The Benilde Culture and Arts Unit (BCAU) presented #ArtGift, a musical titled "Lipad ng Guryon," performed by the organization's members on Aug. 2 and 3 at the Benilde HiFi Roof Deck.
Lipad ng Guryon was brought to life under the direction of an ID120 student and Stage Production Operations Team (SPOT) Company Manager, Earl Marquez, along with ID122 student and Dulaang Filipino member, Theo Gaspar. The cast for this production consisted of the Student Development Coordinator for BCAU, Mr. Kenneth Mangurit, and members from different BCAU organizations such as ID122 students Francine Nieto and Katrina Maestro, and ID123 students Nathaniel Bebanio and Bel Valloyas.
Building the Guryon
The musical tells the story of four childhood friends, Jari John, Venus, Rhian, and Jaime, who faced various life obstacles but became inspired to create kites with the help of their mentor, Kuya "Kons" Konsuelo. Their enthusiasm for building kites faded as they grew older, but when they discovered Kuya Kons' memory loss, they were motivated to return to what they loved doing.
In an interview with The Benildean, the people behind the production and cast shared their inspirations and process with “Lipad ng Guryon.”
Marquez imparted that the story is “about dreaming big,” which also incorporates the depiction of “the process of being a student artist and how we go through things every day.” Gaspar also said the piece's essence “is about new beginnings, at the same time, going back to where you came from,” which also highlights the importance of chasing one’s dreams.
The production also stated that The Juans' song "Flying Kites" served as a major source of inspiration for the show. “Why saranggola? May dalawa kasi eh, is it really letting the kites fly? Or makikita mo siyang lumipad pero kukunin mo siya pabalik and you have to keep it?” Marquez explained the idea behind the musical's title.
Furthermore, to make the people more curious about the production, the director opted to use “Guryon” as the title instead of utilizing “saranggola” or “kite.”
Moreover, Marquez shared that there were only a few weeks of preparation for the production. “We only had 2.5 weeks to prepare everything. Dapat may set design ‘to but, because of the bagyo, I decided to cut niyo na ‘yan projection mapping tayo,” he recalled.
We are flying kites
As the childhood friends' kites soar, the actors portraying them achieved a new milestone. The BCAU performance gave all of the actors an opportunity to shine, as this was their first time as part of the lead ensemble in the organization's musical.
The cast members expressed their experiences and connections to the characters they portrayed. Bebanio, who played Jari John or “JJ” and was also the writer for the musical, described his character as relatable because they are both musicians. “If ever na sumikat ako, I hope, if ever na I’ve reached that point, sana hindi rin ako tumulad sa kanya [Jari John] na nakakalimot or mataas ang tingin sa sarili,” he stated.
Maestro, who portrayed Venus, found her role very challenging because she is the total opposite of her character in real life, saying, “I guess one takeaway from playing Venus is [that] don’t let anyone stop you from achieving what you can achieve. Like kung akala ng iba na hanggang dito ka na lang, may mas mataas ka pang maiaabot.”
Meanwhile, Valloyas, the actor who performed Rhian, described her character as playful and aggressive, yet extremely dedicated to her friends. She remarked, “The character [Rhian] really spoke to me. Katulad nga ‘yung sinabi ni Kuya Kons, magkakaiba man ang mga saranggola, pare-pareho lang silang lumilipad. So you just have to find your wind.”
Then, for Nieto, who played Jaime, she underscored how fulfilling it is to play the role and be part of the production. “Yung monologue na parang ang bigat-bigat ng nararamdaman ni Jaime na to the point na hindi niya na napapalipad yung kite niya. It’s very relatable—not just for me [but also to] most Benildeans.”
Finally, Sir Mangurit, who played Kuya Kons, captured the audience’s attention with his performance. Despite his longtime experiences as a freelance actor and now a mentor for BCAU, this was his first performance together with the student-artists. His role is essential to the plot as it allows the childhood friends’ true sentiments and aspirations be revealed.
“I think they [the childhood friends] should pursue what they want to pursue and have the confidence to back it up,” he emphasized.
Up above we go
The piece is a gesture of gratitude from the student artists to both the audience and the BCAU community. With this, Marquez declared, “[The show is] free and not ticketed kasi gusto naming magbigay ng regalo sa community.”
“May this show be a light to everyone na lahat ng mga problema ng mga estudyante, [nina] JJ, Venus, Rhian, and Jaime—those are real stories of different people na may pinagdadaanan din,” he continued.
Apart from showcasing what chasing dreams can do for an individual, “Lipad ng Guryon” also conveys life as an ongoing process, whether fast or slow. From the actors' remarkable and interactive performances to the child-like crayon-textured backgrounds, the musical has surely touched the audience's hearts.
You may learn more about the Benilde Culture and Arts Unit's upcoming events and productions by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
