PH Theaters' Pride: Mike Liwag and Arman Ferrer

Arman Ferrer and Mike Liwag

Having a lot of time in our hands is an effective way to discover new things that we might have taken for granted before. It could either be a taking on a hobby, fixing your room or rummaging your closet for clothes that no longer fits you. Or engaging in a sports activity that was your passion before.

Theater actor Mike Liwag is a fitness buff and if he has time, he’s probably in a gym lifting weights to keep himself fit.

A talented stage actor trying his luck in shwowiz

“But now I can workout at home,” one of the lead actor of PETA’s Under My Skin. “For the first time, sineryoso ko ‘yung home workout. And I realized na kaya rin palang mag-workout sa bahay. Kaya kung gusto kong magtipid at huwag muna magbayad ng membership fee sa gym, pwede naman pala.”

Thankful din si Mike dahil mas marami siyang oras to spend with his parents and his siblings. When he was doing the plkay Under My Skin, he rarely sees his family. Dagdag sa pagiging abala niya ay ang shoot sa Palawan ng movie na Culion.

“Nakabawi ako in terms of time. I was able to clean my room na hindi ko masyadong nagagawa. Saka may oras din ako to catch up on my reading some inspirational books.”

Since nasa bahay si Mike, mas nakakain siya ng healthy food. May oras din siya to watch inspirational films sa Netflix. “I also write things that I am grateful for and the goals that I have in the future. And of course, I pray and reflect.”

Hindi natapos ang full run ng Under My Skin at isa ito sa pinanghihinayangan ni Mike.

“I was so sad, of course, kasi that play deserves to be seen by many. It’s a wonderful advocacy play about HIV but then again, safety and health ng nakararami ang nakatay so siyempre we need to understand that. Ang play can have a re-run but once lives are lost, hindi mo maibabalik,” said the talented actor.

Mike during the Culion media launch

Mike is hoping na once ma-lift ang lockdown ay makukuha na siya trabaho. After doing Culion and then Under My Skin, he is hoping na may dumating na bagong offer na pelikula.

Sa mga nangyayari sa ngayon, Mike is able appreciate life more. “We s

Nalungkot din siya na may mga taong nag-aaway-away sa social media. Malungkot na nga na wala kang masyado magawa sa bahay tapos may word war sa social media.

“Sometimes, you tend to have a panic attack. I wish na sana maging peaceful na tayong lahat. Tapusin na natin ang gulo at magkaisa na lang tayo para masugpo ang virus. Magdasal tayo nang sama-sama at lumaban ba parang iisa.”

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One performer who successfully made a transition from theater to mainstream is singer-actor Arman Ferrer, dubbed as the Prince of Philippine Theater and was named Most Successful Crossover Artist awardee by the Aliw Awards. He starred in several musicales where he made quite an impact.

The lockdown has made Arman realize how important are the things that we sometimes take for granted –handshakes, quality time, hugs, and kisses.

Arman Ferrer

“We are so confident that these things will always be there and we can do them anytime we want. This pandemic proved us wrong. This is a humbling experience for me. It made me realize how short life can be. How everything can easily be taken from me. 

“Life is really, really fragile, we should take good care of it. It also made my faith stronger. We can only do so much against this disease but at the end of the day all we can do is to lift everything up to Him and believe that with His love and divine grace this too shall pass.”