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Celia Diaz Laurel Celebrates her 93rd Birthday with a Book Launch

The book will be launched on May 29.

How does one celebrate her 93rd birthday in this time of pandemic? Celia Diaz Laurel – Mother, wife, philanthropist, writer, painter, thespian, theater production and costume designer, is all setĀ to launch her latest coffee table bookĀ aptly titled MY LIVES BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM on May 29 via Facebook Live.

The book is dedicated to theĀ following women and men whose encouragement and confidenceĀ helped her become an actress namely: Mother IMMACULADAĀ (Assumption Convent);Ā WILFRIDO MA. GUERREROĀ (UP Dramatic Club, University of the Philippines);Ā SONIA RIFKIN and DOƑA TRINING LEGARDA (Manila Community Players); JAMES B. REUTER S.J.Ā (Ave Maria Players and TheCathedral Players);Ā CONSTANCE WELCH (Drama Department, Yale University);BEHN CERVANTES (who persisted in urging her to write this bookĀ about her life in the theatre);Ā and husband SALVADOR ā€˜DOYā€™ LAUREL, who understood her calling and allowed her to grow not only as an actress but as a person.

Celia Diaz Laurel and Cocoy Laurel

The book chronicles the lifeĀ that Celia Diaz Laurel ledĀ with chapter titles: Stage-struck at Five, Wartime Years, Dramatic UP Days, Yale Years, Back to the Stage at Repertory Philippines.

ā€œCelia has written an entertainingĀ story about her theatrical life in a straightforward, simple, style that not only will give the curious reader an insight into her life and the social milieu of her time but is a historical narrative of the early years of Manila theatreĀ and the personalities who were part of it. She writes about her early personal life as the background for the successful career she carved out for herselfā€”not only as an actress but as a set and costume designer,ā€ wrote Joy Virata in the foreword of the book.

Celia Diaz Laurel shares her insights about her book. ā€œTo become a painter one needs a medium such as charcoal, pastels, watercolor, oils or acrylic.Ā Armed with an instrument such as a brush, a palette knife,or even your fingers to apply the medium on any surface you choose, you are free to paint anywhere you please – indoors or outdoors.Ā But to become an actor one needs a good script, a director, actors to work with, a producer, a stage, lights,Ā and most of all—an audience.

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Not too many realize that the positive energy from an audience is anessential ingredient that makes, or un-makes, a show.

To win an audience everything behind the proscenium must transport the audience to another world – the imaginary world – that becomes alive and real on that stage when the lights go on.

The scenery is the audienceā€™s first contact with the imaginary world. A perfect set establishes the mood, the time, and the place of the scene that unfolds.

Unless one has all the above elements, the desire to become an actor will remain an unfulfilled dream and your promising talent may just dissipate before an opportunity comes for you to be recognized. Your passion for the theater may, like dewdrops, drop into the sea of frustration ā€“ unfulfilled.

I felt I most likely would become that dewdrop since I was painfully shy.Who could have caused opportunities to come my way?Ā Not once did I audition for a role during my forty years behind the proscenium.My more than a hundred roles were blessings from above!

Living more than a hundred livesĀ behind the proscenium made meunderstand the human heart.From my first role to my last ā€“Ā I offered each performance as a sign of my gratitude to my Heavenly Producer.ā€

MY LIVES BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM is edited by Suzie Laurel-Delgadoand Cocoy Laurel;Ā Dulce Festin-Baybay (Editorial Consultant),Ā Miriam R. Castillo (Project Coordinator),Ā Sarah L. Sanz (Photo Editor),Ā Nestor Amador Malgapo Jr.(Book Design and Cover).Ā Printed by GA Printing.

For book reservations and inquiries, kindly please contact Ms.Jenn Tejada c/o 88697298 Mon. – Fri.Ā 1 PM – 5 PM.Ā Online orders can be placed onĀ May 29 via the Facebook Live launch at /CeliaDiazLaurel.

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