Why is it that Ronnie Lazaro almost always corners the roles for doomed, desperate men of the underworld? Greaseman, torero, beggar, ordinary guy on the worst of situations. I'm beginning to think that if there's a short film being done somewhere in Manila, Ronnie Lazaro just has to be in it. Not that I'm complaining, but it's just too much. The way he groans, utters his words, shuffling down the street with that walk. And in this morning's theater rehearsal of an episode of Pahina, he plays Mang Serapio. The episode reeks of Filipino class in high school. It wasn't one of my favorite classes, until our kickasss teacher Miss Ramos threw her weight around.

So, unlike other episodes, where the writers at least link the literary piece with the lives of the high school kids of Bukal, they make no excuse: they have to discuss the piece for today's episode. The kids come for rehearsals of a school play--that's it. So unlike the journey of last week's Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Juan, where the guys go on a journey to Manila looking for the poet Pete Lacaba. Now that was fun.