FRANKLIN, HIS JOURNEY AS AN ARTIST

BY ALLAIZA ECLARINAL AND ANNIE RITA CABRERA

A mentor, a father, an artist. It is hard enough to be an arist but Franklin manages to be an artist, a mentor and a father all at the same time.

Franklin H. Garlejo was born on April 12, 1983. Ever since elementary up to college he was a Louisian. He was also a member of Tanghalang SLU during his university years. He started teaching in 2005 at Baguio City National High School. From 2010-2016 he was the former Special Program in the Arts (SPA) theater arts specialist. During that time, Franklin was also the president of the mentors and specialist in the SPA. By the school year 2016-2017, he taught arts and design in the senior high school department. At present, he is a grade seven master teacher I in the Filipino department. He dropped being SPA mentor in order to increase his master teacher level to be a candidate as an SPA Coordinator.

He joined SLU BH Glee Club wherein he discovered his talent in acting during their school musical entitled “Ang Duyan”. After the success of their first musical,the sequel “Ang Bungo sa paanan ng Birhen” was created where he played the lead role in both plays, that’s where his love for theater grew. So, he took up BSED Major in Filipino in addition for Tanghalang SLU. His skill in the art continued to flourish as he was exposed to the different field in theater.

In order to develop his skills, he joined multiple workshops inside and outside Tanghalang SLU. In the summer he also joined workshops organized by other schools like UP Baguio and the University of Cordillera. Franklin continued to join seminars and workshops even in his professional years.

He even participated in local, regional, national and international trainings under the NCCA and the CCP. Some of his mentors were Karlo Altomonte, Edward Perez, Lutgardo Labad and Dan Romel Riopay.

Even at his prime, he struggled with anxiety and stage frights. He even had a hard time landing roles, however starting from the bottom help him understand theater form its roots. In addition, he was able to manage all the other structures in theater like lights directing, props making, and sound management. When he was given his major break in college the journey to his dreams became brighter. After graduating, Franklin struggled to teach theater arts as a subject but in time he did manage to learn a lot when it comes to the pedagogy in theater arts. Moreover, teaching theater in BCNHS was quite difficult because they had no access to the right room and equipment. The appreciation towards theater arts was not enthusiastic so even financial support was weak but the bright thing he did manage to change that.

Friendship, was the best thing that happened about his theater life. Theater also change his perspective in life. In learning new roles, it deepened his understanding of people plus without theater arts he might not have finished his studies considering that his skills in theater gave him his scholarship in college.

· Major achievement Scholar of tanghalang SLU from 2000-2004

· SPA theater arts mentor/specialist

· 2010-2016 SHS arts and design track major in performing arts teacher

· in 2016-2017 Won the National festival of talents NFOT 2012-2013 shadow puppetry and scriptwriting contest in tacloban Leyte-champion

· Won the National festival of talents NFOT 2014-2015 shadow puppetry and scriptwriting in general Santos city - 3rd runner up

· Director and co-choreographer of the grand slam champion of panagbenga street dancing competition SPA high school category...

· Directed stage plays local to national performances Directed "song of Mateo"

· commissioned work by NEDA-CAR President of the SPA mentors and specialist fr. 2014-2016

· Speaker,lecturer, workshop facilitator of theater arts in diff. Events and invitations

“The only requirement in order to succeed in the arts is to asked yourself, is their passion in your heart” says Franklin. Furthermore he says that “If you only look for money, the arts is not for you.” He says money comes after passion and the arts gives you satisfaction more than a high paycheck.

“You will definitely have struggles and downfalls but never give up on art. Art is Life and Life is art. In understanding what art is, is like understanding what life is all about” - Franklin H. Garlejo