And Scene!

AND SCENE!
by Augustin

On the cover of the latest Nirvana Magazine issue, we have the six biggest actors of this generation responsible for putting out back-to-back showstoppers as the main leads of every world-class production the Philippine Theater has ever presented. Their names have been globally recognized as those who brought spectacles in the performative arts exhibiting Filipino culture.

Alois Frey on playing the lead villain in the oscar-nominated play 'Hinto-turo'; Constantine who's currently being worshiped for his gut-wrenching performance on 'Maguiguindapat'; Ophelia Ruiz on the historical-fiction production of 'Si Pearl ng Orient Seas'; Hesperos, an actor recognized for playing the resident hero in various films such as 'Pugutan ang Ulong may Korona'; Grantham who lead the critically acclaimed performance of 'Masarap Maging Mahirap'; And Azrael, the girl that reached the peak of fame for her artistically haunting portrayal of Lily in the controversial production of 'Marshall's Law'.

All over the years, these six have been pitted by the people and their fans against each other, debating on who's the best actor amongst all of them.

"Si Hesperos, walang-wala naman 'yan binatbat kung ikukumpara kay Alois."

"Mas magaling magsalita si Ophelia pero dama mo ang emosyon kapag si Azrael."

"Who's the best sa anim? Lahat sila may sariling lakas but Constantine is just an ACE."

"Madalas nao-overlook si Grantham dahil problematic siya pero kung pag-iisahin mo ang mga 'yan sa iisang entablado? Jusko. Lampasuhin sila ng gago kong manok."

With all the scandals all over the years, it's safe to say that the said world-class thespians- always head-to-head with fame- were in some sort of professional rivalry, competing on who among them is at their greatest.

Recently, a certain photo snapped from a ten-year-old yearbook of St. Catherine of Siena National High School went viral across different sites after capturing a surprising revelation that left everybody on fire with questions clamoring to be answered. It turns out, these rival actors- who never once seen interacting onscreen and offscreen or even followed each other on social media- were not only from the same class... but also from the same theater club at their old secondary school in the town of Cumalag.

The Nirvana Magazine persisted to book them for an interview to answer the people's curiosity but was always met with rejection. None of them wanted to do it.

Until Azrael agreed.

Upon hearing the news- like a cliché bandwagon- the rest suddenly changed their minds. Everybody suddenly wanted to participate.

Mysteries and veiled truths from their shared childhood were forced to unveil. Issues on why these stars are no longer in speaking terms, to how much they knew each other, or on what grounds have they decided to pursue a proper career in theater- all were unraveled before the public.

The actors, despite resisting to reminisce about an unspoken past, finally commemorate their wistful youth, old written scripts, innocent rehearsals by a hilltop, juvenile fights, tattered red curtains, lame movie props, an underfunded school club... and a big mishap that separated them permanently.

"Ano ba talagang nangyari?"

From the conducted separate interviews, the actors' individual personality stood out the most. But out of all their differences, there was one common denominator: the projected agony and guilt lingering in the smiles of these world-class stars after that very question was thrown.

"Ano ba talagang nangyari?"

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