Never Again: Voices of Martial Law

Never Again: Voices of Martial Law

9 PLAYS TACKLE LIFE (AND DEATH) UNDER MARTIAL LAW

In response to the growing myths and misconceptions about the Martial Law era, a new group has launched a series of plays about living and dying during the Marcos regime beginning on September 21, 2016 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani auditorium.

Entitled Never Again: Voices of Martial Law, these nine plays produced by Ladies Who Launch (LWL), are designed to create awareness about the harsh realities of living during the years after the declaration of Martial Law, the people who lived and did not live through it, their work, and the effects of Martial Law on people until today.

Included in the lineup are the Palanca Award-winning “Bulong-bulongan sa Sangandaan” by Ramon Jocson which will be directed by theater luminary Audie Gemora; “Loyalist Redux,” a comedy written and directed by Kanakan Balintagos, first staged at the 12^th Virgin Labfest and will now star Pinky Amador in the title role; and “Duyan Ka Ng Magiting,” written and directed by Erika Estacio, first seen at the People Power Experiential Museum.

 

 

LWL says, “Our goal is to unearth these stories and make them visible, visceral, and palpable. We want those alive today to remember the victims as people, not just as statistics or bios on a website. Above all, we want to ensure that the evils of Martial Law are never forgotten, never repeated.”

The six original plays created for Never Again: Voices of Martial Law are: “Princess Lilli” written by Layeta Bucoy and directed by Tuxs Rutaquio; “Disco 1081” written by George de Jesus III and directed by Melvin Lee; “Shhh” written by Allan Lopez and directed by Jenny Jamora; “Indigo Child” written by Rody Vera and directed by Jose Estrella; “Thingy (Or Ang Pak na Pak Ganern na Ganern na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Milenyo, D’ Great Pokemon Hunter) ” written by Chris Martinez and directed by Dennis Marasigan; and “Ang Lihim na Kasaysayan ng Huling Habilin ni Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (Spiritual King Solomon of Israel) Hinggil sa Pamanang Kayamanan ni King Bernardo Carpio at Jose Protacio Rizal Para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Bansang Pilipinas na Siyang Nalalaman ni Mang Ambo, Taxi Driver” written by Guelan Varela-Luarca and directed by Roobak Valle.

The play will have its gala premiere on September 21, the anniversary of the proclamation of Martial Law. Weekend performances will run from September 23 until October 16. The production is also scheduled for school and city tours after this initial run at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

For the regular run, tickets are at PhP 500 per show consisting of three plays while a festival pass allowing entry to three shows to watch all 9 plays is at Php 1,300. For inquiries and ticket reservations, email ladieswholaunch.ph@gmail.com or contact +639178047191.

About Ladies Who Launch

Ladies Who Launch is comprised of five women (Zena Bernardo, Jozy Acosta- Nisperos, Jasmine Ong, Judith Albano and Dolly de Leon) who actively protest against the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani. Never Again: Voices of Martial Law is their maiden production.

Sets and Play Schedules

GALA FUNDRAISER (Three plays to be determined) –September 21

Set A – Sept 23/8PM, Oct 1/8PM, 9/4PM, 15/8PM

“Loyalist Redux”
Written and Directed by Kanakan Balintagos

Imelda returns to the Philippines. A Loyalist mother is ecstatic about this headline and wakes up her activist-artist son to his nightmarish reality. A bag of worms from the past is opened up like Pandora’s Box. Will mother and son finally console their political irreconcilable differences? In the end, are we loyal to those we love? (First staged at the Virgin Labfest XII)

“Duyan ka ng Magiting”
Written and Directed by Erika Estacio

This tragic one-act play tells the story of how activists and patriots Lorena Barros, Macli-ing Dulag, Edjop and Evelio Javier endured and perished in the hands of their torturers and murderers.

(First staged for the People Power Experiential Museum)

“Thingy Or Ang Pak na Pak, Ganern na Ganern Sa Pakikipagsapalaran ni Melenyo, D’Great Pokemon Hunter”
Written by Chris Martinez Directed by Dennis Marasigan

One actor portrays a clueless millennial.Another actor portrays all the other characters who will react to her tweet about the ‘Martial Law thingy.’

(A Never Again: Voices of Martial Law original)

Set B – Sept 24/8PM, 30/8PM, Oct 8/8PM, 16/4PM

“Disco 1081”
Written by George De Jesus Directed by Melvin Lee

Bubu, Lina, Anton and Caloy meet up at a disco where they will be celebrating Bubu’s 18th birthday. They are student activists, but Bubu has quit, causing her and her boyfriend Caloy to break up. For her birthday, Bubu has one request– that they don’t discuss activism, Martial Law or anything to do with the movement. Something that causes pain for the other three. Because they have all come to a turning point, and they have all come to say goodbye.

(A Never Again: Voices of Martial Law original)

“Princess Lilli”
Written by Layeta Bucky Directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio

“Do not live in the past, act according to the present, so they say, but can you really separate the past from the present, the present from the future?” –Lilliosa Hilao

There are several versions of the truth: some versions are less painful than other. But are those really what we need?

Sarah, ten years old, has a vivid imagination. With her home life, she needs it. She draws fairy tales with princes and princesses, and happily ever after, but what she writes about is the truth. She talks to Princess Lilli and her prince–- and we find out that the Martial Law era was never a fairy tale.

(A Never Again: Voices of Martial Law Original)

“Bulong-Bulongan sa Sangandaan”
Written by Ramon Jocson Directed by Audie Gemora

Construction workers billeted at a construction site, away from their families, discuss their daily struggles as below minimum wage earners from the days of Martial Law to the present. Security guards interrupt their discourse from time to time. Is there a better life outside, and should they stay or should they go?

(Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Second Prize, 1989.)

Set C – Sept 25/4PM, Oct 2/4PM, 7/8PM, 14/8PM

“Shhh”
Written by Allan Lopez Directed by Jenny Jamora

September, 1977. Makati. On a rainy day in a studio in Makati, Kim and Mark discuss a friend who is missing. What he is like, his outspokenness, where he could possibly be, and should they help in the search. They also talk about Imee Marcos. Mark finds her hot, Kim says she is kind.

Two friends join them, saying their friend has been found. He is dead. He is Archie Trajano, 21.

(A Never Again: Voices of Martial Law original)

“Indigo Child”
Written by Rody Vera Directed by Jose Estrella

Felisa, a rebel caught, tortured and raped is committed to a halfway house as the new millennium breaks. Her son, Jerome, now 20, has been taking care of her since his teens, after she is diagnosed as bipolar due to multiple traumas.

In one confrontation, Felisa reveals many secrets that Jerome finds hard to believe—about Jerome’s father, what happened before his birth, and her belief that he is an indigo child, sent to save the world. Jerome wants to know the truth. But where does he start? And if he does find it, will he be able to handle the truth?

(A Never Again:Voices of Martial Law original)

“Ang Lihim na Kasaysayan ng Huling Habilin ni Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (Spiritual King Solomon of Israel) Hinggil sa Pamanang Kayamanan ni King Bernardo Carpio at Jose Protacio Rizal Para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Bansang Pilipinas na Syang Nalalaman ni Mang Ambo, Taxi Driver”
Written by Guelan Luarca Directed by Roobak Valle

The gospel according to Mang Ambo, taxi driver, and evangelist of the cult of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, the spiritual once and future King Solomon of the Philippines, the new Israel about the last will and testament of past kings Bernardo Carpio and Jose Protacio Rizal. As revealed to G, a journalist taking his cab. Prepare to repent, and be enlightened.