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MANILA, Philippines—It’s a rainy weekday night, but on the UP Vinzons Hall rooftop, rehearsals are in full swing. A band of gypsies dressed in full skirts and bangles hurriedly brush rouge on their cheeks and pin flowers on their hair. Just a few meters away, a group of neophytes dressed as Greek gods and other strange creatures paint props with tubs of white paint.

This is the world of the UP Samahan Ng Mga Magaaral Sa Komunikasyon, simply known as Samaskom. Based in the College of Mass Communication, Samaskom is one of the university’s most popular organizations and counts prominent people in show biz as some of its alumni. Comedians Giselle Sanchez and Tuesday Vargas were part of Samaskom, as were directors Jeffrey Jeturian, Cholo Lauren and Lauren Dyogi, and broadcasters Tina Panganiban-Perez and Kim Atienza.

It’s no surprise that many show biz personalities first learned the ropes while performing with the org; Samaskom’s annual variety show, dubbed Live AIDS (Ang Istoryang Dinebelop ng Samaskom), probably gave them a taste for the spotlight. The show, which debuted in 1985, has become a standing room-only event that is always eagerly anticipated by both students and alumni.

This year, Live AIDS is back with its usual round of fun and games. “This year’s show offers what everyone has come to expect from Live AIDS,” says John Lozano, who is directing the 24th installment of the show. “There’ll be short skits, production numbers and different dances. We’ll be featuring fresh talents, because this year’s batch has a lot of new members.”

“The show is particularly known for its use of satire,” Lozano adds. “We poke fun at politics, show biz and other current events.”

With UP students at the helm, you can be sure no words will be minced, true to the take-no-prisoners nature of the show. Samaskom, after all, is the organization that produced Rene Boy Facunla, better known as Ate Glow—President Macapagal-Arroyo’s most famous impersonator.

“Live AIDS is a great training ground for future communicators,” Lozano says. “The members write, perform and organize the event, which is basically what they will be doing when they graduate and move on to real jobs.”

19-year-old Ken de Leon, a film student and three-year veteran of Samaskom, agrees. “In preparing for Live AIDS, we cover all areas. We conceptualize the show, write scripts, and rehearse endlessly—it’s similar to what I’ll be doing after school, so this is a great opportunity to get experience.”

But make no mistake. Putting up a show of this scale is no mean feat. Neophyte Karen de Guzman, a fourth year journalism student who joined the org just a couple of months ago, says that rehearsals can often stretch up to midnight, eating into time allotted for school.

“We just have to manage our time better,” De Guzman says, shrugging. “I learned how to study in advance because of the org. If applying to the org was hard, being a member is even harder.”

By that, De Guzman was referring to Samaskom’s infamous application process, which entails a couple of weeks of intense preparation prior to becoming a member. Applicants are required to come in a different costume for every day of the initiation week, with absurd themes that include “kitchen showcase,” “famous paintings,” and “palarong pambansa,” and are occasionally asked to perform ridiculous tasks in front of amused bystanders.

“I used to be shy, but I learned to let go of my inhibitions,” De Guzman says. “It even carried over to my schoolwork, as I’m no longer too shy to speak my mind in class.”

This lack of shyness is apparent in every part of the show. Performers slather on face paint, prance around the stage and spout out lines of dialogue with aplomb—and it’s just a general rehearsal. Instead of shrinking in the presence of total strangers, the members seem to be livelier, and recite their lines with more feeling.

“Live AIDS is proof that there is an endless pool of talent, ready to surprise the world,” says Lozano. And we can’t wait to see that.

Live AIDS 24 runs at the UP Diliman Dalisay Aldaba recital hall on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. For inquiries, contact 0906-5701312.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com