Teatro Tomasino

University of Santo Tomas Teatro Tomasino
Official logo of the Teatro Tomasino
Type University-Wide Theater
Established September 17, 1977
Location Manila, Philippines
Hymn Teatro Hymn
Website www.teatrotomasino.com

Teatro Tomasino is the university-wide theater guild of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines.

History

The group was formed by 25 students under the supervisions of Professor Myrna Hilario and Professor Piedad Guinto on September 17, 1977. March 1977 saw the establishment of the guild's constitution which has undergone numerous amendments to cope with the changing times and a growing company.

Formal workshops started on April 2, 1977 under the watchful eyes of Maryo J. de los Reyes, Soxy Topacio, Jonee Gamboa, Nicanor Agudo, Sonia Roco, Adul de Leon, Sol Oca, Pilar de Gurman, Bernardo Bernardo and the late Lino Brocka. After which, the curtains opened for the first time with the performance of Orlando Nadres' Ang Awit na Hindi Matapos-tapos under the direction of Maryo J. Delos Reyes.

Office is located in the new UST Tan-Yankee Student Center while productions are mostly held either at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium, Albertus Magnus Building or at the Tan Yan Kee Auditorium, Tan Yan Kee Student Center.

The Members

Members are not just trained to perform on stage. All of them are required to go through at least one of the different theatrical aspects. It is surprising to know that a number of members prefer working behind the scenes than in front of an audience. Such endeavors include stage management, technical management, promotions and marketing. Members are strongly pushed to attend different workshops outside the guild. They consistently send participants to the summer workshops of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine Educational Theater Association and Sinag Arts Foundation to name a few.

With the diversity of the members, they are distinguished through these different membership statuses:

Any currently-enrolled member can be elected into office. The Executive Board is made up of the following with their respective duties and obligations as per stated on the guild's constitution: Artistic Director, Technical Director, Business Director, Executive Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Auditor, Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Asst. Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Alumni and Special Events Coordinator. Though due lack of candidates, some lower positions can be dropped while still maintaining the three Directors, a Secretary and an Auditor.

Honorary Members are primarily those who were able to serve the guild for at least four years, from their freshman year until graduation. But after some amendments on the constitution, it was extended to also cover alumni unable to complete four years of active residency and those who are no longer enrolled in the university. Most of the time, they assist the guild in the creative and artistic aspects of the production like directing, designing and even performing on stage as they are the most experienced in the guild.

Old Members are the current student members who have at least 2 years of residency. These members make the majority of the active roster. On the other hand, New Members are those who are still on their first year with the guild. These are the people who have just finished their apprenticeship program and will soon change status to Old Members as soon as there is another batch of New Members.

Old and New Members generally hold the various key positions in the organization.

Apprentices are those who have passed the rigorous auditions but are not yet considered to be bona fide members. Certain requirements must be met in order for an apprentice to be elevated to a member such as attending workshops set by the officers, putting up their own showcase and submitting a certain number of signatures from different members approving them to be members after the program. Due to the lack of experience on both the guild's system and a college theater, they start off as staffs for different theatrical departments.

Furthermore, the guild has two Faculty Advisers and a Professional Adviser.

Auditions

Any aspiring Thomasian seeking admission to the guild must go through a two-part audition which is being conducted annually at the start of the academic year. Although the first half is relatively easy, it is the next half that proves to be the most crucial part of Teatro Tomasino's auditions. The panelists interview and scrutinize down to the tiniest detail the applicant to the point that almost half of them would not even make it to the apprenticeship program. This is done to test and see how these potential members will react to the pressures theater life will add to the demands of their studies and own private lives. Successful applicants then go to an Apprenticeship program before they can be called New Members at the end of the school year.

The Artistic Directors

Name Academic Year College/Faculty
Cristino Carbonell 1977–1978 Engineering
Monette Arroyo 1978–1979 Arts and Letters
Ding Cariaga 1979–1980 Architecture and Fine Arts
Esther Mendoza 1980–1981 Arts and Letters
Totie San Pedro 1981–1982 Arts and Letters
Francis Sta. Maria 1982–1983 Arts and Letters
Diwata Panahon 1983–1984 Pharmacy
Buboy Favor 1984–1985 Arts and Letters
Malou Crisologo 1985–1986 Arts and Letters
Noel Nuguit 1986–1987 Arts and Letters
Xavier Alpasa 1987–1988 Commerce
Tonton Umadhay 1988–1989 Nursing
Ace Hernandez 1989–1990 Education
Roxy Liquigan 1990–1991 Architecture and Fine Arts
Dang Cruz 1991–1992 Education
Mykey Nueros 1992–1993 Science
Judy Reyes 1993–1994 Arts and Letters
Hiyas Matubis 1994–1995 Arts and Letters
Ernesto Carandang II 1995–1996 Arts and Letters
Janeth Zafra 1996–1997 Arts and Letters
Homer Espiritu 1997–1998 Music
Ana Lisa Soriano 1998–1999 Arts and Letters
Frances Karren Lo 1999–2000 Graduate School
Francis Omampo 2000–2001 Arts and Letters
Remedios Bueta 2001–2002 Education
Mary Anne de la Torre 2002–2003 Commerce
Aldous Ian Sta. Rita 2003–2004 Education
John Joseph Santos 2004 - 2005 (1st Semester) Nursing
Carlos Buendia, Jr. 2004 - 2005 (2nd Semester) Architecture
Marie Lorraine Ayson 2005–2006 Commerce
Kristine Anne Guerra 2006 - 2007 (1st Semester) Accountancy
Cindy Chua 2006 - 2007 (2nd Semester) Education
Niña Belle Gavan 2007–2008 Arts and Letters
Joanne Saldana 2008–2009 Education
Avengel Joseph Federis 2009–2010 Education
John Paul Gonzales 2010–2011 Arts & Letters
Jessika Jane Torres 2011–2012 CTHM
Anna Francesca Marfori 2012–2013 Arts and Letters
Marc Alcala 2013–2014 Music
Jetca Marielle Pones 2014–2015 Arts and Letters
Ma. Louies Palad 2015–2016 Commerce

Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night)

Teatro Tomasino holds an annual awards night, dubbed as Gabi ng Parangal (GNP). This is the culminating activity for the year wherein the different productions staged, their casts and respective creative and production teams vie for the different top organizational recognition. This is also where the newly elected officers are sworn into office and officially start their term.

Awards and Citations

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Beyond Theater

Teatro Tomasino for its members is not just an organization but their family in the university. Aside from workshops and productions, team-building activities are also done to further tighten the bond among the members and to let the younger members and their seniors know more of each other personally. Certain get-together events are also held like the guild's Anniversary Celebrations, Christmas Parties and the Gabi ng Parangal.

As per the members' testaments, Teatro Tomasino gives them a home to come back to in UST.

References

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