Paul Christian Ocampo

'Himala' composer Vincent de Jesus returns to acting in theater with his new play 'Ateng'

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Known for his work in productions like <em>Himala, Tabing Ilog the Musical, Changing Partners, Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal</em>, and <em>Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady</em><u></u>, among others, Vincent de Jesus has consistently held his status as one of the country’s top musical directors and writers throughout the years. With his latest play <em>Ateng</em>, the award-winning libretto handpicked Thou Reyes to play the title role of a gay parlorista living in the slums in the early 2000s.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQfuJHhE103/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A11928591.600000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Although he initially had no plans to be on stage for this show, Vincent fills in for the role of Ateng for one weekend this month, which also marks his return to acting on stage after more than five years. In an exclusive interview with <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN </strong>during the show’s opening weekend, he shared, “Sa totoo lang, wala akong balak mag-theater this year kasi ang daming plays. But si kuya Boy (Abunda, who is a co-producer of the show) talaga insisted na let’s do it. Dapat gagawin namin ito in 2018, 2019, pero nag-pandemic. So this time natuloy na. Actually nag-fill in lang ako kasi dapat si Thou gagawa lahat. But he has a shoot next week sa US so we were looking for an alternate. Eh parang iri-rehearse mo ng 20 days tapos three shows lang so sabi ni kuya Boy sa akin, ‘Ikaw na lang Vince!’ Sabi ko, ‘Okay’ (laughs). Natatakot ako kasi it’s been six years,” he shared.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4RHDrE5Io/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A11928614.300000004%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/12/15/23/tabing-ilog-composer-vincent-de-jesus-goal-is-to-always-make-your-actors-shine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: ‘Tabing Ilog’ composer Vincent de Jesus: ‘Goal is to always make your actors shine’</strong></a></div><p>While talking about his Palanca Award–winning piece, the <em>Ateng</em> playwright also talked about how he handpicked his lead actors Thou Reyes and Kokoy de Santos (with a cast that also includes alternates Dyas Adarlo, Jason Barcial, and Io Balanon) for the one-act play. “Kasi I know Thou and Kokoy personally and I worked with Thou sa <em>Care Divas. </em>Role-wise, when I was writing it, ganyan talaga yung built ni Kiwi, na pag nakita mo talaga parang kaya kang umbagin, bouncer, ganyan. Nagkataon lang na bading siya pero kaya ka niyang labanan. Magaling siya eh. Alam ko yung comedy ni Thou at saka yung talent niya as an actor so siya talaga yung handpicked ko siya,” he explained.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRB-jhwkf8g/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A11928701.399999999%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRBfY0PjRH5/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A11929491.000000007%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="511" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Vincent also shared some words of advice to those who want to folllow his career path as a composer and playwright. “Ako kasi, yung mga stories or yung mga plays na involved ako like <em>Himala, Changing Partners</em>, itong <em>Ateng</em>, I really like the material. Passionate ako sa material. Hindi yung tipong, ‘Sige gawin natin para meron.’ Sinulat ko lang ito kasi during that time in 2005, madaming gay bashing, mga gay crimes, so yun yung sinakyan ko. \</p><p>”Kung stories that I feel passionately about, that I feel passionately for, yun ang sinusulat ko kasi pag gusto mo talaga, mapapanaginipan mo di ba hanggang gawin mo di ba? Maghahanap ka ng paraan eh. And this is one of those plays na very close to my heart. And director Rem (Zamora) is a very good friend of mine. He directed <em>Changing Partners.</em> too. Friends na kami on different levels. Masaya yung group,” he said.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQTu81xkwha/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A11929535.500000007%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="927" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRJRwcDkbVB/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A11929643.199999996%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Tickets for <em>Ateng</em> are available at <a href="https://ticket2me.net/event/22697" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://ticket2me.net/event/22697</strong></a> or contact 0966 997 7425 and 0915 827 7671. All shows will run at the Rampa Drag Club located at Tomas Morato Extension corner Eugenio Lopez Drive in Quezon City. </p>

<p>Palanca award-winning playwright and actor Vincent de Jesus talks about his new one-act play 'Ateng' which puts the spotlight on the continued abuse and crime against members of the LGBT community in the '90s.</p>

Palanca award-winning playwright and actor Vincent de Jesus talks about his new one-act play 'Ateng' which puts the spotlight on the continued abuse and crime against members of the LGBT community in the '90s.