Tangahalang Ateneo's Middle Finger: A Review of a Coming of Age Story

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the opening for its 36th season, Ed Lacson Jr. directs Tanghalang Ateneo's Middle Finger - an adaptation of the controversial Frank Wedekind’s modern classic, Spring Awakening, which tells the story of repressed sexual urges among the youth. Written by Han Ong and translated into Filipino by Ronan B. Capinding, the play promises to tackle prevalent issues that seems to be every generations confrontations.

The audience are seated around the stage for greater intimacy and the actors all come out from almost everywhere as the play transitions from one scene to the next. The audience is treated to various sexual scenarios and carnal desires from masturbation to prostitution, and everything else in between. But I wouldn't want to be a spoiler and tell you everything I've seen and experienced. You have to go there for yourself and personally be awed at the amazing production.

The longest-running theater company of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University has a season theme of Navigating Identities, and thus the play which centers on two Filipino teenagers, Jakob Rodriguez and Benjamin Lunga, explores an identity crisis among the boys who are presented here as students studying in a Catholic school. You can find a deep struggle to define one's individuality and significance in this world, as what we will also encounter in their upcoming plays for the season.

HAJA PARTY: The 90s Pop and Kpop Clash Push Through Despite M3G Disbandment

Wazzup Pilipinas!

One of the highlights of HAJA PARTY: 90s Pop and Kpop Clash is ARE U MY SEOULMATE?, an online contest in promotion of the song SOULMATE. The song is originally recorded by M3G, as their second single. It is supposed to mark their comeback as everyone anticipates them to perform this song live on October 31.

However, two of its members are allegedly getting a fix causing their uncontrollable misbehavior most of the time during official functions under Playhouse Production. “I have tried to talk to them, console them on their personal issues but there is really something unusual in the frequent fluctuation of their emotions. They always complain about extreme body pains but would resist to be brought to a physician”, explains Michelle Ann Rio, manager of M3G and founder of Playhouse Production.

The worst that they did was to spread misinformation that the event is canceled via social media and through other kpop events. “I had to release official statements also through social media and call each participant to explain the situation.

Agnes Locsin Has Done it Again with La Revolucion Filipina

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The re-staging of Agnes Locsin’s modern dance masterpiece “La Revolucion Filipina” allowed us to witness once more the stories behind the personalities of Philippine history like Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini. 

Though I cannot confirm the authenticity and accurateness of the facts laid down to us via the unique storytelling through ballet dance, we were amazed by the gracefulness of the presentation done using mostly the power of body language. There may be occasional integration of spoken words all throughout the play, but the majority of the intended emotions were felt strongly from many of the dance moves.

You could see how passionate the dancers were as if they are truly involved with the stories of yesteryears. The Neo-ethnic style of dancing that only Agnes Locsin is able to impart to the dancers makes you envious of the mastery she is able to share to her dancers.

Though the play really pays homage to the crippled hero and political philosopher we all know with the name of Apolinario Mabini, the other characters of the play also played significant parts to make the play contain more substance. Agnes Locsin “taught” the paraplegic revolutionary icon to dance and soar high like following your dreams.