My 3rd Rak of Aegis

The first time I watched Rak of Aegis was back in 2014.  Our company was asked to cater for the night dedicated to OPM or the Organisation ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit.  That was memorable, with the performance of the actual Aegis Band after the curtain call.  

The next one, the same year, was when we sponsored a show buyer.  Me and a couple of friends loved the musical so much, that in 2015, we decided to be show buyers ourselves selling the June 18 slot.

This year, I was given complimentary tickets from one of the musicals media partner Outrage.  I got to experience the story again, this time with a different set of casts.

Having seen it so many times, each performance is different, and each run offers something new to audience, with new songs and improvement to the production.

Rak of Aegis will run until August 28, 2016.

Tickets are available on Ticketworld

02 - 8919999

Rak is Back for Another Run This June

For ticket availability on the June 18 show, please contact the number above.

MANILA, Philippines – It’s been a fruitful 47th theater season for the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); and while the theater is ablaze with the ongoing Summer Program, the company shows no signs of stopping for a breather.

PETA’s 48th season sees the comeback of crowd favorite and hit comedy musical Rak of Aegis. Fans and first-timers are expected to flood the theater for this record-breaking hit that is set to open this June, due to insistent public demand.

Breakout Kapuso star Aicelle Santos, and 2009 WCOPA Champion Kim Molina come back as Aileen; the promodizer with big dreams to raise her family from the knee-deep floods that have plagued their town for months. This all-Filipino, all-original musical features songs from the iconic band Aegis, with a star-studded ensemble on an award winning, must-see set.

This comedy musical has hit a record-breaking 135 shows in the first year of its showing alone, a milestone for the theater company and indeed, for Philippine theater. In 2014 alone it has garnered over 16 citations for performance and technical categories including Outstanding Original Musical, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Stage Direction for a Musical (Maribel Legarda), Original Libretto (Liza Magtoto), Musical Direction (Myke Salomon), Choreography (Gio Gahol), Costume Design (Carlo Pagunaling), Sound Design (Salomon and Happy Constantino), Set Design (Mio Infante), Female Lead Performance in a Musical (Aicelle Santos and Joan Bugcat), Female Featured Performance in a Musical (Kalila Aguilos) and Male Featured Performance in a Musical (Myke Salomon, Pepe Herrera, Jerald Napoles and Juliene Mendoza)

The cast of Rak has also enjoyed several new projects in between runs: Poppert Bernadas who plays Aileen’s suitor Kenny was recently seen in The Voice Philippines, while Pepe Herrera (Tolits) enjoys a stint in the romcom TV series, Forevermore. Singer Kim Molina also breaks into the theater scene with production after production, most recently in the upcoming Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady by Dalanghita Productions.

This run also welcomes many new neighbors to Barangay Venizia. Actor and singer Lorenz Martinez plays Aileen’s father Kiel, opposite Lani Ligot (Priscilla Queen of the Dessert; Broad Way, Narrow Way) who plays Mercy, Aileen’s mother; The Company’s Sweet Plantado also joins the cast as Mary Jane.

The ensemble is joined by PETA artist-teacher Roi Calilong (D’ Wonder Twins of Boac, PAMANA), and Teetin Villanueva (MANHID, Maxie the Musical).

The cast also sees the return of talented ensemble members made up of Stella Mendoza (Mary Jane), Kakai Bautista and Neomi Gonzales (Mercy), Jerald Napoles (Tolits), Myke Salomon (Kenny), Nor Domingo, Julienne Mendoza, and Gie Onida (Fernan), Phi Palmos, Ron Alfonso, and Jimmy Marquez (Jewel), Gimbey dela Cruz, Abi Sulit, Gab Pangilinan, Jet Barrun, Gio Gahol, Carlon Matobato, John Moran, Paeng Sudayan, and Kakki Teodoro (Ensemble).
The play runs from June 17 to August 16 from Tuesdays to Fridays (8PM) and Saturdays to Sundays (3:00pm and 8:00pm) at the PETA Theater Center located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC. Tickets are available via www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999. For more information contact PETA at 725-6244 or 0917-5765400, petatheater@gmail.com or visit www.petatheater.com. 

Aegis and the Rak of Aegis

I have been a fan of theater, but like most of Filipinos, I don't have the money to spend for tickets.  I remember in college, I would watch the free staging of plays and musicals by Intramuros Administration at the many venues within the historical walled city.  I have heard about the musical Rak of Aegis last year.  Being a fan of the group, I am instantly drawn to watching it and curious on how a story develops from their popular songs I would attempt to sing along.

Now, I am very fortunate to belong in a company that supports Filipino Music, Theater and Artists.  Victoria Court have help sponsor concerts of big artists like Regine, Ogie and Musicals like Full Monty, and Rock of Ages.  I literally jumped off my office chair when I found out that, we are also sponsoring Rak of Aegis.  It was a different Marketing team that handled the project, and I was texting and emailing non-stop to secure myself a seat.  I got an Orchestra seat for the 8PM show last March 5.

In the audience were the officers of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong  Mang-aawit that included Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez to name a few.

I was laughing and crying with the different characters in the story, top billed by Aicelle Santos.  It was about the struggles of girl who lives in a flooded area of the City who dreams of making it by posting a video on youtube hoping it would go viral and be invited on Ellen Degeneres show.  I will just name the more popular cast members that included Robert Sena and Isay Alvarez, but all of them gave a stellar performance.

After the curtain call, and the standing ovation, I was on my feet again, when the actual group Aegis entered the stage and performed their classic hits.  I was singing on top my lungs not caring to hit the high notes.  I would have posted pics, but my battery gave up on me.  I am close to tears hearing them perform live.  Now I know how it feels to be a fan and seeing your idol up close.

After the show, I waited at the entrances so I could have a photo of them.  I so love Aegis!!!