“Outstanding and excellent show! Super ganda!,” students blurted out. “Now I know the life of St. Francis of Assisi,” one parent said, “And I’m proud my children were part of this fantastic show!,” added another. “My son can act!,” an overwhelmed dad exclaimed sharply.
The show’s upbeat momentum was written all over the faces of everyone in the audience. What with the exemplary performance of the Gintong Lahi Dance Company members who dramatized the life of St. Francis on stage through songs and dances. And what with the magnanimous power of the pen of the show’s director, writer and narrator, fondly called “Sonny” by his friends and who, in some coincidental stroke of luck happens to have the same name as that of the saint he featured…Francisco, Mr. Manuel “Sonny” Francisco.
A range of emotions, shouts, cheers and applause, combined joy and excitement filled the theatre and brought the house down as the dancers of the different SFAC Campuses took to the stage. Gleefully with colorful and glistening costumes, they did the dances during the different periods in the life of St. Francis. Songs by the Franciscan quintet were the intermission numbers.
The star of the show, Jan Carlo Ramos stood out as Francesco de Assisi, supported by Reymark Esteban, Jessica Bachoco, Jezamine Ner, Judarin Quezon, Jayvee Solis, Joseph Grañada, Nilo Las-ay, Hanna Mitzi Ner, Azlianna Grepo and many others. The role of the bishop was played by Mr. Pablo Siwa Belardo assisted by Teacher Don.
The show was a success also because of the people who worked together behind the scenes: Mr. Aries Roldan, Assistant Director, Mr. Ignacio Espinosa and Mr. Alvin Bernaldez, Dance Directors, Ms. Carol Picache, Musical Director, Mr. Danilo Solis, Lights Director, Mrs. Belen Figueroa, Narrator, Mr. Dante De Jesus, Master of Ceremonies, the Principals of the SFAC Campuses, the Chairpersons of the College Department, the teachers of the nine campuses and the General Services Staffs.
Above all were the support and inspiration from the Chair and President and the Executive Producer, Dr. Evangeline Oñas-Orosco, the Executive Senior VP and Treasurer, Hon. Arturo A. Orosco, Sr., Ph. D. and the Executive VP and College and Graduate School Dean, Dr. Arturo O. Orosco, Jr..
By Maripel Cagahastian-Ditapat Chairperson, Office of Student Affairs
