neon magazine
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Check out the latest in theater talk, student fashion, gossip, and sweet spots.TRANSCRIPT
hink about the first piece of chocolate that you ever tasted! Was it milk chocolate, dark or mint? There are a lot of varieties in which this sweet treat can be transformed into and in the time that we are in now, people have so many things going around their heads that they are able to make something new out of something that has been enjoyed for over a century, chocolates. These simple yet innovative sweets take a toll on everybody that tastes it. Every bite
takes them to a whole new world. This may be the reason why almost everyone seeks the enjoyment that it brings. This may also be the reason why Rina Avecilla, Val Lopez, Pinky Yap-‐Ortiz and Trish Malvar started a business that would take chocolate to a whole new level by incorporating them into out of the ordinary dishes.
Café Xocolat Inc. was made and established through the inspiration of the four entrepreneurs. They wanted to create world-‐class dishes that
would feature chocolate in pastas, bread, etc. in order to create delicious meals and desserts. They also went abroad to taste different kinds of chocolate dishes; their taste buds must have told them that they should open up a restaurant and use chocolate as the main ingredient. They all loved chocolate so much that they wanted to create a home-‐inspired business that would feature their favorite food of all and the great thing about this that it caters you in many different locations like Serendra, Eastwood, and Katipunan Ave. so you can be able to take part of their love towards chocolate.
Delectable and relaxing products can be most enjoyed whenever they are eaten in a place relaxing, serene, and a place like home. The great thing about Xocolat is that it is a house converted to a Cafe that has many different tropical ornaments and decorative items, which gives you a Mediterranean and Moroccan version of home. The establishment from a view outside is really just like a simple house with a Moroccan and Mediterranean twist and in result, passers-‐by, including you, may not be able to recognize the place quickly. Also, the parking spaces outside are not really conducive to cater a lot of people so if you ever plan on bringing
a car there, you should be the first one to flip the open sign.
he front porch truly marks the first impression of the place for the diners and food enthusiasts because it is the first thing that they will see and will be one of the first things that they will look at in order to judge whether to eat there or not.
The front porch is really inviting because it has classy mini dining sets combined with original wooden benches that can appeal to you if you are one of those who seek a relaxing time off. Also, there are different stylish, simple, and chic wooden planks with quotes that measure up to a person’s view of a good day. They subconsciously remind you to unwind and excite the positive side in you while reading each statement. Examples are: “Start the day right”, “Love spoken here” and “Live and Let Live.” All of which help make the experience there more relaxing because these simple yet influential quotes can perk up the day of a person, turn the frown of a negative person upside down, or even fill them
with positive and great vibes to start or maybe end their day.
Aside from the different wooden planks with quotes, there are also pots of plants and flowers that simply make the place more of like a beach hut where coconut drinks can be sold. They also give a Mediterranean feel to people, including you, because they can make them you like they you are in a beach smelling the fresh and pleasing aroma of nature coming from the plants and trees. Also, houses contain a garden or patio where plants and shrubs are presents and the establishment reminds the diners that they are like enjoying an afternoon at their houses. Aside from the good things that it promotes, it can also attract bees, birds, and other insects that may disturb you while you are relaxing and dining at the same time.
Aside from the exterior, there is also the interior of the place. The interior of the place at first sight is really cool and relaxing because of the operating air conditioner and the warm lights. The dining sets there are also appealing because they are made with wood and there are comfortable seats made for the satisfaction of those who will eat inside the establishment. One
thing noticeable about the room is that the chairs and tables are not uniform, meaning they all have different designs, which made it look diverse and creative. Also, they have these colorful paddles that hang on the wall and these made the place even more colorful and pleasing for your satisfaction. The room is also filled with the harlequin boards with the quotes mentioned a while ago and it has given light to the
room and made it more playful. Aside from the different ornaments and furniture that can be seen inside, the counter is also a highlight of the place and this is because of the different cakes, goodies, snacks, and the menu of the place. The different cakes were really eye-‐catching because of the different colors and descriptions. They mostly had chocolate incorporated in them because of the overall theme and concept of the establishment but there were also different cakes like Red Velvet and caramel cakes. The menus were also eye-‐catching because it was not the usual typewritten then printed one, it was chalk written on a board. This truly showed how creative they can be and how they can change the typical way of things and entice you to buy everything from the menu. Although the Café has good points, it also has the opposite like the off-‐putting
bathroom that looks like a prison cell. The lavatory is not suited for the relaxing ambiance of the place so it looks like a misfit to the whole establishment.
