1. KATY – This time,fromthe heart 
A spell was cast.
For almost2 weeks lastJanuaryof thisyear, CCP’sTanghalangAurelioTolentinokept Manilaspell-
boundand dazzledwithsonganddance amidstthe tapestryof jazz,swingand bigbandmusic. For
almost2 weeks, Katy!TheMusicalkeptthe people enthralledwiththe life of legendaryFilipinaJazz
singerCatalina“Katy”de la Cruz.
Andthenthe musicstopped,the curtainsclosed - leavinguswhomissed it(me included) atadbitsad
and silentlyfumingandmentallykickingourselvesfor lettingsuchanopportunity pass. Butthe theater
godsare good andwitha stroke of luck,an excitedtextmessageandcall frompartnerincrime –Alexa
(“Pwede kaba??”)- Ifoundmyself (alongwithmypartnerincrime) walkinginthe rainalongOrtigas
Avenue forthe galapremierof Katy!TheMusical.
The Meralco Theaterwas nowthe venue forthe show’ssecondrun(July26-August4, 2013). Despite the
heavydownpourandheaviertraffic –itwasa good numbered crowd. The theater’smainservedas
venue forcocktail hour– an array of Filipinofavoritessuchas balut,sorbets,samalamig,adobong mani,
fish balls, squid balls,okoy, bibingka andputo bumbong –cateredbyViaMare. By the time clock struck
eight,attendantsusheredusintothe theaterforour seats.
Our anticipationwasrewardedasIsayAlvareztooktothe stage once againas Katy – Queenof Philippine
Jazz andVaudeville. TirsoCruzIIIrepriseshisrole asKaty’sover protective butlovingfather, Dulce as
Olivia,LouVelosoasthe endearingDirek,andGianMagdangal as Peping. Epy Quizonalsomade us
believethatthe ComedyKingwasalive andwell –singinganddancingonstage as Golay,Dolphy’sname
duringhistheaterdays. MaestroRyan Cayabyab and the AMP Band weavedmusical magicalongwith
the otherperformerswhotrulygave theirheartwitheverysonganddance.
Leana Tabunargave usa jaw-droppingperformance withherbig,strongvoice-whattasetof lungson
such a tinypackage!Her character as the childKatysetsthe tone onthe greatthingsto come while Cruz
tugs at our heartstringsasKaty’sloving“Tatay”.AicelleSantos,asthe youngKaty,gave us a glimpse on
herlife’searlytriumphsandtragedies,whileIsayAlvarezshowedKaty’s strengthandresilience,and
everygesture she made wascaptivating andeverysongshe beltedoutwas absolutelymusictothe ears.
From Katy’sformed“sisterhood” withMary(yes,Mary Walter!),HannahSanand PatsyPatochayto a
subtle “confrontation”withOlivia,the troupe’sresident“diva”- we satandwatchedandcheeredher
on.A collective sigh,asqueal (ortwo) washeard during“kilig” momentswithKatyand Peping- mga
nakawna sandaliwhile we conspiredwiththe girls tobringthe lovers –KatyandPeping- togetherwhile
hopingandprayingthat Tatay wouldunderstand. One scene reflectedthe pangsandtendernessof a
blossominglove–Katy andPepingcomposingasongthenendingwithakiss. Anothertouchingmoment
was betweenKatyandTatay,withTatay singing“Tignan Mo Nga Naman”,apoignantsongabouta
father’slove forhischild,perhapsreflectingandacceptingthatKatyhas now grown up.But whatreally
touchedmyheart waswhen philanderingPepingvisitedKatyafterhow manyyears. Neverdidthe
words“Kumain ka na ba?”meanmore thanthat as Katy’slove forPepingwasstill alive,andPeping,
thoughwithshame andregretfor hisways,showedKatythatshe hasalwaysbeen“THE ONE”.

2. The onlyminordistractionsthatnightwere those thatarrivedlate,andthe troublesome soundsystem.
But nonetheless,the performancewassimplymagical. The show gave usa peekintoour richcultural
heritage inperformingarts.Italsomirroredsociety –from bodabil’s heydaytothe horrorsof war along
withthe people’schangingtastes.Eachscene wasrivetingandevenamongthe chorusmembers,there
were memorable, agaw-pansin performances(whoeverplayedthatalmosthalf-nakedangel–here’s
anotherroundof applause!).Truly, we shouldreallybringbackmusicalsandstage plays.
Katy!The Musicalis Katyde laCruz’slife story,herrise fromhumble beginningstostardom.Andfrom
beingstarto icon.But for me,this was notjust the storyof Katyde laCruz. It isa love story. A love story
betweenafatherandchild,a manand hiswife,awomanand her career,herfriends,alove storyof a
people forthe arts,the music,and country. A love storyfromthe heart. Andas myheart beginsitsown
healingprocess,whatbetterwaytocap a rainy thanwitha beautiful storyandsongs.
Katy!The Musical
Presented by”SpotlightArtistsCentre
July 26 – August4, 2013
The Meralco Theater
OrtigasCenter
Pasig