Christmas 2000: An Excellent Musical Play, Cast & Crew

Before I go on with this article, please note that Brod Fred Aquino sent an email message saying that he DID COME with the largest delegation – twelve (12) in all! So you keep the crown, Brod Fred. Our recount (without the hanging and dimpled chads) shows that we had 133 attendees, an excellent and unprecedented attendance, indeed.

Led by Grand Princep-elect Gabby Moraleda ‘68B and his whole family, the UP Beta Sigma of Northern California once again produced an excellent musical play entitled “The Gift Goes On!” Last year’s musical, “Message of the New Millennium”, was a big hit and was re-played during Couples for Christ (CFC) Christmas Party two weeks ago before an audience of about 300 people. This time, Brod Billy Monteagudo directed it and employed the services of a few original cast members from last year’s showing. The plot is just so excellent that this will be shown again in at least two more settings outside the U.S.A.

But to make all these possible, the Moraledas needed an excellent cast and crew, and we would be remiss if we don’t mention them individually.

THE ANTONIO FAMILY – Cesar, Nina, and Children Aimee, Charlie, Christopher and Mommy Laura Osorio. First and foremost, they totally opened their homes for us for weekly practices. To our delight, they didn’t follow our unwritten rule that the host should NOT prepare any food, maybe because Mommy Laura always wanted us to taste her excellent cooking…. We’ve all seen and applauded the superb acting of Nina (as Church Worker), Aimee and Charlie (as The Teenagers), but what is unknown to many is the backroom work of Cesar and son Christopher. Up to the last minute, both of them had to look for materials that we used for the backdrop and the screen used in the slide showing.

MERCY ORIA-VILLEGAS. She is THE Mercy Oria of the Philippine entertainment industry way back in the late 50s and early 60s. My own guest, once a top executive BPI, was so proud she finally met diva Mercy Oria in person. Mercy set the tone of the whole musical play with her personalized rendition and interpretation and brought new life to an old song, “O Holy Night!” We’re so glad to have a total performer in the UP Beta Sigma family.

THE REGADIO FAMILY – Johnny ’66 (as The Program Director), Beth (as The Church Worker), and children Aldwyn and Albert (as The Teenagers). This same group again starred in last year’s musical play. Beth’s last name then was still “Aguiling.” These four cast members were just “naturals” in their respective roles, being Church leaders and servants in real life. As most of us know, LOVIE-DOVIES Beth and Johnny got married last September after about two years of courtship.

THE ARANETA COUPLE – Ike ’71 and Tanya (as themselves) looking for the meaning of Christmas now that their grown-up children Jasmin and Aleli have left their home to live their own lives. ONE GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS MUSICAL WAS WRITTEN FOR THIS COUPLE, WITH THEM AS ACTORS! All Ike and Tanya did was just be themselves. Tanya internalized her role so much she broke into tears in one of the rehearsals. During the show, their daughter Minmin was also seen wiping her tears obviously empathizing with her parents feeling of emptiness.

DOMI “BOY” RAMOS ’59 and Son JONATHAN – spent sleepless nights making multi-media images of Ike and Tanya. The combined expertise of this father and son team plus MARYANN MORALEDA’s multi-media direction produced a real spectacle of the evolution of Ike and Tanya’s family life that started with just the two of them, begot two daughters, and now, it’s just the two of them once again.

MAYANN IGNACIO (U.P. Law) provided such beautiful background song “Till The Season Comes 'Round Again” that sounded very much like Astrud Gilberto of the 60s. Her song timed so well with the multi-media presentation on the giant screen, and this portion of the show won total approval of the audience.

NEIL HIDALGO ‘92c – Our youngest brod in town, was a worthy “sub”, indeed! He played the successful Santa Clara businessman but his life was simply rotten because his family (RUBY PALATTAO, and children ARIS and JANET) had left him for good, or so he thought. Neil’s feeling of emptiness is carefully emphasized by his superb acting (plus, we all think Neil truly misses his girlfriend in the Philippines!) while another light strikes at Ruby and her children in another corner of the room. YOU DID A PERFECT JOB THERE, FRANKLIN MORALES! (This is Frank’s second year as our lights man.)

LEVY PEREZ ’58 – astonished all of us with a voice that is as cool as the Christmas weather with his excellent rendition of “Babalik Kaya Siya”, a sad song dedicated to Neal Hidalgo (The Businessman). Levy later directed his song to The Businessman’s family (Ruby and her children), obviously to encourage them to reconcile in time for the season. Levy (and wife Lita) came all the way from Turlock in Central Valley to be one of the castmembers. We are all so very honored!

RIA VERGARA, a Madrigal singer, sang with gusto a lively song “The Gift Goes On” while “THE TEENAGERS” AIMEE and CHARLIE ANTONIO, STACEY SAN PEDRO, ALDWYN and ALBERT REGADIO, and SAM MORALEDA (also part of the production crew when not on stage) danced to the music choreographed by MARYANN MORALEDA.

KATRINA MORALEDA was a perfect fit for the last solo song “Nothing Can Separate You”. The expressive quality she lent to the song gave more power to the message of the whole musical play.

Last but not least, KIKO DELMENDO ‘72, who is among the evening’s biggest contributors – he provided the SOUNDS FOR US free of charge (Did you notice all the giant speakers at both ends of the stage?); he single-handedly brought the rented Christmas tree; he found a venue for us at a time it was almost impossible for us to have one unless we paid a handsome price; he opened his house to the Brods, Sis and families who stayed after the party; AND, he negotiated and FINALIZED A CONTRACT FOR A PERFECT VENUE FOR NEXT YEAR’S CHRISTMAS PARTY!