A review: 'night Mother

PETA's 50th season-ender might be far from their usual productions with musical endings, but 'Night Mother is a must watch for every one with a mother and for everyone who knows or might be suffering from depression. It is running at the PETA Theater Center until March 18. I have never seen so much relatable play like this one and PETA has achieved new level of awareness and understanding mental illness and suicidal attempts.

The 1.5-hour play sets in the simple home of Jessie (Eugene Domingo) and Thelma (Sherry Lara) that resembles much of our mothers' and grandmothers' homes in the 80s or earlier and I want to congratulate the set designer for bringing the sense of home to the audience. It has transported us to a place where good memories in contrary what Thelma and Jessie would be discussing throughout.

It's a strong exchange of dialogues that were affecting us in so many ways and levels. Thelma's simple and motherly reminders to Jessie are very touching, makes me want to cry when I remember similar words from my mother. When she tells some things that I may have forgotten, where to find them and what they are for. Jessie's lines on the other hand much resembles of me, sometimes when our parents get stubborn, we get impatient but still we have to control. Eugene Domingo and Sherry Lara made us love their characters and portrayed Jessie and Thelma very well. And I think that's a very familiar scene in all of us. But in spite of many shortcomings between a mother and a child, memories last but we still love each other no matter what. There will come a time that we will decide our own fate and leave them and in the end, we will resort to their care and company.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is Jessie's depression and that Thelma failed to stop Jessie's suicide episode. I brighten and gives us a learning that we should always be there for other people. That the power of conversation is very important in every relationship. It was great to see members of the Philippine Mental Health Org are there to educate us about mental illness. If you are in need of mental health support please call the 24/7 HOPELINE at (02) 804.4673; (0917) 558.4673 or 2919 (Toll Free for all Globe and TM subscribers).
'Night Mother runs until March 18. Directed by Melvin Lee, in memory of Director Soxie Topacio.

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Eugene Domingo is back in theater with 'night, Mother.

TV and movie actress Eugene Domingo comes back to her first love as a theater actress in PETA's 50th anniversary season-ender, 'night, Mother alongside Sherry Lara. 'night, Mother is a play by American playwright Marsha Norman and adapted by Ian Lomongo. Melvin Lee directs the PETA version and will be playing at the PETA Theater from February 2 to March 18, 2018. The play won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

'night, Mother opens up certain issues that were not being discussed within the walls of the family that we had normally forgotten. In a 10-minute excerpt that was presented to the press last December 6, it seems that even mother and daughter Jessie (Eugene Domingo) and Thelma (Sherry Lara) doesn't even know the person they are talking to. A very dangerous and sad reality happening among families not just from the country where the play was adapted but also here in the country.
It talks about different topics like mental health, family issues, and more. Eugene remembers when she first did this play when in Dulaang UP where she played as Thelma. As an open book to every one around her, she makes it sure that she and every one has someone to talk to, to talk about issues in life or even just to let the person know that there's someone beside him or her. Like her, we should also be having deep conversations with the people around us.

A post shared by Omar Itay (@ohmski) on Dec 6, 2017 at 6:46am PST

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TUHOG is not your expected plot

TUHOG as used as a word in the Philippine vernacular may sound a little not right but a movie entitled with this is ready to change your perception, not just with the word, but with life.

starring Eugene Domingo, Leo Martinez, Enchong Dee, Jake Cuenca and Empress, TUHOG reveals to us that each person is connected with one another and a realization that anything may happen in life and we should learn how to appreciate every time that we have.

each actor also lives by their own mantras about life and admittedly living it up to this day. they serve as inspirations to live every day in a positive outlook and never fails to pray.

the actors also appreciated the way their director, Veronica Velasco, made the treatment to this movie. making sure that all scenes were shot according to her preferences. a well-executed movie that took a lot of patience for every person involved. not only as a movie to sell, but with a lesson to learn by this Cinemalaya awardee.

don't miss this movie on July 17 in theaters. for more information about TUHOG, you may follow Star Cinema on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

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BONA review

admitting i'm a fan of the one and only Eugene Domingo, it was a great pleasure seeing her comeback to the theater scene in PETA Theater's BONA, where she plays the title role.

