang papel. Kapag may lumapit sa inyo mamaya at magdeclare na guest sila, hingin niyo yung pangalan nila at i-double check sa listahan. Mahirap na kung makalibre ang hindi naman dapat libre at vice versa. At mas dyahe naman ma-charge ang kapamilya unless ideclare ng kasamahan natin na gustong magbayad ng guest nila."

"So kailangan lang po namin i-double check sa listahan."

"Tama. Always double check the name so you don't embarrass yourselves, and the organization. May tanong pa ba? Wala na? Kung wala na, umpisahan na natin na mag-ayos. We have forty-five minutes 'til open house. Let's go guys!" 

 

Thursday, 6:30PM, Outside the University Main Theater

"Lala, can I just go to the restroom? I don't want to get the urge in the middle of the show."

"Sige. Bibili lang ako ng food sa cafeteria. Sobrang gutom na ako eh! Mamaya pang nine ang tapos nung show for sure." 

"Kita nalang tayo sa labas ng Theater?" 

After going to the restroom, I went to the nearest vending machine to get a drink for later. Bawal kasi ang drinks sa loob ng theater pero at least I can hide the bottle in my bag. During intermission ko nalang iinumin. 

"Nadine, is that you?" Someone was shouting my name from a distance.

I turned around to check but I wasn't sure whom it was. I saw Marrah run towards me. "Marrah!" Because of the light, I was sure it was Marrah, another orgmate of ours.

"O-M-G! Dito lang pala kita makikita! Teka, manunuod ka ba ng show?" Marrah was now one of the Stage Managers for this production's run. I think I owe her big time for stepping up to the challenge and filling in for us. "Grabe ilang weeks ka rin hindi nagparamdam at all! Girl, anong nangyari sayo? Sa inyo ni Lala?" I gave her a tight hug.

"Oo! Manunuod kami ni Lala tonight! Won't miss Opening Night no!"

"Buti naman no! Sa wakas nagumpisa na ang pagtatapos ng aking pagiging SM! Kayo nalang ulit please ha! Masyado pa akong rookie para sa ganitong trabaho."

"Relish it first my friend! Napaaga lang ng konti yung pagappoint sayo. Thanks nga pala for filling in for me and Lala ha. Don't worry, ililibre namin ikaw pagbalik namin two weeks from now! Teka, bakit nandito ka sa labas? Hindi pa ba open house?"

"Hindi pa. May ilang minuto pa. Ang gulo pa nila sa loob eh! May last minute reminders pa si Kuya Paolo dahil ang daming bagong recruits! Tsaka, may kukunin lang ako sa office. Marami akong naiwan na receipts na kailangan iliquidate, eh tonight na ang deadline nun! Anyway, magbackstage kayo later after the show ha! Ipapakilala ko ang bagong recruits!"

"Makikilala rin namin sila soon! Sige tignan natin kung may time mamaya!"

"Magkakaroon yan!"