As we continue to bring more cheers of good luck to Roeder Camanag, here are "27" interesting notes about his life, love and career.
Q1: BEING BORN UNDER THE SIGN OF A SCORPIO, ONE VERY DISTINCT CHARACTER YOU LIKE IS TO BE SURROUNDED ALWAYS BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND / OR YOUR FIRST CIRCLE OF CLOSEST FRIENDS. YOU ARE POPULAR WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING CASUAL DINNERS AND GET-TOGETHER OCCASIONS. NAME AT LEAST FIVE 'DREAM' GUESTS. WHAT WILL YOU SERVE THEM ? Angela Lansbury, Judy Dench, Ian McKellen, Zoe Caldwell. Our chicken and pork adobo — hope no one is vegetarian!
Q2: WHAT IS YOUR DIVINE DECADENCE ? AFTER WORK ? STRESS BUSTER ? SUNDAY SWEET SUNDAY ? I always take a few bites of chocolate - dark chocolate - when I am stressed. I also drink lots of lemon water. I treat my body with a deep tissue massage every week. I love spending time with my mom and my nephews on Sundays.
Q3: FOR INSPIRATION, WHO ARE YOUR HEROES ? The elder members in my family continue to serve as my strength and inspiration. My mother is my hero. Who I have become today is largely due to the guidance of my mentors, and the creative artists I have worked with all these years — their passion, discipline, humility and integrity inspire me. My VCCPA (spell out) Chairman Dr. Nedeña Torralba is a woman I hold in high esteem, My current voice teacher Pablo Molina is also someone who I will be always grateful to.
Q4: WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PASSIONS AND INDULGENCES AND YOU ALWAYS LIKE TO 'COLLECT' ….. WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY ? I’m a cat person. I have 3 cats at home and I have a few decorative cat collection.
Q5: IF YOU WERE A LUXURY CAR, WHAT BRAND SHALL IT BE AND WHY ? I’ll be a Hummer. Strong enough to protect me from the storm, high enough to pass through life’s flooded avenues, and tough enough to pass through life’s rough roads. I like to drive smoothly to wherever destination I would want to go.
Q6: IT HAS ALSO BEEN EVIDENT THAT DIFFERENT WORKS OF ART PUNCTUATE YOUR LIFE AS AN ACTOR FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. DO YOU APPROACH YOUR WORK WHEN DOING A PLAY OR A MUSICAL AS A SORT OF ART PIECE ? THE PROCESSES INVOLVED ? Oh Yes, as Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics go — Putting it together.. bit by bit…piece by piece. My creative process is driven by passion, humility and sincerity. Passion because it’s always rigid and you need something to constantly keep the sparks. Humility because I’m always open to collaboration, sharing and learning. I’m not afraid to say ‘I do not know’ and ask questions. Learning and discovery fascinate me.
Q7: WHAT MUSIC GENRE RESTS ON YOUR AURAL SENSE ? BOOKS ? MAGAZINES ? FILMS? Actually, it depends on my mood. There are days when classical music sets my pace, but I try to be open, too. I love the complexity and freedom of fashion. I love reading biographies of artists, too.
Q8: DO YOU CONSIDER THE ‘YOUNGER’ ACTORS WHO HAVE BEEN SCHOOLED IN THE BEST INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS A THREAT TO YOUR CAREER? DO YOU BELIEVE IN THIS ? No, not at all. we all have different sources of learning and improving. No one can be a threat unless you allow them to be.
Q9: FASHION ICON NORMAN BLACKWELL IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS ANNUAL ‘BEST AND WORST DRESSED LIST. IF YOU WERE TO RATE YOURSELF, WHAT WERE YOUR BEST AND WORST COSTUMES / OUTFITS IN THE NUMEROUS PRODUCTIONS YOU APPEARED IN ? WHY ? I can’t name a worst costume. But I do have favorites. My costume in Drakula , Tibag, and Ligawang Ligaw are some of my favorites. The scene where I am naked in Drakula does not count.
Q10: CONQUERING THE INTERNATIONAL THEATER SCENE IS A FILIPINO ACTORS DREAM OR EVEN DOING AN INTERNATIONAL FILM. DOES THIS REST IN YOUR WISH LIST ? WHY ? Yes. You try everything at least once to know, to taste, to understand, to feel, to experience.