BONA is based in the 1980's movie by Lino Brocka, starring Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador. with the same style of plot while set in contemporary Manila, BONA is about a call center agent who became a fan of a talent search Star of Tomorrow wannabe, Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman).

after hearing his story in the show, she has already connected herself to him and devoted all her resources. despite of the hopeless future for the actor, she continues to support him in every way possible until she loses most things she had. and with chosen circumstances, Bona had developed a romantic feeling as Gino found better ways to take advantage of her.

it was long before Bona realized that Gino is taking advantage of her. her exhaustion from efforts and money giving in to the media people to save Gino's career, caused her to get angry to Gino and even herself. she didn't even listen to the people around her about the things happening because she fell in love. now that she had nothing, also a potential lover is not an answer to come to when she needed help.

we saw Eugene's flexibility as an actress and this was a tedious work for her. grateful to PETA for offering her the role as she misses her first stint as an actress. it's good that they capitalized first on Eugene's strength as a comedienne and we were introduced on how she can be a dramatic actress. bravo in every single scene, even her co-actors, Edgar Allan and the rest.

also, the story development draws audiences to the highs and lows. first part is a sitcom where you would obviously have fun. you'll get to know Bona more and what she does. you'll know her friends and family too. i swear, you'll love them all. and as the story progresses, you will wish to save her condition and applaud her as she redeems herself.

another character which maybe unsung from the other reviews is her landlord, (Juliene Mendoza) who gives the striking lines, pick-up lines that is.

Bona is written in such a way where its audiences will easily relate to Bona. her character, her friends, her dreams and it seems that Bona help us realize that we are all like her in many cases. so the lesson here is how we can control ourselves and still love.

PETA's BONA runs from August 24 - September 23, 2012 at the PETA Theater, #5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. tickets are still on sale at Php 1000, Php 800 and Php 600. please support Philippine arts.

photo credits Jory Rivera of BroadwayWorld.com

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EUGENE DOMINGO is BONA

in tribute to renowned and multi-awarded director, Mr. Lino Brocka and only Philippine superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) brings the classic story of fan and idol in the modernized BONA. starring Eugene Domingo as Bona and Edgar Allan Guzman as Gino Sanchez. playing from August 24 to September 23, 2012 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

in today's rendition of Bona, Bona is a call center agent who finds an eye to Gino Sanchez who comes out from a TV talent search, Star of Tomorrow. she followed Gino's career and eventually invested all of her strength, time and resources taking care of the actor. his father and friends tried to stop her from doing it, but her admiration grows into obsession despite that the actor only has the poor reputation in the industry. on the other hand, this opens the idea for Gino to abuse Bona's efforts and take all her resources. even more, he seduces Bona. what's left is, will Bona stay as Gino's emotional slave or will she regain her normal self as the people around her wishes her to be?

back on the theater scene, Eugene Domingo finds herself grounded again and devoted her time to all duration of the run. she remembers when she starts from theater in UP where she had a very strict training, very different from the PETA crowd where she had a fun time. although, she thanked both theater companies for molding her talent the way we appreciate it today.

one of the major discussions during the press conference is her long kissing scene with Edgar Allan who is relatively young from her. Edgar noted that it was sweet but Eugene stressed that it was minty. she had to prepare very well of the scene as it will be more talked about when more people see it on stage.

BONA starring Eugene Domingo is presented by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) under the direction of Soxie Topacio.

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KIMMY DORA 2 official trailer released!

Star Cinema and Springfilms Productions brings back the one and only Eugene Domingo in the second installment of Kimmy Dora. and now they take on horror under that wholly funny concept in Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme! this movie is set in the middle of July this year!

