An Interview With Janina Mendoza on the Production "Isang Gabi, Noong 1979"
In the days nearing the premiere of Quaranteatro’s new production, “Isang Gabi, Noong 1979” directed by Buch Dacanay, we got the chance to interview the play’s lead actress, Janina Mendoza, a sophomore of B.A. Theater Arts in UP Diliman.
We ask her questions about the production and what it’s like to be a theater student this time of quarantine, especially since the year is almost over.
QUESTION: What were your expectations coming into this production? And has it exceed?
JANINA: Everyone is new to this online platform, and as a theatre student who has to experience and be involved in as many productions as possible even (or maybe especially) in the midst of a pandemic, I did not know what to feel. It is my first time working with Buch and I haven’t met him yet so I did not know what to expect. All I knew at that time was that this is going to be a super challenging production given the limitations. And yes, I am surprised and happy to see how the rehearsals and workshops led to the final version of this project.
QUESTION: Kamusta ang rehearsal-process at progreso mo bilang theater artists? Lalo na't jinu-juggle ngayon ang online classes.
JANINA: Sobrang hirap magbalance ngayon dahil sanay ako na noong face-to-face pa lahat, na kapag may prod akong sinasalihan, may clear division talaga ang acads, prods, at pahinga. Because of the pandemic, halo-halo na. Hindi mo na alam kung kelan ang pahinga, kelan ka magpeprepare for the prod, and kelan ang pag-aaral. Kung ano na lang ang kaya ng oras ko, ‘yun ang ibibigay ko. Of course, acads muna talaga inuuna ko lalo na at andami kong units ngayon hahaha kaso etong prods kasi na mga sinasalihan ko, considered na acads na rin for me kasi theatre naman ang course ko and I’ll need them for my portfolio, new learnings, and new experiences.
QUESTION: What is a good or fun memory from the production “1979”?
JANINA: I really love the mini workshops and warm up exercises! I miss doing them with co-actors where you’re all in the same room. I miss hardcore workshops. Iba pa rin syempre ang face-to-face kasi mas naeestablish ang lahat doon, kaya the mini workshops and exercises na ipinagawa ni Buch sa amin... hayyy, parang sobrang nostalgic lang [laughs].
QUESTION: Looking back at your young self na nagt-teatro simula age (x) ano'ng masasabi mo sa progreso mo ngayon? May mga natutunan ka ba looking back at your past theater-self, mga revelations?
JANINA: I was 12 when I had my first actual play pero patigil-tigil ako right after that. There was a time na 2 years akong nagpahinga sa theatre. Walang workshop na sinasalihan or even mini prods. Walang kahit ano. Tapos right after magpahinga, deretso ako sa Theatre Arts ng UP. Sobrang risky move niya dahil para akong lalaban sa big tournament na sobrang tagal na walang training hahaha but since hindi ko naman binitawan yung love ko for the art, hindi naman nawala ‘yung skills ko. It took me months bago makabalik ulit sa dati, and now na sunod-sunod at minsan sabay-sabay pa ang prods na nasasalihan ko, nalagpasan ko pa ‘yung goal ko. Of course, I still have so many things to learn but I can say that I’ve grown a lot. A few nights ago, I watched clips of my very first play back in February 2013. The fact that I cringed the whole time made me realize na, “okay, sobrang laki na nga ng ipinagbago ng acting ko and my techniques.” Pati yung pagtingin ko sa craft, sobrang laki rin ng pinagkaiba kasi I used to look at theatre acting as mere performing after memorizing the script. That was the 12 year old me [laughs].
QUESTION: Ano ilu-look forward namin sa dulang "1979"?
JANINA: You’ll have a glimpse of how it was for families back then. What did safety mean during that time? Or was there even safety? You’ll realize how difficult it was for little kids to process the events that were happening around them. You’ll see how Martial Law had stolen the innocence and childhood of so many children.
QUESTION: HULI, mayron ka bang gustong ipromote na susunod niyong proyekto kung saan makikita ka namin ulit?
JANINA: On going ang “Segunda, Sa Bisperas ng Kalayaan” sa official Facebook page Lipa Actors Company. Mapapanood ninyo ako doon na gumanap bilang Donya Trining. Hinati-hati ang original play, kaya paisa-isang episodes ang mapapanood. You can still watch all episodes na natapos na ma-livestream! Nandun lang sya sa Facebook page.
Excited ako sa mas marami pang projects next year! I’m really hoping na hindi na sobrang tagal bago tayo makabalik sa actual stage. But for now, let us support the online productions na talagang pinaghihirapan at lubos na pinagpaplanuhan ng mga taga-teatro. Hindi mamamatay ang sining!
Lipa Actors Company:
https://www.facebook.com/LipaActorsCompany
Special thanks to Janina Mendoza for the interview!
Catch her in “Isang Gabi, Noong 1979” showing this December 18, 2020
Person in photo: Janina Mendoza
Blog by Carmel Ilustrisimo