When Mr. Agustin Jose Taban-ud, a 4th-year student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ Bachelor of Performing Arts (Theater Arts), asked for permission to feature my one-act play “Pablihasa Lalake,” I was thrilled and immediately gave my “Why not?”.

I don’t know if it was Mr. Taban-ud’s description of my play as a “befitting presentation of love” that convinced me to grant them my permission or if it was the honor that the play I have written is being considered for their production. But whatever it was, I could not find any reason to withhold my nod.

Mr. Taban-ud confirmed during the first week of February that, indeed, they were featuring my play (and two other plays), and I was invited to watch, be given a seat in front, and be called onstage for a bow with their actors.

So, on February 8th, I traveled all the way from Bulacan and braved the heat and horrendous “traffic” to watch how the Theater Arts students of PUP breathe life into the characters of Nick, Alfred, Jojo, Rudy, Myles, and Joey.

The performance of the actors was magnificent. The director did a splendid job steering the cast into that magnificent performance. Congratulations!

Kudos to those in charge of the lighting, costumes, and set design.

Every line the characters delivered was like melodies in a song… they were music to my ears. I felt squeezing my two legs with my hands each time the characters moved as they delivered those lines. It was wonderful seeing the characters I created come alive.

The experience was exhilarating. It brought back memories of my stint as a theater moderator when I was a high school teacher at Sta. Teresa College in Batangas many years ago. Yes, I have been into theater since way back. I wrote and directed plays in the past.

Seeing that students of the night session students of Sta. Teresa College had not much extra-curricular activities, I proposed the creation of “Teatrong Panggabi.” Fortunately, it was approved, and the first major project we did then was “Ang Paglilitis Kay Juan Obrero.” Eventually, our Principal then, Mrs. Carolina Javier, allowed me to hold concurrently the school’s main theater group – “Teatro Teresiana.” Putting together the members of “Teatrong Panggabi” and “Teatro Teresiana”, we produced “Sa Gitna Ng Digmaan.”

When I worked at a school in Bulacan, I also wanted to scratch my playwright itch. But I held my horses, for I did not like to steal someone’s thunder at that time. Besides, my hands were already full with my administrative functions then.

Honestly, when I was called for the curtain call for “Pablihasa Lalake”, I held back my emotions. It reminded me of the curtain call I did  for “Sa Gitna Ng Digmaan.” When I was staring at my name… the last item on the list, I refused to read it. I just felt that reading my own name was like tooting my own horn. So… I just said, “Thank you all for watching!” to end the curtain call.

To my surprise and delight, our principal stood, grabbed a microphone, and said, “This play was written and directed by Massuline Antonio D. Ligaya.”

Watching my play being featured was one of the important highlights of my vacation in the Philippines. It makes me feel rejuvenated as I head back to South Korea to resume teaching. It inspired me to finish my next one-act play – “Eavesdrop.”

https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/336390346-palibhasa-lalaki