Eugene Domingo plays both Kimmy -- the very intelligent and conceited daughter and heading the business framework of the Go Dong Hae Empire, and Dora -- the lovable twin sister of Kimmy whom she despised from the previous movie. Dingdong Dantes as Johnson, who is undoubtedly inlove with Dora and Zanjoe Marudo as Barry from the provinces play the love interests. Ariel Ureta as Luisito Go Dong Hae is Kimmy and Dora's very understanding father. Miriam Quiambao serves as Gertrude, Kimmy's pretty assistant and punching bag for incompetence.

written by Chris Martinez and directed by Joyce Bernal under Springfilms Productions, take a glimpse on this newest trailer:

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ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK for OSCARS

from the whopping 5 awards in the Cinemalaya 2011 -- including Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Director -- Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) now vies for the biggest award for a foreign movie, the Academy Awards. increase its potential to be included in the nominees and take pride in the Filipino talent of film making.

any genre almost fit in a 90-minute clip. comedy, drama, documentary, musical themes that might just receive an Oscar. educational too, learn Acting 101 with the Best Actress Eugene Domingo. joining her taking lessons in experience are JM De Guzman, Kean Cipriano and Cai Cortez.

this movie, not just as played by Eugene Domingo, has a lot of factors to consider. let her tell you why in this full trailer:

vote for Ang Babae sa Septic Tank at the Oscars. let the world know how it can cross the barriers of independent film making to the mainstream. we know that audiences are getting more and more intelligent in choosing a very good movie. when i saw it, i was very amused in the script and the acting abilities of her co-stars. giggled how Cai managed to be in the movie without saying anything. PETA for the musical number, and with special participation of Cherry Pie Picache and Mercedes Cabral.

this also opens the view of the audience on how to create an independent film. ups and lows but all for the fun and love it. if you have missed it, watch out for another release.

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Eugene Domingo for Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi

at last, i finally met the box office comedienne and 2011 Cinemalaya Best Actress for Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Eugene Domingo in an intimate dinner/press conference held in a restaurant in Tomas Morato. this time, she will play a wife trying to get out of marriage and discouraging Tony Gonzaga who wants settle down in "Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi."

in the movie, Tony is a balikbayan from Japan who is in the process of falling in love wanting to get married. as she dreams of being a lovely wife, Eugene gets into the scene shattering Tony's ideals and enumerating all downsides of being a wife.

actors Wendell de Guzman plays Eugene's husband and Zanjoe Marudo as Tony's love interest.

director Joey Reyes also shared the professionalism of Eugene Domingo in the industry that's why is loved by most people. from her discovery in the theater, to television until bigger in the silver screen. Eugene was from UP doing stage plays before and if she was given the time, she wants to get back.

the first time that they will be together as leads in one screen, Eugene Domingo shared her fun experiences and admiration to Tony Gonzaga as a bubbly and a very professional actress that inspired her to live out life. see the trailer below:

catch Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi, a laughter-filled comedy in and out of love, brought to us by Star Cinema and Octoarts Films. opening on August 31 in theaters nationwide.

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Kimmy Dora now showing on SM Cinemas!

we'll have a great laugh as Eugene Domingo stars in a dual role as Kimmy and Dora in Kimmy Dora: Ang Kambal sa Kiyeme! which is NOW SHOWING in SM CINEMAS! we can now catch it anywhere we want! this is Eugene's first movie as a lead character.

as the title suggests, the movie delivers the funny antics of Eugene Domingo. she plays Kimmy, the intelligent, beautiful, sexy and rich twin sister of Dora who is otherwise. Kimmy fights over the love of a resident hunk in their company named, Johnson, played by Dingdong Dantes, who gives his full attention to Dora.

Dora on the other hand has been getting all the Kimmy wants. the rights to the Go Dong Hae Empire managed by their father Luisito (Ariel Ureta); and the love of Johnson.

other casts include Zanjoe Marudo and Miriam Quiambao in her first comedic role as Kimmy's assistant who endures all pain as Kimmy's punching bag when she is stressed.

watch the trailer and other clips with some downloadables of Kimmy Dora at www.kimmydora.com

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