Photos courtesy of Rachel Alejandro, Joel Trinidad, and Trice Gomez“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…” A line from the musical that changed my life, and, I’m certain, other people’s lives around the world, too. The Tony-winning musical “Rent” that opened 12 years ago, created by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Grief, took its final bow on Broadway last September. It saddens me to think that a Pulitzer Prize winner for drama and a multi-awarded musical did not last as long as “Cats” or the “Phantom of the Opera.” “Rent” represented something different on Broadway: the modern rock musical anchored on a truthful story of AIDS, rendered in a shockingly coherent yet disturbing narrative. When Manila’s “Rent” director Bobby Garcia announced his plan to mount the musical eight years ago, I had no idea what it was about. He asked me to play an ensemble part. I immediately grabbed the opportunity, as I was a starving theater actor in desperate need of a job. Luckily, the actor who was set to play the role of Mark had schedule problems, so the role fell right on my lap. This was the role that changed my life. The month-long run of “Rent” was a huge success. We had a full house at Music Museum every night, and the performance was invariably capped with standing ovations. We garnered rave reviews and an unofficial fan club called the “Rentheads,” whose members watched the play at least five times. The run was extended for two weeks since the audience clamored for more. Our cast had a special bond that was different from any other cast I had worked with. It was a big barkada that imbibed the beautiful message of the play, “No day but today.” We ate together, partied together and shamelessly cried on and offstage together. It was a cast you could truly call an ensemble. Hearing the songs from the musical still gives me goosebumps, the way it did during the run. Michael de Mesa’s “I’ll Cover you” never failed to make me cry. “Angel’s Death” always gave me the chills. It was the power of the melody, the lyrics, and the Pinoy puso felt in every character on stage, and that touched every member of the cast and audience. The success of the musical caught on abroad, and Bobby’s theater company was offered a month-and-a-half-run in Singapore. In the Singapore performance, we welcomed talented local actors from our Asian neighbor. They rehearsed and bonded with us weeks before the show’s opening. It was hectic having shows from Tuesday to Sunday, with two shows on weekends. But it was an amazing experience. We were all billeted in a hotel a stone’s throw away from the theater, so all we had to do was walk to work. It was definitely a great experience performing in a relatively conservative country where the play was billed as “controversial.” The Singaporean government withdrew support from “Rent,” and felt it was too risqué for them to promote. But the controversy, coupled with the rave reviews, ensured that audiences flocked to our show each night. The play, for lack of a better description, was an enormous hit in Singapore—even bigger than it was in Manila. We were all treated like stars. Ah! Our 15 minutes of fame in Singapore … They threw us “Rent” tribute parties almost every week. We had another set of Singaporean “Rentheads” who sent us letters of support and inspiration. We were given special privileges in clubs and other establishments. But none of those privileges could equal the Pinoy cast’s sense of pride whenever we read the reviews of critics who marveled at the talent of the Filipino performers. Some of our co-actors were even offered TV shows and movies in Singapore. After having performed in more than a hundred shows of “Rent,” my heart still desires to do more. I’m quite heartbroken that the world has to bid farewell to the musical, but for now I’m content to look back at all the memories … “the daylights, the sunsets, the midnights, and cups of coffee, the inches, the miles the laughter and strife”—as I measure my life in love. Courtesy of YOU Magazine ‘Rent’ remembered Other “Rent” Manila cast members speak up: “Rent will always have a special place in my heart. Rarely do you get an opportunity to direct a trail-blazing musical that redefines musical theater and also ushers in a new generation of theatergoers. The words, music and too-short life of the brilliant Jonathan Larson will always inspire me.” —Bobby Garcia, director “My ‘Rent’ experience has made me a better person. Not only because of its message but also because of the friendships that grew from it. ‘No day but today!’” —Michael De Mesa (Collins) “You get a glimpse of an ideal world where love resides. Where people discern differences with no judgment. A spiritual journey that you keep close to your heart. ‘No other road, No other way, No day but today!’” —Jake Macapagal (Angel) “We had fun onstage and off- (both musicians and actors). It was good. It was pretty special. It also introduced me to a lot of really cool people.” —Lyn Sherman (Joan) “It was one hell of fun working with very talented people. A month spent mostly on shopping, work and shopping … When it was time to do the show, it was like playing with awesome actors and getting paid at the same time.” —Anna Fegi (Joan) “Rent was definitely memorable for me because it was the last musical my father saw me in before he passed away. He was diagnosed with cancer and was weak, but he climbed the stairs of Music Museum just to see me.” —Calvin Millado (Roger) “It was the first time I let co-actors into my life as friends, not just colleagues. The ‘No day but today’ idea undoubtedly had something to do with it.” —Joel Trinidad (Ensemble/Mark) “The time I spent in Singapore performing as ‘Mimi’ was the most fun and unforgettable experience of my life. Not only did I make life-long friends in the cast, but for the first time I understood what it felt like to be exactly where I was suppose to be. Being on that stage, singing those songs—everything just clicked. I knew then it was what God had intended for me all along. It was an amazing feeling.” —Rachel Alejandro (Mimi) Courtesy of YOU Magazine | 
