"Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you." -Rumi
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Damn.
Yeah, so its been a year since I finished my Fulbright in Manila, and two years since I started this blog. What a journey. This blog began as “Striving for Praxis” – because that intersection between theory and practice was what I was looking for when I left to go study theatre in the Philippines in August 2007.
Sidenote: I’m a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, so if you’re interested in help with your application, or want to know more about my experience go here: a YouTube video interview by IIE about my experience (I can’t *stand* this video), and my essay on Fulbright application tips.
Since then, its been a wild ride – I directed a show (check out photos on my portfolio), traveled through some of Southeast Asia, moved to New York City, been hustlin’ by babysitting, working random laborious gigs, and assistant directing shows in NYC. All the while, I’ve been living and loving life (including the down, dark, periods – and there were some, trust me), meeting amazing people, and working, sharing, and collaborating with them.
Two years ago, I was looking for the link between theory and practice. I had just left the love of my life, Smith College, with a BA in Government and Women’s Studies, and I wanted to be a theatre director. Armed with post-colonial theory, feminist knowledge, American race and cultural studies, and one full-length play under my belt, I was ready to find a way to bridge academia and art. If that wasn’t challenging enough, I was going to do it in the Philippines. On a Fulbright. While “finding myself” as a Fil Am and rediscovering my history, heritage, and culture! Go me! I was going to crack open the world!
Then the world cracked me open.
Like a fucking egg.
Not one of those awesome salty purple eggs that are tough and resilient.
I was a thin-shelled, pesticide-ridden, sad, non-organic cage-fed chicken egg.
Needless to say, the world gave me a well-deserved bitch slap and it hurt like hell.
Then I moved to New York City, (because one smack down wasn’t enough), and found myself surviving. Then, soon after, thriving.
I found myself changed, calmer, humbler, growing.
I realized that so many decisions I had made in the past were driven by what was “right,” and the insanely high expectations of myself were motivated by fear – fear of failure and hurt. I began to realize that failing, and surviving, was my best success. Now, I find myself gaining a truer, more honest and genuine confidence.
Which brings me to where I am now, and why “Striving for Praxis” has been renamed “The Center for Sustainable Foolishness.”
Two years later, I am beginning to learn to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ideas and art. I am starting my first year at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, in the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). ITP is an interdisciplinary program, a playground for artists and technologists to come together, learn from each other, and create things with our (and each others) brains and hands. I’ve only been here two days, and it is a magical fucking place. I have very little background in technology and new media, but I am so privileged, excited, and eager to learn to make things that I cannot even yet imagine, with creative people whose interests and disciplines are diverse and wide.
My first day of school, my morning class involved learning to wire a microcontroller to an LED and make it light up. Then, my second class of the day lectured to us, “poetry drives you, not hardware.”
I am so happy to be in an environment where I have so much learning to do, that I have no conception of what I can make and what I am capable of. It is freeing.
I am inspired by this quote:
“Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.
It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.”
-Rumi
I’ve renamed this blog because I’m ready to be a damned fool.
I want to make mistakes and look ridiculous. I want to make bad decisions, freak out, cry, move forward, and learn and grow.
This will be where I will be posting my work, projects and ideas from ITP.
Thank you for witnessing my transformation from a true and sad dolt, to a joyful playful fool. Enjoy!
Damn.
Yeah, so its been a year since I finished my Fulbright in Manila, and two years since I started this blog. What a journey. This blog began as “Striving for Praxis” – because that intersection between theory and practice was what I was looking for when I left to go study theatre in the Philippines in August 2007.
Sidenote: I’m a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, so if you’re interested in help with your application, or want to know more about my experience go here: a YouTube video interview by IIE about my experience (I can’t *stand* this video), and my essay on Fulbright application tips.
