TWO LOCAL groups are vying for the Aliw Award plums next month.
Nominated in the prestigious award giving body are the Saint Louis University Glee Club and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology of the Baguio (BJMP).
The SLU Glee Club has been nominated as Best Choral Group along with the Mapua Cardinals Choir, Capiz State University Main Chorale (Roxas City), Western Mindanao State University Chorale (Zamboanga City), Koro Ilustrado and the Letran Singing Ambassadors.
The BJMP play, a contemporary spin off from the usual Lent play about the Passion of the Christ, The Black Saturday play or selda senakulo is a brave new stage work inspired by the final 24 hours of Jesus Christ at Via Dolorosa (The Alley of Sorrows) juxtaposed with the contemporary everyday life of prisoners played and developed by the actor-inmates of Baguio City Jail. The play is an auditory and visual spectacle of an inspiring journey of self-reflection.
BJMP has been cited for three nominations led by Angelo Aurelio for the Black Saturday Play for Best Director for New Concept Production along with Peter Macrohon (Bud’eak Adlao/Aklan Performing Arts Network/ASU-CFMS), Jayson Gantan Pabalan (Hanggang sa Dulo ng Forever/CLDCAS Jocson College), Roeder Camanag (Ginugunita Kita 2018/M Miclat Arts Foundation) and Rodel Mercado (Michaela Fashion Revolution/Frontline Production).
The jail play is also vying for the Best Performer in a New Concept Production by Clint King Macachor also for the Black Saturday Play with fellow nominees; Banaue Miclat-Janssen (Ginugunita Kita 2018/M.Miclat Foundation), Joshua Bits Cruz (Hanggang sa Dulo ng Forever/CLDCAS Jocson College), Joyce Gabriel (Hanggang sa Dulo ng Forever/CLDCAS Jocson College) and Andrian Arca (Bud’eak Adlao/APAN/ASU-CFMS).
BJMP’s Black Saturday Play has likewise earned a nomination for Best New Concept Production with the Ginugunita Kita 2018 (Maningning Miclat Arts Foundation), Michaela Fashion Revolution (Frontline Production), Bud’eak Adlao (Aklan Performing Arts Network/ASU-CFMS) and the Hanggang sa Dulo ng FOREVER (Pluma/CLDCAS/Jocson College).
Last year, Aurelio bagged two trophies at the Aliw Awards for his play also at the BJMP, “Anatomy of an Octopus Woman” for Best New Concept Production and Best Director.
The play, was nominated in five categories namely Best New Concept Production, Best Performance (New Concept)-Hiromi Meguro, Best Performance (New Concept)-Benjan Natividad, Best Performance by an Ensemble -Jail Inmates of BJMP Women's Jail, and Best Director (New Concept).
Most of the cast were women detained in the local jail who depicted the story of their lives to an audience, set in the crude space within the jail, the play has given a new definition of theatre and its power to transform even those languishing in detention.
The play is the first theatrical presentation of the facility and has become part of developmental services the institution is doing for the ladies detained in the jail.
The awards is presented by the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. established by the renowned Philippine journalist Alice Reyes in recognition for achievements in the entertainment industry and is a recognized pioneer in recognizing excellence in theatre, opera, and dance, live vocal and instrumental shows. The first awards show was held in 1977.
The 2018 Aliw Awards covers performances all over the country from November 1, 2017 up to October 31, 2018.
Awards night will be on December 13, 2018 at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.