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By Joey B. Ting, Contributor
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Children
suckle to a many
breasted goddess |
Survival means more than day-to-day subsistence.
What matters more than our own lives is the hope we nurture for our
children. Amid poverty and chaos we dare dream brighter days for
them. There is lyricism in this struggle, a story worth telling on
stage.
Dulaang UP reveals the beauty of nurturing
fragile dreams in these vicious days with Anton Juan’s Hinabing
Pakpak Ng Ating Mga Anak that premiered at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
Theater at the University of the Philippines Diliman on July 16.
Juan, now based in NotreDame University in
Indiana, US as a theater director-professor, pays tribute to the
late Rene Villanueva, considered by many as the father of
children’s literature in the country, with this latest work.
Hinabing Pakpak narrates the story of children abused and harassed.
Juan’s play is a call for justice amid decaying governance.
Juan collaborates with some of the leading
theater artists today. Among them are Alex Cortez (the new DUP
artistic director), Dexter Santos (choreography), Leo Abaya
(Production design), John Neil Ilao Batalla (lights design), Winter
David (Video / Graphic design), Fabie Ortiz (managing director) and
Jethro Joaquin (music and sounds design). These talented artists
contributed immensely in the success of Juan’s staging.
Anton Juan, known for his first-rate visual and
aural spectacle in the theater, once more demonstrates the
intelligent use of theater as a medium of communication and artistic
expression. With a keen translation of words to images, Juan creates
an effective dialogue with the audience using symbols.
The ensemble cast led by competent film,
television and theater artists Joel Saracho and Earl Ignacio,
however, should put their transformations into a more sincere
interpretation of the characters. That is why immersions are
encouraged in the theater.
This latest production from Dulaang UP not only
boasts good intentions, it also delivers an engaging theater
production.
Hinabing Pakpak Ng Ating Mga Anak runs until
August 10 at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.
For ticket details and reservations, call 926-1349 or visit www.upd.edu.ph/~dup.
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