Author: YBP

A little backgrounder: In the early 90’s I had the guts to sing in front of THE Bibot Amador (the Founding Artistic Director of Repertory Philippines) in an open call audition at the William J. Shaw Theater in Shangrila. I was absolutely confident I would nail it. I smiled, closed my eyes, clasped my hands, breathed deeply, and sang the first strains of my audition song: “….. You who I cradled in my arms, you…..”“THANK YOU, NEXT!” boomed the voice in the darkened theater. It was the voice of Tita Bibot Amador crushing my theater dreams to bits. I held my chin up and summoned the chutzpah to gracefully walk off the stage. I blew my sister Liesl a kiss as it was her turn up next.My sister Liesl nailed her audition (but of course) and ended up being cast, and thus began her theater career with Repertory Philippines. (She went on to become a multi-awarded actress and is now REP’s Artistic Director, and I am hands down her biggest most ardent most loving fan.)

But back to my story: In the early years when Liesl was doing back-to-back straight plays and musicals with REP, she would beg me again and again to audition whenever there were open calls at REP because she intimated that her secret dream was for me to alternate with her in a show. “Just think how much fun it would be, Yekkie…..!” she would sweetly coo. Hay naku, she would ask me incessantly until one night I finally ended up having a nightmare of Tita Bibot’s looming face screaming at me because I did not know my lines. (I knew what a formidable terror THE Bibot Amador was from Lizzie’s stories of rehearsals.) I finally put my foot down and said “NO, LIZ, I will not audition for REP, so please stop asking me. I don’t want any more nightmares. How stressful!” Hahaha I laugh now thinking of this memory because guess what, fast forward to 2021, and I got secretly excited at the prospect of singing for Mommy’s birthday! And singing with Liz at that! What a sweet honor! And hurrah our awesome brother Carlo (based all the way in Australia) would be in the video too, I mean how fun and precious is that! Something we three could work on together as a labor of love to honor our beloved Mommy, our Sweetest Blessing, who we absolutely love and adore to the moon and back.

This video was just supposed to be internal for our zoom honoring for Mom. But I’m overflowing with so much love for Mom and want to share our video gift for her—which Carlo, Liz, and I performed in virtual togetherness despite being physically apart. IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE. IT’S ALL ABOUT MOMMY. Happy 75th Birthday Mommy!!! We love you beyond measure.