side from furniture and ambiance of the store, the main reason why people go there is the delicious and scrumptious food they serve. When my friends and I tasted some of the different pasta dishes like the Xocolat Chicken Pasta and the Chorizo Pasta Blanco, we were really blown away by all the flavors that those dishes gave us. The Xocolat Chicken Pasta is basically made up of cacao rubbed chicken strips tossed in a light cream sauce and topped with chocolate shavings. The pasta was also cooked to perfection and the blending of all the ingredients was just delightful. Even though it was pretty weird to hear chocolate and pasta together in its name, the Xocolat Chicken Pasta was truly an inventive dish in that café. All of us came to the conclusion that it was the most unique and delicious dish that we had ever tasted. Another was the Chorizo Pasta Blanco and this pasta was created out of chorizo, roasted capsicum, and white chocolate and all of these together made a perfect and savory pasta dish. Being new in the menu,
this pasta dish didn’t fail to bring smile to the people who tasted it since the chorizo is cooked to a crisp while the roasted capsicum just complimented the whole dish.
On the other hand, there was a dish with no chocolate component whatsoever and it was the Meaty Lasagna. This classic lasagna topped with creamy Bolognese sauce was really appetizing for the eyes and the mouth and all the flavors just burst on the pallets of curious food enthusiasts wanting for a simple classic, and meaty pasta dish. Another dish that didn’t have a chocolate component was the Herb Chicken Panini made up of lightly
cooked white chicken breast sandwiched with a pair of baked wheat bread and fried dilis at its side. This simple snack was really light and delightful and can be eaten by those cutting down calories and those who want bread as their carbs for a meal.
Although the pasta and the main dishes are stunning, the desserts are the common reasons why people love going back to the café. They feature different kinds of desserts especially cakes like the Xocolat Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and the Salted Caramel Cookie Overload. The Xocolat Cake is simply a chocolate cake but Café
Xocolat made their version of it and made a flavorful and sweet creation. Cita Alfonso, a chocolate lover and a returning customer of the café said, “It was really decadent. It has this fudgy middle part that balances the whole thing.” The Red Velvet Cake however was another story. Allison Julian, another dessert enthusiast said that she bought the classic red colored cake to surprise a friend and ate it on the following day. She found the cake as dry and had no taste whatsoever but despite this flaw in the cake, she still found it pleasing because of its appearance. The Salted Caramel Overload was also a favorite of Whenie Bautista, a lover of sweets, and she said that it has been the perfect combination of both chewy and gooey and the caramel just finishes it all. Also, she loved the overall flavor of the cake even though it is pricey and the café was not generous on the serving size of that
ruly, simple yet creative concepts can really innovate almost everything that a person sees or even tastes in this world. Chocolates are really simple and sweet delicacies and when a little twist is created on it, it can be incorporated in a piece that is so different yet familiar at the same time. Café Xocolat is an example of a
place that innovates and puts together lovely items and ingredients good on its own but better when mixed with chocolate. One might even say that it’s weird to put together pasta and chocolate together but sound and looks can be very deceiving.
ake a look at what you’re wearing. Now look at what your other college friends are wearing. If you don’t see a pattern, you may be wondering what’s hot (besides the weather) and what’s not. Fashion trends change and evolve along with the times; this can easily be seen among Ateneo’s college students. With lifeless high school uniforms gone, you might undergo the daily task of choosing an outfit that will get you through a hectic day comfortably and fashionably. While fitted jeans and v-‐necks have always been staples in Ateneans’ closets, NEON takes a closer look at what everyone’s been going for lately—yes, you guessed it— hipster fashion.
The hipster concept generally evolved out of a unique amalgamation of trends and subcultures from the yesteryears (Deleon, Jian, 10 Signs You Dress Like a Hipster). Hipsters and beatniks from previous generations (the mid or late twentieth century) were artsy people who dressed differently from the current or mainstream styles. They even bought their clothes from thrift stores or hand-‐made them, whichever they thought was cooler. These people practically exuded an aura of peace and were probably fans of cafes, books, photography and just about anything indie. If it isn’t famous, then it’s definitely hipster. The hipster movement basically began in the forties or fifties and followers were sometimes stereotyped negatively.
