126
Smile
May2016
CebuPacific flies toSingapore
fromManila,Clark,Cebuand
Davao.
Cebupacificair.com
lights,woodenswordsandbamboospears
areswungwithfluidprecision.Heroes
shinewhileenemiesarevanquished, and
anancient tale isonceagainsuccessfully
retold.As thecymbalsbangout their
finalnotes, themeagreaudiencebegins
todisperse.Unlike theirWestern
counterparts,Chineseoperaartistsdo
not lineup foracurtaincall; instead,
Carineandhercolleaguesquietlyretreat
backstage toremove thenight’swork
from their faces.Therewillbeneither
flowersnorglowingreviews tonight—or
anyothernight, for thatmatter—but
theseartistsdon’tmindonebit.
“Ifnot for these templeevents, our
wayang troupewouldhavecloseddown
longago,”saysCarineasshecollects
her talent fee—anamount thathovers
betweenSG$60and$90, barelyenough
foraday’sexpenses.Tomorrowshe’llbe
backatherday job, runningagarment
boutique.
“This isn’t somethingwedo for the
money,”Carineadmits. “Everyonehere is
passionateaboutChineseopera, andwe
all tryourbest tokeep thisartalive.This
iswhywecontinuebeingwayang!”
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Gongs, drumsand strings
comprise the troupe's in-house
orchestra
9
Abackstageportraitwhile
theactorwaits in thewings
10
A sceneplaysout onstage
Streetart
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