Since then, its been a wild ride – I directed a show (check out photos on my portfolio), traveled through some of Southeast Asia, moved to New York City, been hustlin’ by babysitting, working random laborious gigs, and assistant directing shows in NYC. All the while, I’ve been living and loving life (including the down, dark, periods – and there were some, trust me), meeting amazing people, and working, sharing, and collaborating with them.
Two years ago, I was looking for the link between theory and practice. I had just left the love of my life, Smith College, with a BA in Government and Women’s Studies, and I wanted to be a theatre director. Armed with post-colonial theory, feminist knowledge, American race and cultural studies, and one full-length play under my belt, I was ready to find a way to bridge academia and art. If that wasn’t challenging enough, I was going to do it in the Philippines. On a Fulbright. While “finding myself” as a Fil Am and rediscovering my history, heritage, and culture! Go me! I was going to crack open the world!
Then the world cracked me open.
Like a fucking egg.
Not one of those awesome salty purple eggs that are tough and resilient.
I was a thin-shelled, pesticide-ridden, sad, non-organic cage-fed chicken egg.
Needless to say, the world gave me a well-deserved bitch slap and it hurt like hell.
Then I moved to New York City, (because one smack down wasn’t enough), and found myself surviving. Then, soon after, thriving.
I found myself changed, calmer, humbler, growing.
I realized that so many decisions I had made in the past were driven by what was “right,” and the insanely high expectations of myself were motivated by fear – fear of failure and hurt. I began to realize that failing, and surviving, was my best success. Now, I find myself gaining a truer, more honest and genuine confidence.
Which brings me to where I am now, and why “Striving for Praxis” has been renamed “The Center for Sustainable Foolishness.”
Two years later, I am beginning to learn to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ideas and art. I am starting my first year at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, in the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). ITP is an interdisciplinary program, a playground for artists and technologists to come together, learn from each other, and create things with our (and each others) brains and hands. I’ve only been here two days, and it is a magical fucking place. I have very little background in technology and new media, but I am so privileged, excited, and eager to learn to make things that I cannot even yet imagine, with creative people whose interests and disciplines are diverse and wide.
My first day of school, my morning class involved learning to wire a microcontroller to an LED and make it light up. Then, my second class of the day lectured to us, “poetry drives you, not hardware.”
I am so happy to be in an environment where I have so much learning to do, that I have no conception of what I can make and what I am capable of. It is freeing.
I am inspired by this quote:
“Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.
It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.”
-Rumi
I’ve renamed this blog because I’m ready to be a damned fool.
I want to make mistakes and look ridiculous. I want to make bad decisions, freak out, cry, move forward, and learn and grow.
This will be where I will be posting my work, projects and ideas from ITP.
Thank you for witnessing my transformation from a true and sad dolt, to a joyful playful fool. Enjoy!
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines – Diliman, Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and the Philippine – American Educational Foundation (PAEF) present Rody Vera’s Filipino Adaptation of José Rivera’s Marisol.
Marisol is a surreal tale of an apocalyptic Philippines, a Manila on the verge of collapsing from the pressures of poverty and violence. The play revolves around the character of Marisol, whose guardian angel leaves her to survive in a world that is dangerous and falling apart, without the protection of her faith. The themes in Marisol ring true to a present-day that is local as well as global.
To commemorate six decades of international exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Philippines, Krystal Banzon, 2007-08 American Fulbright Student Scholar directs this original adaptation of Rivera’s Puerto Rican/American play, in collaboration with an entirely Filipino cast, design, and production team. The cast is made up of eight talented artists, Marjorie Lorico, Mailes Kanapi, Nicco Manalo, Sigrid Bernardo, Virgie Sorita-Flores, Tao Aves, Miela Sayo, and Chic San Agustin. Set design and poster design by Lex Marcos, technical direction and lighting design by El Abquina, sound design by Roxanne Pagdanganan, costume design by Sigrid Bernardo, and the stage manager is Hazel Gutierrez.
