I can't, for the love of me, get my mind off the plays I saw last night at the CCP Complex. The two plays were written by the brilliant, young writer, Rogelio "Ogie" Braga, and performed by the UP Repertory Company.
"Ang Mananahi" and "Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao, at ang Habal-habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte": The twin bill play returns on stage to raise funds for the Pikit Mission Relief, which provides assistance to IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the areas of Pikit, North Cotabato.
I am very proud to say that my good friend, Sarah Matalam, was the brains behind this relief operation. The areas she and her group reach out on are parts of Mindanao that international organizations cannot infiltrate due to safety reasons, so you can imagine how precious these efforts and all the donations are.
Before the play began, she shared this with the audience:
Sarah: During the ARMM Elections, I was sent to Pikit to check out the automated machines used for the elections. What welcomed me was a long, unpassable road filled with people leading their cattles, goats and children while carrying whatever things they can bring from their homes. Imagine, from here in CCP up to the entire Roxas Blvd., that's how many the evacuees were. I was taking pictures while crying, because if you were there and you see that bato nalang ang puso pag di ka pa naiyak.
A ticket is only P250 - you not only help this mission but I guarantee you'll get your money's worth even with just the plays (and the music from Bailan). Last run will be tonight at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP Complex, 8 p.m. If you don't have anything better to do, invite your friends - and then cry and laugh your heart out tonight with Ogie Braga's literary masterpieces. 
Ang Mananahi
The first one, "And Mananahi," was emotionally overwhelming and very heart-wrenching. It is a story of 4 Bangsamoro women, weavers and dressmakers, in an unnamed place in the South. The men in their lives, their father, brothers, cousins, husbands and sons, are off to fight in the war that tears Mindanao apart, and they are left in their worries, forced to live a life as if nothing is wrong. The plot focused on the emotions and experiences of those left behind - of the women and children who now wonder about the truth behing this belief, "Walang kapayapan dahil walang kalayaan.."
Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao, at ang Habal-habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte
There are only two actors that make up this play, and it is the best play I have ever seen! (yes, I've seen a few, huh! hehe) Seriously, THIS IS GENIOUS! It's a hilarious eye opener about discrimination, hypocrisy, corruption, faith & belief, pride and friendship. The vulgarity and straightforwardness of "Bambi," a bayot (bading in Tagalog), Christian liberal, adds spice to the richness of the dialogue. This, matched with the astig charisma and sharp tongue of the habal-habal driver, "Hamid," a Meranao (or Maranao), makes you wish the play would go on and on and on. It's like listening to two friends in an interesting and uninhibited discussion where both make good points and you remain silent for fear you would disrupt the exchange of wonderful barbs. "Bonggang-Bongga!" is all I can say.
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"Hilarious and never preachy, “Ang Bayot” deserves a run that should be as long as, or longer than, its title. " -Walter Ang, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Virgin Labfest 2008
