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TEATRONG MULAT

Reviewed by: Daisy Jane O. Federico

Ang Huling El Bimbo

Directed by:

Myke Solomon

Dexter Santos

Characters:

  • Gab Pangilinan and Tanya Manalang as Joy Manawari

  • Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Carla Laforteza as Older Joy

  • Reb Atadero and Bibo Reyes as Hector Samala

  • Gian Magdangal and David Ezra as Older Hector

  • Boo Gabunada  and Vic Robinson/Nicco Manalo as Emman Azarcon

  • OJ Mariano and Myke Salomon as Older Emman

  • Topper Fabregas, Lance Reblando, and Phi Palmos as Anthony Cruz

  • Jon Santos and Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Older Anthony

  • Shiela Francisco as Tiya Dely

  • Paulo O'Hara and Jamie Wilson as Arturo Banlaoi

The play revolves around a group of friends: Joy, Hector, Emman, and Anthony. The play starts off with a corpse of a woman and then Emman, Hector and Anthony were brought to the police station to be informed that Joy passed away and to be interviewed about their relationship with the deceased. The 3 guys met when they were sent to college and became roommates. They met Joy through a CAT program when she came during the session of the program in order to sell Turon to the platoon handled by Captain Arturo Banlaoi. Banlaoi ordered them to eat at Toyang's, owned by Joy’s aunt, Tiya Dely. The trio became friends with Joy and used Toyang’s as their hangout spot. Joy’s boyfriend, who was the student leader of the platoon, broke up with her due to her relation with Banlaoi and the trio consoled her. Eventually, Hector and Joy got into a relationship. The trio ditched their rehearsal to go on a road trip with Joy. While they were on a road trip, drunk men came and began to assault them. Joy was sexually assaulted by the men and the trio was unable to protect her. The trio eventually graduated, and Joy tried to reach out to the boys, but they were ashamed to look at Joy. 

In order for Toyang’s to continue to operate, Banlaoi forces Tiya Dely and Joy to sell beer and girls. Tiya Dely and Joy plan to move back to the province but Banlaoi makes Joy stay to sell drugs and sell her body. A few years gone by and Joy still works for Banlaoi to provide for her daughter, Ligaya. Hector was a successful director and was busy with his TV series. Emman was busy with his work and wife. Anthony was fighting with his wife due to his sexuality. Joy contacts the trio trying to reach out for help to them but she was trying to call them she was suddenly hit by a vehicle. They visited Joy in the morgue and talked with Ligaya.

The play has a great plot, and the cast showcased the characters perfectly. The play portrays numerous social issues that are present in our society. Anthony is a closed homosexual due to his strict father. He was beaten up by his father due to his sexuality and was forced to marry a woman. He showed what it is like to live in our society as a homosexual man and how people treated him due to his sexuality. Banlaoi is a greedy man who uses his authority in order to get what he desires. He forces Tiya Dely and especially Joy to do certain things for him just because he helped him with their diner and they owed him for that. Banlaoi showcases people who are powerful in society and how they used that power to people who are below them. Joy is a typical teenage girl who dreams for a stable life. She was sexually assaulted and never got the justice she deserved. She looked for a support system, but the trio was unable to be reached. She tries to move forward but kept getting on the wrong path due to Banlaoi and in order to provide for Tiya Dely and Ligaya. She portrayed what some women in our society experienced and how nobody helps them. The trio portrays bystanders when someone is being assaulted; they were afraid to defend her and report to the police the incident that happened. They turned a blind eye and pretended they never witnessed what happened. They move on with their life and buried that incident. The whole plot depicts the reality in our society and this type of situation is being experienced by numerous people and not many people shed light on that matter.

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