Q11: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THEATRE GENRE ? LEAST LIKED ? all.. But right now very interested Komedya or Moro Moro . I believe it’s our classical theater it’s our Shakespeare.
Q12: WHAT IS A ROEDER LIKE IF YOU WERE WERE TO BE ASKED ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN FASHION. I love casual. I love chic. I love comfort.
Q13: MODERN ART OR CLASSICAL ART ? WHY ? Both .. I acknowledge their respective merits.
Q14: WHAT IS THE ‘COOLEST’ PLACE (CITY, TOURIST DESTINATION) YOU HAVE BEEN ? Berlin In Germany, Venice in Italy, and the Dinagat Island in Mindanao
Q15: “ TELL ME WHO YOUR FRIENDS AND I’LL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE.” WHO ARE YOUR FIRST CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND WHAT MAKES THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP INTACT ALL THESE YEARS ? I have a lot,.. !!! They’re my extended families. Trust. Love.
Q16: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE ? AS COMFORT ZONE ? YOU CAN ACTUALLY NAME AT LEAST FIVE. In the shower. On every performance stage. In the kitchen. In the steam room. On my mother’s lap.
Q17: RUMOR AND INTRIGUES ARE SYNONYMOUS TO ONE’S CHOSEN CAREER. HOW DO YOU COPE UP WITH RUMORS ? ARE YOU PRONE TO FIGHT BACK AND STING THEM AS A SCOPRION ? It Depends ..some i brush it off…But I’m a worst Enemy
Q18: WHAT WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE ? Entering a mine cave for a film shoot.
Q19: EVEN IF THE WORD ‘RATIONALE’ BECOMES A DAY-TO-DAY PROCESS IN OUR LIVES, WHAT WERE THE ‘ WRONG DECISIONS ’ YOU HAVE TAKEN ?. Now that I’m older I don’t consider them wrong it may sound cliché’ but they were lessons that’s how I see it now.
Q20: WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS ? when you are at peace with your self. AND WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU HAPPIEST ? on stage
Q21: WHAT OR WHO IS THE GREATEST LOVE OF YOUR LIFE ? performing is my greatest love
Q22: CAREER YOU WOULD WANT IF NOT AN ACTOR : Acting is the only career I want.
Q23: MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO PERFORM FOR A LIVING: when I joined my 1st singing contest in high school
Q24: PRE-SHOW RITUALS OR WARM-UPS: I always wear a robe in the dressing room while preparing for every performance, during warm up and while I put on my make up. I usually come in the theater early and spend 30 minutes on stage by myself.
Q25: CURRENT STATE OF MIND: Unclogged
Q26: WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ACTORS: Value Discipline, Take the craft seriously but not your self. Be sincere.
Q27: HOW IS 2015 SHAPING UP? WHERE TO FROM HERE ? IS THERE ANY ‘DREAM’ JOB, THAT ONE THING YOU REALLY LIKE TO DO OR WORK ON? I will still be very much on stage TV and Film ,. I Dream of staging a concert and finish another concept album. and if everything goes well, put up my own performing arts training center.
And who is Roeder Camanag behind the scene according to his friends and co-workers.
Director/choreographer DEXTER MARTINEZ SANTOS:
Back in 2000, I met Roeder in "Luna:An Aswang Romance." . I was a theater student who was part of the cast. I could still remember how he effortlessly performed a monologue as he weaved himself from one suspended bamboo to the next. No complaints. No inhibitions.
Eight years after, the late Bong Embile was supposed to play Boulasem in Dulaang UP's "Orosman at Zafira." Two weeks before the opening, Bong had to leave due to health reasons. Roeder came in to the rescue. He came to rehearsals prepared. He has memorized his lines and was very eager to learn the complicated choreography. He didn't just master the combinations, he was able to infuse his strong dance background in the execution. He personalized it ... his movements were precise but charged with character and intention.
He reprised the role in 2010... giving Boulasem with much ease ... with a darker temper. Students on the wings watched in awe as the archaic text rolled into his tongue with so much clarity.
