Hotlegs: The beginning

I got this letter from a good friend who reacted to an item on the Hotlegs which we published last week. My friend simply wants to "get the facts right." Hence, I am printing important parts of her letter.

1. Hotlegs was founded in late January 1981, after the group got back from its first Morocco performance.

2. Hotlegs was conceptualized in the living room of Tats and Johnny Manahan with the original members: Cynthia Salang, Lani Fernando, Sandy Hontiveros, Douglas Nierras, Eric Ver, Nelson Salita and Paolo Alcazaren.

3. The name "Hotlegs" came from Mr. M, since it was a "cheap" name with a strong recall.

4. Gina Valenciano-Martinez was in the US at the time but it was assumed that she was joining the group the moment she arrived in Manila, which was what happened.

5. Douglas, Gina and Sandy were not "discovered" via Hotlegs because before joining the group, they were already personalities on their own.

And from my mail, here again is something on the Hotlegs, which will have a dance concert billed Funk-a-delic at Club Mwah, The Venue Tower, Boni Ave., Mandaluyong on Oct. 12 and 19. It already had performances last month. Funk-a-delic will showcase the choreography of Charles Thompson, Nancy Crowe, Cathy Mahusay and Christine Blando with Jason Zamora as guest choreographer. The show will feature some of Manila’s finest performers and DJs Kevin Ruiz, Toy, Kimo Save, Brit of Government and John Verse. Director is Floy Quintos. For tickets call Gel Zabala at 374-3741.

St. Louis... Reviews

Watching good friend Floy Quintos’ obra maestra St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos, is one of the most emotional trips I’ve been to in theater for years. I am not wont to be moved much less cry when watching theater productions. Almost always, I try to hold back my tears. But watching the musical play, I cried unabashedly. Why? Because, there is a Bulan in each of us. In St. Louis… we experience the Pinoy spirit that is still intact in all of us-that after the joys and pain-we are survivors, resilient, pliant and we give hope to one another.

St. Loius... is very timely. These are interesting times. Go watch the play at Teatro Aguinaldo on Nov. 18, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. with matinees at 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 26.

St. Louis… is the first serious work for theater that deals with the infamous exhibition of tribal Filipinos which took place in St. Louis Missouri in 1904. With original music by Antonio Africa and brilliantly directed by Alexander Cortez, and with the UST Symphony Orchestra as accompaniment, St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos has earned rave reviews from critics. Here are what some of them wrote:

Respected columnist Rina Jimenez-David says, that towards the close of the play, she found herself "sobbing and weeping not only for Bulan and his heart-wrenching descent from tribal nobility to rootless bum, but for all of us Filipinos and our thwarted dreams and aspirations."

Alden Copoyuc takes his hat off to Floy Quintos whom he compares to national artist Nick Joaquin: "He is a Nick Joaquin who effectively patches vignettes of history to the story then on stage…." University of the Philippines Chancellor, Sergio Cao, offers that watching St. Louis ... "will instill in us a greater sense of nationalism and teach us a thing or two about the subversive power of art."

St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos casts Arnold Reyes, with Miguel Castro alternating as Bulan. Leo Rialp plays Gustavo Niederlein. Richard Cunanan is Dean Worcester. Jim Paolleli plays Clarence Edwards. Alternating as Fred Tinawid, the Filipino-American narrator in the play are Jake Macapagal and Irra Cenina. Ron Capinding of Tanghalang Ateneo plays Gramps, while veteran radio and stage talent Bon Vibar plays President Theodore Roosevelt.

Agnes Barredo and Rina Saporsantos alternate as Maude. Mae Ann Valentin plays the role of Bulan’s wife, Momayon.