For His Entertainment

Chapter One

I bowed down my head as we ended our performance. We received a round of applause from the audience.

Ngiting ngiti ako sa nakikita ko. We just ended our show for this school's opening. I am now a graduating student and I still can't believe na andito na ako. I can't believe I'm performing in front of everyone - and this, I know in my heart, is my passion.

Performing in front of the big crowd is my happiness. To see them moved or be inspired by me is such an extreme challenge and opportunity. It almost feels like floating in the air, seeing them opening themselves for my performance.

I am a member of the prestigious Entablado organization myself. I found a second family here, and I wouldn't have survived college without them. Ngayong ito na ang huling taon ko to perform with them, it gives me a bittersweet feeling.

I still remember my first day in college. College is where your life changes.

It is the perfect time to be shocked. Culture shocked.

It's a surprise to see different kinds of people. Pakiramdam ko isa akong preso na nakawala sa haula at ngayo'y nakakakilala ng iba't ibang klase ng tao. Sa kolehiyo, walang pakialamanan. Kung bumagsak ka, hindi lalapit ang propesor mo sa'yo. Ultimo ang pag-graduate ay ikaw pa ang kailangang mag-asikaso.

Sa kolehiyo, malaya kang gumawa ng kahit na ano. Kahit hindi ka pumasok, walang lalapit sa'yong Mr. Bejo at papagalitan ka. Dahil sa huli, wala namang ibang iiyak kung bumagsak ka kundi ikaw.

Diyan umikot ang unang sabak ko sa kolehiyo. I needed time to adjust. Fortunately, nakayanan ko naman mag-go with the flow. How? Theater.

Nagsimula ito nang may nagbigay sa akin ng flyer about the Entablado Organization. I wasn't really interested at first but I was bored one day and I tried it out. Doon na nagsimula. I never wanted to stop.

My passion is to entertain, to be in a stage and showcase my talent, to show people that I can. I like it when the attention is on me, and people appreciate what I am as a woman, as a person.

I like acting in front of an audience. I like inspiring people to be a better version of themselves. I like touching people's lives in simple ways. It is in the theater where I can really express myself. Gustong gusto ko ang umarte and I can feel it running through my veins.

It is with theater that I found a purpose-my purpose.

"Let's celebrate!" Pagyayaya ni Irene, one of the members and also my friend, after the program. We were supposed to go to our respective classrooms for the first day of school.

I shook my head and smiled. "Pass muna."

"Ha? Bakit?" Lumapit siya sa akin.

"May pasok pa ako." Tinignan ko ang relo ko. 5 minutes na lang at magsisimula na ang klase ko.

"Kakasimula pa lang ng sem, wala pang prof nyan. Tara na."

Dito sa kolehiyo, ang desisyon ay nasa'yo. Dahil sa huli, ikaw lang at hindi sila ang masasaktan kapag mali ang naging desisyon mo. Umiling ako. "Hindi talaga pwede. Mamaya vacant ko naman. Hahabol ako." Ngumiti ako sa kan'ya para siguraduhing pupunta nga ako.

"Sige, text ka ha."

I nodded at naglakad na patungo sa susunod kong klase. Sa labas pa lang ay rinig ko na ang daldalan sa loob ng room. Agad akong pumasok at umupo sa tabi ng mga nakilala kong kaklase. Being in an organization has its perks, lalo na kung ang organization mo ay Entablado—because basically, everyone knows me.

Natigilan lang ang daldalan nang pumasok ang propesor namin para sa Filipino. Umupo ako nang maayos at tinago ang hawak kong cellphone. He introduced himself as Sir Toledo. Mukha namang mabait itong propesor namin--mukhang mabait lalo na sa mga lalaki.