For Orosman at Zafira's professional run in 2011 , he took on the challenge to play Abdalap, Boulasem's son. The role required more from him physically and vocally . But as usual , he owned the role. His Abdalap was not only cunning , it was also painful and devastating. He reprised the role in the National Theater Festival in CCP. Up to now, I give him my high respects for being able to successfully portray Abdalap amidst the great demands of the role. The other members of the cast were 20 -10 years younger than him but he was able to deliver. ( as usual )
In 2013 he played the Chinese tycoon , Stephen Yan in DUP's "Collection" with so much wit and restraint . He was also Mang Paco in Bit by Bit's "Maxie the Musicale". He had a hard time learning his song during the music rehearsal but during the staging rehearsals, he had already mastered his songs. Notes on the dot. Nuances were clear. Songs were utterly bitter.
When Floy Quintos told me that he has a Mabini musical, Roeder was the only and first actor that came into my mind. Floy told me that he has already taught of an actor who will play the lead role. I was very afraid that he might be thinking of somebody else but to our surprise , we were both eyeing for Roeder .
I still believe that Roeder is one of the most underrated actors in Philippine Theater. "Ang Huling Lagda ng Mabini" is our 7th production together. Finally , a theater production that am directing with Roeds in the lead role. It was/is/will always be a privilege to work with an actor who is disciplined, brilliant but very humble. He is an actor who listens. He is an actor who is willing to experiment and saturate possibilities. He is an actor who successfully owns every role because he works hard for it.
Roeder is a gift to every director. You tell him what you want and he gives you more than what you want ... impeccably.
Director/actor/writer DENNIS MARASIGAN:
I have worked with Roeder in theater and film, and that is largely because he is one of the most dependable and talented actors the country has today. Coupled with his talent is the passion to always push himself beyond his comfort zone, such that he disappears completely into his roles. His American Robert in "Pilipinas Circa 1907" (2007) and Chinese Filipino Errol in the film "Vox Populi" (2010) are just some examples of his acclaimed performances.
Playwright/director/actor RODY VERA :
Walang kiyemeng maghubad sa Virgin Labfest. (may following na siya hahaha) first time sa dinirek kong play "Three Unsent Letters"-- no problem kahit nangangatog siya sa loob ng tub filled with water and rose petals floating at the top. Ang mga bakla sa audience wanted the balcony seats so they can see from top view !
And so I guess when he did it again this time for an Indonesian play "Threesome" -- wala na lalong kiyeme. full frontal kung full frontal. Gow!
Roeder is such a loveable friend backstage-- sa "Stageshow" at sa "Apples from the Desert." We're always dressing roommates. He will have his iPod packed with songs by Rosemarie Clooney or Bette Midler and will bring along a biography of one of those theater moguls/celebrities on Broadway or Hollywood. And he would talk endlessly about so many things, while putting on his makeup.
And then he would give me tips on how to put on makeup, what makeup items to buy. Will suggest color, shade of foundation.
But always with a smile, it's all part of his day. Di ko alam kung professional yun o he just really loves doing it, or accepted that it's really part of the life he's living.
I think it's more of a calling, than just being professional.
Actress MAE PANER:
Ewan ko pero may feeling ako na Roeder is so much more than the roles and recognition given him thus far. Sa dalawang play na pinagsamahan namin, ang "Insiang" at "Stageshow", hindi lang husay sa pag arte, pag awit at pag sayaw ang bilib ko kay Roeder kundi pati ang kawalan ng DIVAness.
Sa "Insiang" may eksenang lumakad lang siya ng dalawang minuto sa iskwater bilang shoke pero dalawang oras ata nya itong pinaghahandahan tuwing show.
At sa parehong play machong basketball player din sya.
At walang bahid ng isa ang isa pa. Husay!
Sa "Stageshow" naman ay bida sya - ibang level ang requirement nun sa acting, singing at dancing bukod pa sa energy pero 101% ang binigay nya sa lahat.
Minsan, para sa thesis ng mga estudyante napalaklak siya ng tunay na gamot at isinugod nya sarili nya sa ospital. After, wala syang bitterness.
Happy to serve lang.
Kung bading nga ako liligawan ko si Roeder eh, at iibigin ng wagas!
Actress LIESL BATUCAN:
I love Roeder! I fondly call him my Sweetie. He is such an angel in my life.
He is truly kind, loving, generous, thoughtful, funny and incredibly sweet --
a true gem of a friend. As an actor/singer/dancer, he is the total package -- immensely gifted, completely professional, highly intuitive and very collaborative -- making him sheer joy to work with. My experience of working with him in TP's "Stageshow" at the CCP was nothing short of magical.
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