Eksena Manila

Last July 19, 2008, Eksena Manila was given the opportunity to be featured in a news-magazine show called Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (One in Heart, Jessica Soho), in one of the country’s largest TV network, GMA Network Inc. Hosted by a veteran news reporter and Peabody-awardee, Jessica Soho, the show features insightful stories that cover a wide range of topics. It focuses on themes with human interest and socio-cultural relevance, as well as cultural trends and perspectives are also tackled in the program.

They asked us to do remakes of our previous missions to be featured in the show, which we willingly obliged. We redid mission 3, LRT Chorale and mission 2, Slo-Mo.

Here is the video and the transcript of the segment we were featured on:

Transcript:

Jessica Soho: Some of you might have ridden with them at the MRT or met them in the street. A group of young people who act as if they have lost their minds, but in reality it is only a part of their gimmick to grab our attention, nevermind that we think they are crazy.

Are you fed up with your everyday routine?

Street Preacher: In the lakes of fire that is called Hell

Jessica Soho: Have you commited to memory every scene that happens in your day? Did it ever once occur to you to want to see something different? The good news is, there is now a group of young people who make a way so that the monotony and boredom of our lives will be broken…The group of Eksena Manila. Their modus operandi, I mean, their method, they would ride the MRT as if they didn’t know each other, but once they are all in place they would just break out into song…

Eksena Manila: WOOHOO!!! —”Maling Akala” by the Eraserheads —

Jessica Soho: It’s their own way (gimmick) to spread joy to every Filipino,especially in the times when they very least expect it.

There are some who are pleased about it…

Old Lady 1: “That gives inspiration coming home, okay. Very good!”

Jessica Soho: While others snub them, while others still are dubious about the group’s intention…

Old Lady 2: “Maybe they want to rob us that’s why they are making alot of noise [to distract us]”

Eksena Manila: ***More singing***

Agent Minari: There’s this thrill in what we are doing, after the thrill, even if there are negative comments, at least we have the satisfaction that we did something that is good.

Jessica Soho: Eksena Manila was established just this year and they introduce themselves as a group of bored young people, that’s why they thought up of making different scenes in public spaces. All these they do so that they can alleviate the boredom of the people.

Meet Pao, a 22 yr old, member of Eksena Manila; currently taking up Consular Diplomatic Affairs at the College of Saint Benilde…He acknowledges it was his childhood dream to become an actor.

Agent Pao: I liked to show-off when I was a kid. For example if there are parties, they would make me sing or dance. I would join school plays.

Jessica Soho: But because his passion is unrelated to his course, he uses the gimmicks of Eksena Manila as an outlet for his acting ability.

Like for this afternoon, they plan to slow the world in a park in Manila…by simultaneously going in slow-motion. In just a few minutes they begin to make a scene…And as expected, the hecklers became disoriented and there were even some who from watching too much fell off the stage. While this one [highlighted girl in uniform] seems to have been affected by Eksena Manila.

Producer (off-cam): Were you bothered [by what they were doing]?

Passerby: I was bothered and it was irritating because it’s rush hour

Agents Verna18, Hogi, Nica, Mikey, Eji, PrincessK, Jen & Grachelle: It was fun! Yeah! Fun!

Agent Hogi: It was fun because I was able to apply my acting skills!

Agent Nica: I’m shaking!

Prof. Josephine Aguilar, Sociologist: There are some who would be annoyed, while some would enjoy and join in. If alot of them are frustrated actors and actresses, at least they have in mind other avenues to showcase their talent, okay, and at that point they might get known because they will be shown on TV. For those who could not accept [what the group is doing], it’s much better to just ignore them.

Jessica Soho: Eksena Manila’s past time is called Public Performance; it doesn’t just necessarily show the lack of attention of most Filipinos but also a way of sharing their talents to others.

In other countries, Public Performance has been rising in popularity, performers show-off their skills in tourist spots…But for most of them, this is their means to live.

Here in the Philippines, this type of work is starting to catch up.

Contributed by: Agent Denise