A producer’s perspective: Filipinos are very talented
Kilala si Rebeca Chuaunsu bilang isang magaling na aktres sa pelikula at entablado.
Siya ang lumabas na nanay ni Richard Yap sa pelikulang “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” ni Ian Lorenos.
Nasa cast din siya ng pelikulang “Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating Mga Anak” ni Anton Juan.
Sa TV naman ay nakilala siya sa markadong pagganap sa isang episode ng “Wagas.”
Sa larangan ng entablado, labis niya tayong napabilib nang bigyang-buhay niya ang papel ni Suyuan Woo, isa sa mga “Tiger Mothers” ng pamosong nobela ni Amy Tan na isinalin sa teatro ni Susan Kim at ginampanan sa pelikula ni Kieu Chinh.
Bukod sa pagiging aktres, isa ring magaling na manunulat at direktor si Rebecca.
Nagsusulat siya at nagdidirehe ng plays, musicals, audio visual presentations at short films.
Siya rin ang producer ng “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” na ‘first-of-its-kind” sa kasaysayan ng Philippine theatre.
Sa aming panayam, ibinahagi rin niya kung paano siya na-inspire na magprodyus ng nasabing musical.
“Actually, I watched “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag.” The Chinese there is a villain. It was properly represented, but in a bad light,” aniya.
Pero nilinaw niya na hindi siya nag-prodyus ng “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” para pabanguhin ang imahe ng mga Tsinoy sa bansa.
“I didn’t produce this one because of “Maynila” but I was only inspired to tell the story from the Chinese perspective or point of view,” esplika niya.
Malaking factor din daw na kilala niya ang playwright nito.
“The story is my idea pero si Sir Ricky Lee ang writer. I know him because he speaks Chinese also. He was introduced to me by Direk Joel Lamangan,” tsika niya.
Klinaro rin niya na hindi kuwento ng buhay niya ang nabanggit na musical.
“It’s not my own story but inspired and based on true-to- life events,” ani Rebecca.
“It covers the cultural revolution in China here in the Philippines. We’re talking of the pre-martial law days and there’s a love triangle in the form of a love story in a musical. It actually involves a love triangle. One based in Beijing. One based in Binondo, a Filipino-Chinese businessman and a Filipina nightclub singer,” dugtong niya.
Nag-share rin siya ng kanyang karanasan noong panahon ng diktaduryang Marcos.
“During that time, well, I am pro-Cory. The Chinese, we are also very conservative. I was in college already. Among the Chinese, we were not politically active. We couldn’t participate in rallies. We just keep our political ideas to ourselves,” pagbabalik-tanaw niya.
Tulad ng mga Pinoy theater actors, meron din daw silang Tsinoy actors sa entablado.
“We have Filipino-Chinese theatre actors. I also have a talent agency that supplies talents for musical theater, TV, films, audiovisual presentations and even commercials. It is accredited with ABS-CBN. They are Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans and Japanese,” paliwanag niya.
“The theater group I founded is church-based for Capitol City Church. We go to different churches to perform,” pahabol niya.
Labis din ang paghanga niya sa mga Pinoy theater actors.
“You know I’m so envious. Filipinos are very talented. They sing, they act and dance, and kami Chinese, we’re more conservative. We don’t have rhythm as good as Filipinos. I envy them at the same time I’m so happy that they’re supporting me in this endeavour,” bulalas niya.
Kung may gusto mang i-revive si Rebecca, ito ay ang Chinese Peking opera.
“Chinese Peking opera is a dying art. But right now, they perform it as a ritual to pay tribute to the gods with Chinese lion and dragon dancers.
“Ako naman, I try my best. Actually, I produced a short film under Direk Brillante Mendoza about this dying art of Chinese opera to instill awareness of the cultural heritage. God willing and with your support and prayers, we hope we could revive it,” pagwawakas niya.
Mula sa produksyon ng Synergy 88, Rebecca Chuaunsu Film Production (RCFP) at Fullhouse Asia Production, ang “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” ay isinulat ng multi-award winning screenwriter at Plaridel awardee na si Ricky Lee kasama sina Gershom Chua at Eljay Deldoc.
Bida rito sina Arman Ferrer at Sheila Valderama na pinahanga tayo sa “Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.”
Ka-alternate ni Arman si David Ezra samantalang ang Ms. Saigon alumnus na si Carla Guevarra-Laforteza ang ka-alternate ni Sheila.
Tampok din sa “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” sina Floyd Tena, Noel Rayos, Yela Laurel, Ashley Factor, Ima Castro, Ana Feleo, Jennifer Villegas, Kay Balajadia, Dondi Ong, Russell Magno, Elizabeth Chua, Jim Pebanco, Lorenz Martinez, Khalil Kaimo, Ellrica Laguardia, Rhapsody, Tuesday Vargas, Jonel Mojica, Phillip Deles at Ivana Villanueva.
Kasama rin sa ensemble cast sina Carlos Derriada, Cheeno Macaraig, Claire Borja, Daniel Cruz, Dusty Suarez, Janine Tolentino, Joseph Billeza, Joseph Puducay, Julia Chua, Paul Clark, Precious Sementilla, Rence Aviles, Randy Rey, Romcel Brinquiz, Roy Sotero, Ryan Caraan, VJ Cortel, Xander Pineda at Zyruz Imperial.
Mga miyembro naman ng artistic team sina Von de Guzman (musical director), Douglas Nierras (choreographer), Joey Nombres (light designer), Otto Hernandez (production designer and technical director).
Ang “Binondo:A Tsinoy Musical” ay mapapanood sa Solaire Theater mula Hunyo 29 hanggang Hulyo 8.