Marisol runs from May 14-17, 2008, 7pm at the Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Admission is free. Seating is on first come, first served basis. Please arrive early to ensure seating.
A show not to be missed.
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines – Diliman, Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and the Philippine – American Educational Foundation (PAEF) present Rody Vera’s Filipino Adaptation of José Rivera’s Marisol.
Marisol is a surreal tale of an apocalyptic Philippines, a Manila on the verge of collapsing from the pressures of poverty and violence. The play revolves around the character of Marisol, whose guardian angel leaves her to survive in a world that is dangerous and falling apart, without the protection of her faith. The themes in Marisol ring true to a present-day that is local as well as global.
To commemorate six decades of international exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Philippines, Krystal Banzon, 2007-08 American Fulbright Student Scholar directs this original adaptation of Rivera’s Puerto Rican/American play, in collaboration with an entirely Filipino cast, design, and production team. The cast is made up of eight talented artists, Marjorie Lorico, Mailes Kanapi, Nicco Manalo, Sigrid Bernardo, Virgie Sorita-Flores, Tao Aves, Miela Sayo, and Chic San Agustin. Set design and poster design by Lex Marcos, technical direction and lighting design by El Abquina, sound design by Roxanne Pagdanganan, costume design by Sigrid Bernardo, and the stage manager is Hazel Gutierrez.
Marisol runs from May 14-17, 2008, 7pm at the Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Admission is free. Seating is on first come, first served basis. Please arrive early to ensure seating.
A show not to be missed.
Our production of Marisol has the honor of being one of the events to celebrate the 60th Anniversary year of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines! To commemorate sixty years of international exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Philippines, Marisol will have a gala performance the evening of May 16, for Fulbright alumni and other special guests. We hope to have guests from the U.S. Embassy at the performance, as well as any incoming U.S. scholars that have arrived. We look forward to getting together to celebrate this honored and prestigious tradition.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. (http://www.iie.org)
“May sakit ang sanlibutan, Marisol…. – Anghel
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines, the UP – Diliman, Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and the Philippine – American Educational Foundation (PAEF)
present
MARISOL
By José Rivera
Filipino Adaptation by Rody Vera
Directed by Krystal Banzon
2007-2008 American Fulbright Student Scholar
May 14-17, 2008 at 7:00pm
Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, UP Diliman.
Our production of Marisol has the honor of being one of the events to celebrate the 60th Anniversary year of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines! To commemorate sixty years of international exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Philippines, Marisol will have a gala performance the evening of May 16, for Fulbright alumni and other special guests. We hope to have guests from the U.S. Embassy at the performance, as well as any incoming U.S. scholars that have arrived. We look forward to getting together to celebrate this honored and prestigious tradition.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. (http://www.iie.org)
“May sakit ang sanlibutan, Marisol…. – Anghel
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines, the UP – Diliman, Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and the Philippine – American Educational Foundation (PAEF)
present
MARISOL
By José Rivera
Filipino Adaptation by Rody Vera
Directed by Krystal Banzon
2007-2008 American Fulbright Student Scholar
May 14-17, 2008 at 7:00pm
Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, UP Diliman.
Marisol is all set for rehearsal thanks to this generous donation by Daniel Mendoza and Family! I can now say my actors won’t starve (they’re practically Actor’s Equity with this kind of treatment! Joke lang!) during long, intensive rehearsals.
We’ve got a lifetime supply of Sky Flakes, Nescafé, styro cups, and napkins. Maraming, maraming salamat to the Mendoza Family.
Donations come in all sort of shapes and sizes – cracker and coffee shape, cash/check/credit shape, lovely break-a-leg email shape, complementary massage shape… 
But if you’re just so eager to help, but you’re so far away and you can’t go grocery shopping with me, you can click on the PayPal DONATE button in the right hand nav bar! Any goodness of any shape and size will forever be appreciated.
To read more about this project and what Marisol is all about click here: “Why Marisol?”
