A theatrical revolution, “PAMANA” is the first docu-musical on Ninoy and Cory Aquino.
PETA’s Pamana
pays tribute to Benigno and Corazon Aquino. On August 21, the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation, Inc. (NCAF), in partnership with Indie.go Media, and the Philippine Educational Theater Association, Inc. (PETA), proudly present the gala premiere of PAMANA – an original docu-musical written by Rody Vera and music composed by Ryan Cayabyab and Manoling V. Francisco, S.J.
NCAF, Indie.go Media and PETA brings the audience back in time as they re-tell the lives of three generations of a Filipino family recalling the EDSA revolution.
PAMANA is about three generations of a Filipino family with differing points of view on the effects of the EDSA revolution.
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| Malou de Guzman as Lola Azon; Bodjie Pascua as Turo |
Leading the cast is Malou de Guzman as Lola Azon; Bodjie Pascua as Turo, Azon’s husband; Jett Pangan as Edgar, son of Lola Azon and Trina’s father; and Kakki Teodoro as Trina, grand daughter of Lola Azon.
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| Jett Pangan as Edgar |
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| Kakki Teodoro as Trina |
The ensemble is composed of Raul Alfonso, Kiki Baento, R
aflesia Bravo, Roi Calilong, Buddy Caramat, Joan Co, Karen Gaerlan, Gio Gahol, She Maala, Benedict Manaois, Gie Onida, Norbs Portales, Gino Ramirez, Victor Robinson, Angela Samson, Nica Santiago, Miela Sayo, Ian Segarra, Gold Villar and Yeyin Dela Cruz.
Lending support as chorus is Viva Voce under artistic director Camille Molina. The artistic and creative team of PAMANA is led by Rody Vera (Playwright), Maribel Legarda (Stage Director), Melvin Lee (Associate Stage Director), Jun Reyes (Video Director and Executive Producer), Manoling V. Francisco, S.J. and Ryan Cayabyab (Composers), Vince de Jesus (Musical Director), Batche Tan (Choreograper), Boni Juan (Set Designer), Carlo Pagunaling (Costume Designer), Jonjon Villareal (Lighting Designer and Technical Designer).
Three generations of a family: Lola Azon, her son Edgar, and
a granddaughter Trina relate their lives and relationships with each other in
the context of the historical developments of the country since Ninoy Aquino
died up to the present time. Lola
Azon, 35 years old then, when Ninoy was killed at the tarmac of the airport, is
a streetsweeper (Metro Manila Aide), when she experienced her own “epiphany”.
She witnesses the hordes of people who marched through the funeral of a man she
hardly knew. And through the years of protest rallies and struggle to end a
dictatorship, she found hope and strength in the power of a people guided by a
higher Power through prayer.
Edgar, however witnesses the fading and the corruption of
that pure hope as the years of “democracy” went by. He was witness to the EDSA
People Power 2 and how it even went rock bottom when corruption and scandals
got worse than what the people clamored against. Edgar becomes disillusioned
and heads for Saudi Arabia to seek a more stable life for his daughter and
mother. His cynicism about the Philippine condition never changes. He has
always become skeptical about how this country could ever redeem itself. After
a long separation from his mother and daughter, he comes back with the hope of
bringing his family to immigrate to Canada.
Trina was 13 when Cory died. She relates how her father’s cynicism rubbed off on her at first. But upon seeing the funeral, the same “epiphany” came upon her, the way it did to Lola Azon way back in 1983. She was overwhelmed by the huge farewell funeral march given by the Filipino people to a woman who died in silence—serving and loving her countrymen. This struck her. Is her father’s cynicism true at all? Can’t a country rediscover this strong faith in spiritual transformation to recover from national despair and fatigue?
When finally in the present time,
Edgar comes back to tell the “good news” of his decision to bring them all to
Canada, Trina refuses. She is undergoing her own journey since Cory’s death and
has arrived at certain decisions for her own life as well. There are so many things that one can
do. So much potential, so many possibilities. Rather than go to a country she
doesn’t even know or care for, here she can fulfill her dream, a dream that
could be shared by her countrymen.
In the face of all their
differences, Azon quietly passes away.
Interspersed with our “front story”
are the words of Ninoy and Cory, who through their lives have insisted on a
life of service and love for their countrymen as the singular manifestation of
loving and serving God. This
presentation aims to locate Ninoy and Cory’s commitment to God and the
Filipino in the context of our
ordinary lives.
PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES
RODOLFO VERA
"The germ idea of this play was brainstormed by by Jun Reyes,
Maribel Legarda and I in one of a few conversations over coffee and merienda.
In the course of our conversations, we realized that a more fitting tribute to
our heroes does not need to be a retelling of their lives and achievements per
se. The importance of heroes can only be manifest through the numerous lives of
people that they have inspired. How their ideas and their historical decisions
in life resonate in the daily, mundane lives of ordinary people like Azon,
Edgar, and Trina. This is the main compass that guided the main direction of
this work. It does not only pay tribute to Ninoy and Cory themselves, for while
their lives are exemplary, admirable and inspiring as they are, their greatness
can only be complete and total if the power of their legacy touches the lives
of millions of their countrymen.
This is how we remember our heroes. Not just
through monuments or declaring official holidays, but more importantly in
connecting them in our daily struggles and tribulations. Our collective
vicissitudes that define our history as a nation, taken together will be marked
by the light they have shown to guide us."
All performances will be held at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Here's the show schedule:
August 21, 2013 : 7:00 pm
August 22, 2013 : 8:00 pm
August 24-25, 2013 : 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm
For further details, call PETA Theater Center at numbers 725-6244 or 09064817333.
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and Twitter (@iamninoyiamcory)
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