Benedix Ramos on theater as source of light, upcoming projects

Benedix Ramos. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net

Benedix Ramos regards theater as a source of light. Apart from being a content creator and singer-songwriter, he doesn’t mind being constantly on the move as a theater actor as it constantly awakens something in him.

Ramos, who portrayed Gabe in the Manila staging of Brian Yorkey’s “Next To Normal” that ran until February 23, had a bright smile as he spoke about his passion for theater in an interview with INQUIRER.net. His schedule has been packed with rehearsals and upcoming projects since January, but he considers it to be a blessing.

“I started working in January, and masarap sa pakiramdam na meron ka nang ginagawa ng January (I started working in January, and it feels nice that you’re already doing something). The reason why I stayed in theater is because it gives life to a person and it gave me so much life,” he said.

“The difference now is that this makes me so feel alive even more. Every day, rehearsals, warm-ups, and even the briefings, give so much light to my life,” he continued.

Benedix Ramos portrayed Gabe in the Manila staging of “Brian Yorkey’s “Next To Normal.” Image: Loreta Arroyo via The Sandbox Collective

Ramos started his entertainment career as a content creator until he was selected as a housemate for “Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10” in 2022. Since then, he dabbled into singing, acting, and theater as one of the leads in “Bar Boys: The Musical,” being his first pursuit.

Due to his busy schedule, Ramos admitted that he doesn’t have much time to create content due to theater. He is nevertheless that he gets to pursue his passion as a theater actor and shoot an international film with Angel Aquino.

“I was gone for a week to shoot an international film with Angel Aquino and it’s something na masarap sa pakiramdam na meron kang ganito after theater. I feel like it helps my mental state kapag lumalabas ako sa space,” he said, disclosing that it will be a Filipino and Taiwanese production.

Dealing with grief

Taking on the role of Gabe in “Next To Normal” was a chance for Ramos to rethink how he accepts grief, which is the main theme of the play. “Grief is not just about death. I feel like I’m grieving each time I feel like I lost something. It’s something where it’s not easy to handle but at the same time, when you already grasp the concept of grief, you somehow know the next step on how to cope,” he said.

With this in mind, he hopes the Manila staging of the musical will spark conversations among Filipino families when it comes to the topic of mental health.

Benedix Ramos portrayed Gabe in the Manila staging of “Brian Yorkey’s “Next To Normal.” Image: Lance Bersamina via The Sandbox Collective

“We would grow up in households where [sinasabihan kang] maarte kapag umiiyak ka, nagdadabog, or nagpapanic ka,” Ramos said. “This generation is [sparking] a good conversation on mental health among families, our parents and grandparents, and they learn to accept the konsepto ng pagtanggap nito.”

(We would grow up in households where you’re said to be overacting when you cry, throw things around, or panic. This generation is sparking a good conversation on mental health among families, our parents and grandparents. And they learn to accept the concept of accepting this fully.)

Ramos also cites being surrounded with non-showbiz friends to keep him grounded. “I still can feel how to live [in the moment], without being completely in showbiz,” he said.