They could be considered as druggies, drunks and even delusional free-‐loaders (Hipster Style Then and Now, modera.co/blog). Some of these people really dig the whole “au natural” effect, which can explain their laid-‐back personalities, clothing choices and maybe even hygiene.
owards the earlier twenty-‐first century, the term hipster was urbanized and slightly redefined. Yes, hipsters are still coffee-‐addicts, bookworms, indie fans and the like. However, a more interesting pattern of evolution is evident in the fashion scene. It is easy to see where today’s style takes its cues from, if you compare the then and now.
An outfit usually takes some sort of inspiration from other trends, as there is always a piece being renewed and re-‐worn. Great emphasis falls on the bohemian look of the sixties and seventies, now known as “boho chic”. (Zheng, Marina, Hipster Styles Evolve Throughout History). You probably also noticed a lot of your friends (mostly girls) rocking that old-‐school-‐vintage look from the fifties and onwards. Adopted elements from these eras include fedora hats, oxford shoes and braids. The more inconspicuous effort you put in for
your outfit to seem natural, the better. One anonymous Atenean dubbed the hipster fashion trend as “the direct response to the thug-‐ghetto look that pervaded the early twenty-‐first century”. College hipsters now incorporate such age-‐old pieces into their outfits, often mixing but not always matching. Ironic, but it works.
You Atenean girls are probably wearing a lot of soft, breathable fabrics like sheer, chiffon or pure cotton, which are a great way to beat the university heat. Where tops are involved, so are vintage floral and animal prints, neon tees, stripes and polka dots—everything is making an edgier comeback. Even denim tops go surprisingly well with floral dresses and skirts. For bottoms—tights and leggings have also made it back to the fashion scene, whether printed or plain, and help protect your legs from nasty bug bites or intense air conditioning. Many students wear skater skirts and other flowing skirt cuts that also allow for “ventilation”. (When the wind blows, the secret lies in wearing shorts underneath.) For campus footwear, common choices include flats, oxfords, sneakers (such as Converse, Keds or Vans) and sometimes even boots. Lastly, ladies, never forget how to braid. It might be elementary, but learning all the variations can help dress up your
current look and keep your hair from being all over the place.
hoever said that boys weren’t fashion-‐conscious? The onset of the hipster fashion trend has actually showed the world a side of androgynous fashion. The male population of Ateneo actually sports numerous clothing pieces that are also worn by women. Perhaps the universal symbols for all things hipster are wayfarer sunglasses or black-‐framed glasses in general. (Plus points if they’re Ray-‐ban.) Admit it, some of you own a pair even when you have perfect vision. Skinny jeans and plaid shirts are also worn by both genders; they go with almost anything. Fashiondip.com’s guide on How to be a Hipster says that “…if hipsters had a flag, plaid would be on it somewhere.” The same goes for cardigans of all sizes and colors—fold them in your bag
and they hardly take up any space. Men have also taken to wearing chinos, whether as shorts or as pants to match the weather of the day. Footwear also varies on campus, ranging from boat shoes to loafers and of course, sneakers.
Ages ago, people might not think that the aforementioned elements could mesh together in a complete outfit. Perhaps it did not then, and whether it does now depends on whoever is wearing it. Minus the stereotypical pot-‐smoking and lack of hygiene, today’s hipsters aren’t too far from their predecessors. “The hipster style originated from people who wanted to dress uniquely,” said Alexandra Ngo, a management major in Ateneo. It was all about being different, and it still is, only that dressing like a hipster has officially become “mainstream”. (Hipsters Through the Ages, stylecaster.com). She added, “This is a style for the youth. It’s just what’s in right now.”
