Pastilan! Living the dog-eat-dog world of a Global Pinoy!

I don’t know about you, but every time I watch a Filipino play, I am usually expecting the traditional drama, story line that is unique to Filipino culture and the long-established approach to stage design that is unmistakably Pinoy. Which, of course, I like. So is “Ako si Ninoy” another Filipino play filing under those category?

No, not this show.

Ako si Ninoy, a Filipino musicale play about the heroisim of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Martial Law era went a little less traditional. The story did not revolve around the tell-a-biography style of relating what have happened to Ninoy and his family. Director and Librettist Atty. Vincent Tañada made sure the youth today would relate to the sufferings and martyrdom of Ninoy. The action packed scenes (mostly are heartwarming) and the visual impacts that definitely cater the taste of young audience alike while assuring those who have actually witnessed the events during the martial rule could truly appreciate the re-enactment of the scenes the way it happened.

The skillful interplay of modern syllogism and the as-a-matter-of-fact telling of Ninoy’s life is a feat. It created a unique experience where all people from all walks of life, regardless of age and political beliefs would truly understand why Filipinos today should learn the heroism of the couple Ninoy and Cory.

I went to watch the show for the 2nd time with my Filipino-American friends who were born and raised in the states. Since majority of them are not capable of understanding Tagalog, it came as a surprise to me when they were crying, laughing and clapping on many scenes that were outstanding. It made me think if the play has actually transcended the barriers of language to express the emotion of Ninoy and Cory through proficient theater abilities of the actors. We ended up discussing the play and they were thanking me for bringing them to the show, they said it helped them understand the political struggles of the Filipino people during the tyrant era of martial law which led to the advent of modern democracy through Cory Aquino.

What I like best about the play is its call to action. It actually creates a deep impact on every man’s heart that you don’t need to become Ninoy to become a hero. Heroism is not just about the grandest martyrdom or dying for someone or our nation, heroism is an individual ability of each of us to become useful, to help our society through our own capabilities, through simple and small kindness to others and having the desire to become a better person.

I salute the men and women of the show, you have enriched the lives and character of thousands of young people who marched to your venues to witness the valor of our modern day heroes and the birth of modern movement to be a hero, we may not be Ninoy but we know we can do something good for our self, family and our society.

I found myself musing again over the works of William Shakespeare. Do you remember the play King Richard III when the evil Richard finally confronts his conscience? He had this terrible dream where the ghosts of those he killed haunted him during his brutal desire to get the kingship. I find it funny imagining those ghosts talking to him led by Prince Edward, son of Henry VI and followed by others in the order in which they were murdered. The ghosts cursed him and wished Richard to die as well. It could be just another scary flick. Instead of feeling remorse, Richard blamed his “coward conscience” after he was startled by asking for his horse only to find out afterwards it was only a dream. What a sinister character moron.

I always sought this thought. I believe that one day, there will be a point in our life when we will be confronted by our offense to our fellow beings like the ghost that haunted King Richard. Unlike him, we might not have murdered anyone.

Little did we know that in our small capacity to hurt other’s feelings, by over-doing things that matters to us most even if we know we are already trampling on others and by being over zealous to guard our own benefits, we become like King Richard. The very ill feelings, wrong doings and unfair treatment to others will be the ghost that will haunt us. That very same selfishness will haunt us and together we cross our fingers that it will not boomerang at our face.

In my young age, I’m no longer foreign to see people hurt each other due to trivial things because of even more petty and trivial reasons. Not to mention because of selfish meanings.

What makes me wonder is how could a person sleep at night when he is completely aware that someone, especially those who are disadvantaged and incapable of defending themselves, are offended, hurt and taken advantage because he is stronger, has more guts and enjoys a great deal of power.

I think all conscience is coward. It is coward in a sense that it won’t push the person bravely to surrender and recompense his dissolute demeanor toward other people. It depends on the person being afflicted whether he would admit his defeat to the prompting of his “coward conscience”.