68TH ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

James: The Dabawenyo magician
By Ben Jason O. Tesiorna

HE started out as a clown magician and graduated to an illusionist. Now he wants to become like the man of steel and fly high up into the sky.

Meet James Infiesto, the 36-year-old true blue Dabawenyo who is now regarded as one of the best illusionists in the country. Ever since childhood, James always dreamed of becoming like Superman someday and fly to the sky with his Lois Lane. So strong was his desire that he made it a point to make a wish everytime he sees a falling star.

After more than three decades, the Superman wannabe is now an accomplished illusionist. Illusionist, he said, is a notch better than a magician because of the more difficult acts they perform.

Last Saturday, James wowed Dabawenyos with his never-before-seen escape act during the Araw ng Dabaw's Kasikas sa Garbo presentation at Rizal Park. In the said act, James placed himself, chained and locked, inside a huge satin pouch. Then he is placed in a three feet by three feet crate which is again chained and locked from the outside.

Then the crate was hoisted by a crane 80 feet above the ground without any safety nets to catch him just in case the crate falls. Then the rope holding the crate is put ablaze.

In an interview a day before his performance, James said he will need about three to five minutes before the rope holding the crate would snap and crash down to the ground.

"Hopefully by the time the crate crashes, wala na ko dun sa loob," James said. Last Saturday, James wowed hundreds of spectators when he successfully escaped from the dangling crate within 5 minutes. A spectacular feat indeed.

How he started

James started his career in the entertainment industry as a clown during his college days. He used to perform in corporate and family parties here in Davao City during his leisure times. Before that, he was also into theater performance and even taught in pre-school for sometime. He also paints, but his bread and butter then was as a choreographer at the Locsin Dance studio.

It was only in 1995 when he decided to start his career as a full-time magician right after his stint as one of the Boyoyong clowns in Manila.

James said what sets him apart from all the other magicians is the way he presents his acts. He said his background as a dance choreographer and theater performer help him a lot in his magic performaces. James said he also makes it a point to research for new kind of magic acts and then inject some of his own style to come out with a new and more entertaining performance.

More great performances

James promised of more and greater performances in the days to come. He said he is planning to have a "magic festival" here in Davao City and will invite several popular magicians and illusionists led by one of the pillars of the magic industry in the country, Lou Hilario. Among his future acts to watch is his plan to cut himself in half.

James said the magic festival will have politicians and other affluent individuals as guest who, he said, will be made to make pledges of support for the differently-abled people who will be the beneficiaries of the festival.

A statement for humanity

Just like his idol, David Copperfield, James hopes to someday make his own "statement for humanity" thru his magic. James said Copperfield made his statement for humanity thru his performance where he was seen breaking thru the Great Wall of China.

For his own statement, James said, people will see him fulfill his greatest dream which is to fly. Not only that, he said, he will get one paraplegic individual and let him experience as well the thrill of flying. "It has been my dream to fly since childhood. The flying act that I am perfecting is a statement that dream do come true and that it can be shared," James said.