Diego back in Manila with baby
ACTOR Diego Loyzaga is back — for good. While he stayed mostly in Australia and shuttled between Perth and Manila last year after the birth of his baby girl, the 28-year-old actor will be in the Philippines most this 2024.
Last year, Diego wrapped up three films and the first one to enjoy a theatrical release is director Jason Paul Laxamana’s ‘A Glimpse of Forever,’ a romance-sci-fi project slated to be shown starting March 6.
Working with Diego for the first time are his young co-stars – Jasmine Curtis Smith and Jerome Gomez.
His nine-month-old daughter who is turning one-year-old in May, is now also here in Manila. The dad attested he will be largely based here, too, this 2024.
“I’m really based here, but I have to fly back to Australia mid-year,” Diego said. “Saglit lang. One week, two weeks, I’ll come back again. My daughter will celebrate her first birthday here (in May, too).”
Not that he’s always home-bound when he’s in Manila. “There’s always something I have to do,” he lamented. “It’s not like when I don’t have shooting, tambay lang, pwede na. It never ends, everything I have to do.”
So how has the baby changed his life?
“You know, it’s difficult to say the baby just happens in just one event,” Diego said. “It’s the constant… you know, now I can’t really speak because my daughter is always with her mom. The mom is also here and I’m going to visit them.”
‘Rama Hari’ returns with five National Artists
Photos by Jojo Mamangun
“RAMA Hari,” the Filipino modern rock opera ballet that is an adaptation of the Sanskrit epic poem, “Ramayana,” returns onstage starting February 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
Five National Artists collaborated on this landmark production – Alice Reyes (dance), Ryan Cayabyab (music), Bienvenido Lumbera and Rolando Tinio (literature), Salvador Bernal (theater design).
All shows will be accompanied by live music from the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth. Toma Cayabyab wields the baton for the orchestra.
On February 23 at 7:30 p.m., National Artist Ryan Cayabyab will conduct the orchestra for one special performance of “Rama Hari,” and on February 25 at 7:30 p.m., the closing show is a special gala performance for the Angat Buhay Foundation.
Arman Ferrer and Shiela Valderrama-Martinez will respectively play the roles of Rama and Sita both on February 23 and 25.
Other cast members are Karylle Tatlonghari and Nica Tupas (Sita alternates), Vien King (Rama alternate), John Mojica, Poppert Bernadas, Paw Castillo, Jon Abella and Audie Gemora.
With Katrine Sunga, Miah Canton, Marynor Madamesilla and Raflesia Bravo. Chorus is Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS), with members from Baihana and Conchords. The ballet is danced by the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines.
“I am very excited for this last run of Rama Hari this weekend and next,” Mr. C wrote on his FaceBook account.
“Come and watch this (habang buhay pa kami ni Alice!!!). I don’t think it will be restaged in the next 10 years. The last time there was a major re-staging was in 2011. That was 13 years ago!
“The dancers are sooooooooo good and sooooo disciplined. Iba sila talaga. The costumes and stage design by Badong Bernal are classic. Bienvenido Lumbera’s libretto is moving, lyrics are sublime in the arias and scintillating in the production numbers.”