Even clothing stores like H&M and Topshop or other name brands actually sell hip, vintage apparel. In this sense, the hipster trend has become ironic, almost paradoxical. No, this article was not written to troll you—the sad truth is that students share a similarity in the way they try to dress uniquely. If you think about it, the trend itself is now partially based on contradictions. What is essentially old-‐looking is new and classy. If the colors fail to match, it’s no problem. If you look like a walking highlighter on campus, people will actually like you for it. Think you stand out? Well, that’s the point.
erhaps you are a hipster. The stereotypical species of the current generation is not too difficult to spot, after all. You can often see them prowling in bookstores and weekend bazaars, hunting for knick knacks and funky tee shirts. They carry with them large cups of coffee or milk tea, and seem to spend all their days with an air of nonchalance. There is also a small chance that they are vegetarian, and listen to fabulous indie bands no one else has ever heard of. They might even have this strange fascination for Aztec and tribal prints. Did that just describe you and your friends? The majority of you may have been hipsters all along. Go figure.
You might be tiring of seeing the word “hipster” in this article. You might also (ironically) tire when trying to find that individuality in a style with origins stemming from that
very concept. If almost everyone in school acts like a hipster, remember that by definition, it does not only cover mode of dressing. Nowadays it encompasses the vastness of an entire lifestyle, a reinvented subculture (as compared to the hipsters of previous decades) which has also integrated itself into popular culture and social media.
If you feel the need for a little inspiration, allow yourself to be the overrated hipster. Hang out in those coffee shops and bookstores across Ateneo. Create an Instagram account and use all those other applications that allow you to instantly edit, filter and share photos about OOTD’s (outfit of the day) and this afternoon’s serving of milk tea and pastries. Visit Tumblr and discover numerous trend and fashion-‐related blogs. Find out what everybody else is doing, and decide whether you want to do the same or the opposite. In the end, it all boils down to being yourself and being comfortable with the way you dress. A true hipster is incredibly relaxed in his or her clothes, almost like a second skin. Never forget the hipster paradox, the irony. You can go with the flow, or just have fun with it.
aised eyebrows, knitted in
thought, mouth slightly ajar in a mock
effort to wrack their brains for a
connection. Usually followed by the
pouty, “Sorry, I don’t.” This is the
usual response from people when
asked whether they know Kelsey
Merritt. Then they’re told she’s the
ubiquitous AJMA girl. The one
throwing her head back in ersatz
ecstasy, lips pursed, hair wild, dancing
among the purple lights? That’s she!
And like a switch, the light of
recognition registers.
The girl has a name and she
walks among us. To some she’s Fake
Jas—a jab at her shallow likeness to
freshman celeb, Jasmine Curtis—
pretty chick, anorexic bitch; but for
majority she is just the AJMA girl.
Whether rumoured and gossiped
about on some churlish whimsy or
admired for her ethereal beauty, she’s
talked about. She is the girl everyone
knows, but really doesn’t. She’s the
enigmatic wisp of a woman, truly
more than her appearance implies.
The average Filipino’s
preoccupation—that borders on
unhealthy—with whatever’s foreign,
whatever’s white feeds Kelsey’s mini-‐
celebrity status in the Ateneo. Large of
eye and slight of limb, she comes off
an extraterrestrial waif, gliding
through the Atenean universe. She
can come off distant and different. But
undoubtedly, that’s more a doing on
our part than hers. Her only fault is
she was born to a full Filipino mom
and a cracker-‐white father.
She walks with head and back
erect, a regal descendant of the 60’s
mod look made famous by Twiggy and
Andy Warhol muses. Her legs are
scarily thin, her eyes cartoony, and
her hands comically large. This all adds
to her gawky “adorkability”. Neither
bombshell nor chic nerd, she’s the full
lipped, angular response to Kate
Upton.
n a hot July morning after early
classes, Kelsey is ordering us peppery
dishes from Sgt. Pepper, the Pepper
Lunch-‐inspired stall in Gonzaga. “It’s
good,” she reassures, not a defence
for her simple joys but a welcoming
into her world. Dressed in a beige,
hanging top with crocheted straps and
floral print shorts (and a black
bandeaux for modesty), she is kind
and embracing, free of mendacity and
ostentation. She has no make-‐up on.
She takes the interview initiative and
finds a quiet spot beneath old trees in
the Ateneo’s zen garden. “So,” she
invites.
She comes from Angeles, a
metropolis in the provincial Pampanga
where she was born to a supportive
Ilocana mother and a firm American
father. She came from a Montessori
grade school and a science high
school, where she was in the honours
program. She plays volleyball. Her
original dream school was UP. She
wants to work in a corporate
environment. She’s never smoked,
never drank, never partied. She flips
her hair; she has a propensity to fit
the word “like” into almost all her
sentences. She models; she studies.
