Russ Ligtas, 28, is a performance artist born and raised in Cebu who recently moved to Manila. He is a guest artist at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and for four consecutive weekends that ends on Dec 13, he stages a series of performance art called “Naluwas Si Ligtas Sa Manila”. This Friday, he is Mdm B Niyaan (a pun on a Cebuano word for abandoned), and walks in circles on the CCP ramp while dancing, singing and reacting to the audience. On Dec 13, he plays and sings along to the national anthem 115 times as he walks from the stretch of Roxas Boulevard to Rizal Park. We catch up with the UP Cebu Fine Arts graduate while he listens to Maria Callas in Tosca, waiting to start a massage.
Hi Russ, what brings you to Manila?
Well, while I had a very spoiled time nesting in Cebu, it felt like it was time I bring my practice to a bigger audience. In a sense, speak to a larger crowd, and find out what more I can do with my craft as a visual artist and perhaps also as a person. You see, I’ve never lived anywhere else in my life. It’s kind of like cutting the cord from a lot of things and persons.
You moved here in February, from Cebu. Are you here for good?
More indefinitely than permanently, I guess. It’s been quite a ride here.
Have you found a favorite watering hole yet?
Not really, not yet. In Cebu, I had Turtle’s Nest, which I went to almost everyday, almost like a second home. But I’ve been going to the Bar@1951 in Malate (1951 M Adriatico St, Malate, Manila. Tue-Sat 6pm-2am. +63 917 8583009) a lot of my weekends. It’s what some my friends call the “new” Penguin Café.
So tell me something about your performance on Dec 6.
This Friday, I will be manifesting another one of my alter egos. Her name is Mdm B. Niyaan. She is the first one I ever had to create, to deal with a very specific reality. Her name is a pun on the Cebuano word “Biniyaan”, which means abandoned. The Friday’s performance takes off from the original one-hour piece called “Mdm B. Niyaan is Russ Ligtas” that runs like a step-by-step exercise where I transform into and out of the alter ego to deal with the pain and memory of a frustrated love affair. This second version of “Being B. Niyaan” runs for eight hours. I will be that persona wandering around the CCP fountain.
Strange. If you add an extra “y” that word means blessed in Tagalog. Anyway, the original plan was you were going to walk the whole stretch of Roxas Boulevard, what happened to that?
Oh that’s still happening, on Dec 13.
And which character will you be?
“Bayang Magiliw” culminates the series and I will be doing that as Russ Ligtas. I will be playing the national anthem of the Philippines 115 times within the duration of the walk.
Why 115 times?
It’s the number of years since our independence. The number of years since our destiny as a country has been in our hands as a people. For me, that carries a lot of baggage, mostly disappointment, but i have to accept that as a Filipino.
Where does it start and when does it end?
If you put all the time spent by the song, it will take about five-plus hours. I will be using the intervals to walk the distance. The performance starts at 2pm by the CCP marquee/flagpole and will end at Luneta Park in front of Rizal’s shrine. I’ll probably get there around 8pm.
Will you be singing the national anthem in different languages?
No just one, in Pilipino. It’s a way of establishing my national identity. Something I can no longer escape living here in Manila. I will be playin the song on a portable sound system but will sing it a capella when I finally face Rizal to end the performance.
Have you always been nationalistic?
I’m 28. I never was (an activist about being Filipino). I was an activist in different things. As a Cebuano and living in Cebu, my national identity was something I could avoid. But being here and deciding to grow my practice, it was something I had to come to terms with.
What’s the best thing you’ve heard about your work?
While I performed my other alter ego, Happy, during the first installment of this series, I found myself in the company of some children. I guess they were quite attracted to Happy’s colors. And they were very inquisitve, as Happy doesn’t speak, I couldn’t talk back but gestured my way instead. They asked and said many things. They peered into my eyes. “His eyes look sad. Don’t be sad. We’ll take care of you”. One small girl grabbed my hand and said, “It’s shaking, just like ours.”
What’s the worst thing you’ve heard?
The worst thing is when people just leave and don’t say anything at all.
What makes Manila Manila?
That’s a tricky question. Well, this is just my personal experience, considering all the changes I had to adjust to. I keep telling my friends, Manila is like boot camp. It’s mental, physical, emotional training. I’m not sure if I’ll ever graduate, maybe when I leave.
Photo from Russ Ligtas Art on Facebook
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