ISKO'T ISKA 2007

Last Thursday, we decided to watch Isko’t Iska 2007. The purpose is actually for nothing. I just want to compare last year’s and see the other versions of this play that’s offered as a welcome treat for new freshies.

So I was there together with Lav, Cha, Joie, Von, Vlaire, Lloyd, and Carla as we spend the night watching and laughing at the presentation.

To be honest, it was quite satisfactory. Good at its best. It’s very difficult to compare it to last year because these are two different presentations and I might be a little biased since I was from last year butlet em say that I enjoyed last year miles ahead than I enjoyed this year.

It basically has the elements of a normal Isko’t Iska play: funny moments, usage of the hottest songs right now (i.e Sinabawang Gulay, the “Ako ang Reyna” song by Yeng Constantino [I don’t know the title], and Di Ako Bakla by Michael V.), insertion of Filipino culture, the Awit ng Kabataan song at the near end, and the UP jokes, that of course, only UP people will get.

The jokes are not upsetting, they are funny and some scenes made me laugh my ass off all the time. I heard some of the best punch lines of the night, and I appreciated the effort but my problem was with the story. I love the script but it was too political. I know that the title, Dra-matrikula Rising, actually refers to the tuition fee increase the new freshmen experience, but there are some moments in the play where I was confused if I was in a play or in a symposium.

To make things worse, the set of actors who played at this year’s part was a combination of amateurish, impressive, outstanding, and some are simply, mind boggling on how they passed the audition part.

One thing I love is that they started early; no bands performed while making the audience wait. This was very different from last year where in they said that it will start at 7 PM but actually started two hours later.

Acting wise, like what I said, there are those who are impressive. Oscar Ledesma [the guy who was wearing the glasses] and Jeremy Fariñas [the girl with the short hair] were the clear standouts. They steal every scene where they appeared, and in the debate part where they shared a scene together: pure brilliance! The girls who played Iska were good as well, not the level of those I mentioned, but were talented and entertaining enough to handle the pressure of being the lead role. Kudos also to one who played Pegarao for I know he’s one of the crowd favorites. I met him yesterday and I already congratulated him. Hehe.

On the other hand, there are characters I just can’t stand. Maybe the actors who play them but some act plainly irritable. Others are histrionic, and some, simply are too annoying to watch that you want the next scene to move on once you see their faces on the stage. [There are three characters I’m referring to]

The numbers are beautiful, and the direction was excellent. It was pretty entertaining at the first four acts but became dragging at the middle to the last part. I was expecting that the crowd will lighten up once Mariang Banga’s act will start [It was my hands down favorite part last year] but all I saw was a less funnier, less entertaining version of Mariang Banga, who mind you, was also good, but fell from high expectations compared to the performer last year. By the way, I love how she mentioned the word “hitad”. Hehe. Too tabloid-ish, but fun!

The PGMA act was also funny as well. it was so funny when she abbreviated Palparan into Palpy, Palpy. LOL!!! Haha! Good job also to her. That’s one of the funniest moments of the night. Boy, was I shocked when I saw the large amount of audience that were watching. The DL Umali Hall was clearly jampacked. It was amazing!

All in all, I can say that they did a decent job. I was just having high expectations. But I really can’t tolerate the political part because clearly, that was the most boring thing I’ve witnessed since God-knows-when. I was there to get entertained and not to be lectured about the TFI! But I appreciated and saw their efforts.

Anyways, congratulations to the whole production of the Isko’t Iska this year! Welcome to the new Iskolar ng Bayan, and until next year!!

Next week: Icebag!!! [excitement]

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Anyways, speaking of the TFI, I am feeling more and more apathetic about the issue as days [or months] go by. Maybe it’s because I love the advancements that happened at the campus at the expense of the new freshman. Hehe. [I am so so soooo devil] Wahaha! And from what I’ve heard, some new freshmen [take note: SOME] are feeling prima donnas just because they pay higher tuition fee. Hmm. I actually noticed that even DevCom freshmen students are looking so high tat themselves.

In our building, all the annex classrooms were already tiled. And the lecture room hall has added technical gadgets that were oh-so amazing. I just hope that the basement of the Hum building will be taken notice because the basement is already shouting for a renovation!!!

Lucky us, we did not make it to the TFI issue, but so far, I am liking this idea at all. Hehe! :)