Kelsey is quick to admit she has
her flaws and physical shortcomings:
she’s too short, her hands too large,
her face not always appealing to
clients. But this hasn’t hindered her
prolificacy in the modelling world. In
fact, to name her many
accomplishments would be an
exercise in recollection and research,
but here are a few notables: three
Forever 21 fashion show opening (SM
North, MOA, SM Lanag Davao),
fashion shows for JAG, Human, Lee,
and Hello Kitty. Print ads for Candy
Magazine, ESCADA, Salvatore
Ferragamo, and Greenbelt Style Origin
Vignettes. She’s worked with Francis
Libiran, Veric Sassa, Veejay Floresca,
and Noel Crisostomo, among a list
that could fill a book of Manila’s
fashion elite. She’s appeared in the
last three Philippine Fashion Weeks
(with varying degrees of success).
“In modelling, you know who’s
on top, and who’s on the bottom, I’m
in the middle,” she later tells me. But
her achievements are no small feat for
someone whose real big break came
just a little over a year ago. “I started
modelling when I was fourteen. But
you know, the legit modelling was
when I had my first print ad for
Freshgear for an SM Department
Store. That was when I just turned
fifteen.”
She began her modelling career at the
friendly behest of her best friends
back in Pampanga (all of whom are
models in their own right). She
enrolled herself in the Masters School
for Modelling with her parents
blessing and set out to have fun,
which, in her case, is the most
important aspect when it comes to
modelling. “It didn’t seem like a job. It
seemed like a fun thing to do. It’s
work but, like, it’s not.”
Though her eyes light up like a fulfilled
little girl’s when she talks about
modelling, there is no hesitation when
it comes to acknowledging how tough
it is to do it. “Being a model is not so
easy. Models cry themselves to sleep
because they feel like they’re too fat,
but they aren’t! Like if your waist is
24, you have to cut it down to 23—23
period—because that’s what the
agency requires and what the clients
want.
Models quit because of that. You
don’t lose weight to look good, you
lose weight to get work,” she says
with deadpan sobriety because in this
world as fickle and peripatetic as
chiffon having a waist measurement
of 24 is grounds for banishment.
Kelsey also points out that
demons lurk around the fashion
world, looking on in the church of
style and trend. When asked about
the stereotypes models are associated
with, to which she has been victim to,
she rebukes them with all the
enthusiasm of a Holy Crusader. “I have
never met an anorexic model. Some
look at me and think I am, but I love to
eat. I’m just lucky I don’t get fat.” This
she says with her one arm akimbo and
the other manically gesticulating at
the absurdity of such an accusation.
To the defence of the industry
she adores, she rushes because it has
accepted her with open arms offering
work and adventure—and, of course,
the money never hurt either. It’s easy
to see why she was assumed into this
severely esoteric cult of the cloth; she
not only has the looks, but she is
determined. This determination is
seen also in the other roles she plays.
When she graduated from a
Montessori grade school where
FilAm’s were the norm, she moved
into a science high school where, as
the only FilAm, she felt she had to
prove herself lest she fall into another
stereotype, that of the dumb blonde.
“When I tell people I’m from a science
high school, they get this like
surprised look on their face.” To quote
Shania Twain, “she’s not just a pretty
face.” As passionate as she is about
modelling, she knows that academics
are the number one priority right now.
“School comes first. If the client won’t
adjust, I won’t take the job.” Kelsey
also understands the importance of
keeping the balance, of keeping all the
different plates spinning. In her fourth
year, the year she was most in-‐
demand (a whopping seven shows at
Philippine Fashion Week), she was
moved from the highest honours
section, to the second semi-‐honours
section. “Everything fell apart.”
But amidst the stress of her
academia and the enchanting strobe
lights of the runway, she finds time for
the people who contributed the most
to who she is today, her family. Every
weekend she returns to Pampanga,
where her parents, older brother, and
two sisters still reside. Though her
other roles will constantly call out to
her, she cherishes most her role as
Baby Sis or Ate Kelsey. “I like how my
older brother is protective around me,
how my sister gives me advice, and
how I can give my younger sister
advice.”
elsey, unjustly blessed with
both inner and outer beauty, is a
staunch believer in anyone and
everyone’s potential to be beautiful.
She supports the innovative use of
plus-‐sized mannequins, she thinks
everyone can have their moment in
the camera-‐flash light, she thinks
sweet, loving, and caring is attractive.
She feels most comfortable in her Doc
Marten’s and her plain old plaid
button downs, sans make-‐up. In a
rarer moment of complete serene
definitiveness, she divests herself of
her playful mien, and says after a
beat, “You know, if you think about it,
a little girl shouldn’t be conscious
about her looks. The way society has
affected [the way we look at
ourselves], especially in young girls…I
would tell [insecure little girls] that
being pretty is not all that. A person
can be pretty but rotten inside, and
that’s not really pretty at all.”
And as quick as her earlier
transfiguration, she’s back to her
bubbly persona. When asked if she
lives by any certain credo, without
pause she breaks into a song with a
voice both rough and tender—not a
singer’s voice but sweet and airy and
light and pretty in its own right—
“When you got it, flaunt it,” from Mel
Brooks timeless ode to classical,
Hollywood book musicals “The
Producers”. Only now does it dawn
completely that no matter how coltish
or coquettish or seemingly inane this
antiphonic response is, there is much
earnestness and gravity to this motto.
When you got “it”—long legs, a toothy
grin, full lips, or a beautiful soul—
flaunt it.
magine your life as a musical
play. You wake up to a song, dance
your way to school, and play a
romantic death scene with the love of
your dreams all in one day. Of course,
this is not reality but the 22nd Season
Premier of Ateneo de Manila’s Blue
Repertory “A New Brain” allows
everyone to actually experience life as
one big whirlwind of musical
excitement. This coming of age
musical, which graced the venue of
the Black Box Theater, was a pleasant
surprise to the new and usual
theatergoers alike.
This musical comedy revolves
around a character named Gordon
Schwinn who can never seem to find a
way out of the trap he finds he finds
himself in. He is a talented and
budding songwriter who seems to lack
the inspiration to keep him going in
his career. In the beginning of the
musical, we see him struggling to
compose a song fit for a children’s TV
show, hosted and produced by the
eccentric and tyrannical Mr. Bungee.
Gordon’s manager and former lover
Rhoda is always up on her toes
pushing Gordon to write his music and
fulfill the demands of Mr. Bungee.
While having lunch with Rhoda,
Gordon was struck by a sudden pain in
the head and falls face first into his
meal. Tragically, Gordon finds out that
he has arteriovenous malformation, a
rare brain disease that requires
surgery. His mother, Mimi Schwinn,
loving yet assertive, is deeply affected
by all of this. Mimi isn’t the only
person troubled by Gordon’s
condition, for he has a lover named
Roger Delli-‐Bovi who is usually worlds
away from Gordon because of his
profession as a sailor. Roger sailed
through storms and seas just to be
with Gordon during what could
possibly be the last few days of his
life. Gordon was scared to die because
he thought that he would not be able
to share his music and legacy to the
world.
Other characters found in the
play include: Richard (a kind and
compassionate nurse), Lisa (a
homeless lady), Waitress/Nancy D. (a
haughty and mean nurse), Dr. Jafar
Berensteiner (an unsympathetic
doctor), and The Minister (often
clueless, serves as a spiritual guide).
These characters all have a particular
role and meaning in the life of Gordon
Schwinn. Their significance in the play
is shown in a touching and symbolic
approach, which easily captures the
hearts of the audience.
riginally produced on New
York’s Off-‐Broadway stages, and later
on in London, blueREP has done a
wonderful job in showcasing
everything that the production of “A
New Brain” has to offer. From the
craft of the actors on stage, to the
lights and technical aspects, the set,
costume, props, and even the
merchandise being sold, it is evident
that the play was well directed and
handled by a very creative and
talented team. The cast radiated so
much mastery and passion in the roles
they portrayed which definitely
entertained everyone in the audience.
Arion Sanchez played Gordon
Schwinn along side Lara Antonio who
portrayed the role of the work-‐driven
Rohda. Gelo Lantaco, a blueREP
alumni played Schwinn’s lover, Roger.
Storm Sevilla played the domineering
Mr. Bungee, and Mimi Schwinn was
played by Ciary Manhit and Tin
Amante. Other roles included
Waitress/Nancy D. (Bernice Reyes
and Rio Tanchuling), Dr. Jafar
(Wrench Canicosa), the Homeless
Lady (Trish Arcega), The Minister (Ian
Hermogenes), and Richard the Nurse
(Franco Ramos and Bryan Mendoza).
The play was directed by Toff de
Venecia and was handled by a very
artistic production team. Although the
cast only consisted of ten people, they
did an exceptional job on the show.
They’ve been working on the play ever
since May of this year and it is
unmistakable that a lot passion and
hard work was put into this
production. Working with the original
script was too complicated for them,
so they managed to tweak it up a bit,
while remaining faithful to the story.
One element that was a pleasing
addition to the play was the use of
symbolism for each of the characters
shown through actual objects
displayed in the background of the
set. This part is an original Blue Rep
idea and it added so much more
meaning, depth, and enlightenment to
the play.
ccording to Ciary Manhit, a cast
member of the play, she has enjoyed
every moment of the production. “If I
had the chance to repeat the whole A
New Brain experience, I totally
would!” She claims that the hardest
part of being a member of the cast
was to portray the characters as
authentic and as raw she possibly can.
There were so many elements that
she needed to take into consideration
into internalizing the character which
she played (Mimi Schwinn). “Everyone
in the cast worked extra hard in
making this production a success. I am
so glad to be able to work with such a
talented bunch of people who served
as my inspiration to carry on the
production. We all learned from this.”
Indeed, everyone who took part in the
production has learned something
valuable, and it is right to say that
they have left something for the
audience to take to heart as well.
A lot of life lessons could be
learned from the characters and what
they symbolized in the play. The
concept of time, change, and
fulfillment were given emphasis in the
play especially through the songs and
the characters. Mr. Bungee’s symbolic
object was a hat with a clock on it. He
would wear this hat throughout the
duration of the show, as he would
often pressure Gordon that time is
short and he has to meet the
deadlines of writing the songs.
Rhoda’s object was symbolized in the
form of a script for it meant a sense of
fulfillment for Gordon especially in the
field of his career. The object that held
so much meaning and profundity was
that of the Homeless Lady. She would
carry a butterfly with her for the most
part of the play and it would reflect
the need for a positive change not
only in the life of Gordon, but perhaps
even change for the entire world. “We
live in perilous times. I don't ask you to
treat me nice. I'm not askin' for
pleasant conversation. I'm not askin'
for paradise. All I'm askin' for is
change.” These lyrics are sung by the
Homeless Lady in her song called
“Change,” and at first, you would
think that she was literally asking for
change or spare cash, but in a deeper
sense, change in society and in the
world was what she was truly asking
for.
he play ends with entire cast
singing the song “Heart and Music”
allowing the audience to capture the
heartfelt meaning of what the play
would leave with them. “Stories of
passion, stories of friendship and tales
of how romance survives… But you
gotta have heart and music, you gotta
have heart and music, haeart and
music get along.” As depicted in the
life of Gordon Schwinn, life may not
always be easy for people are often
trapped by the notion that they are
limited by the bounds of time to truly
achieve a sense of fulfillment in their
lives. The play shows how the real
meaning of life is fulfilled through the
intangible things like the relationships
that matter the most, passion for
what you do, and above everything,
LOVE – love for what you do, love for
the people around you, and love for
the gift of life. Gordon was so scared
that he was going to die and his legacy
of music would not live on, but as he
underwent change, he learned that in
life, all you need is heart to dance
through the music of life whether
times may be difficult or not. This is a
beautiful lesson for everyone in the
audience to take home with them for
it can inspire and change lives.
Ateneo’s Blue Repertory
deserves much acclamation for a job
well done in putting up a wonderful
production. The youth, students, and
even members of the Ateneo
community should support the art of
musical theater in order to experience
the beauty of what it can offer. The
first-‐timers and the usual theater
enthusiasts will definitely enjoy
watching “A New Brain” which is still
running (now on its second week). It
would be no surprise to find yourself
giving the cast a standing ovation at
the end of the show, and it will be
truly worth your while.