Category Archives: One-act Play
Entangled
(A One-Act Play)
(Synopsis)
Entangled follows the lives of Christian and Patrick, two Filipino expatriates working in another country. Both are married and lead seemingly uncomplicated lives—Christian works as a factory worker, and Patrick as a company driver. Though they share a deep friendship, their relationship is one of contrasts. Christian, an open book who frequently shares his struggles and misadventures, contrasts with Patrick’s more reserved nature. While Christian confides in Patrick about his difficulties, Patrick prefers to keep his life private, shrouded in secrecy.
Christian is at a crossroads. After years of infidelity, he feels the weight of his actions and decides to end an affair back in the Philippines. Fearing the loss of his wife, Missette, he resolves to mend his ways and rebuild his family. However, as Christian struggles to follow through on his decision, he is drawn into a deeper web of lies and betrayal.
The plot thickens when Christian, attempting to help his son with schoolwork, uses a remote access app to assist with online assignments. This seemingly innocent act reveals more than Christian bargained for. As Christian navigates the digital world, secrets begin to unravel, and he faces uncomfortable truths about those closest to him.
The play explores the complexities of trust, loyalty, and the impact of modern technology on relationships. Entangled uncovers the fragility of human connections, revealing how hidden secrets can be unearthed with a button. In a world where communication is constant, yet meaningful connections remain elusive, Christians must come to terms with the consequences of their actions before everything they value falls apart.
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PABLIHASA LALAKE
Video recording of my one-act play “Pablihasa Lalake,” one of the 3 plays PUP Sta. Mesa ‘s Bachelor of Performing Arts (Theater) students chose to present on February 8, 2024, in celebration of the “love month.”
Director: Larra Nicavera
Cast: Collins Catubig as Alfred
Jethro Tarang as Nick
Cass Deguinion as Jojo
Aeron Sayno as Rudy
Kimberly Gianan and Janine Palma as Myles
Kelly Burcia as Joey
Stage Managers: Amanda Canlas and Axl Fernandez
Set, Props, Costume, Hair, and Make-up Head: Kimberly Gianan
Assistant Make-up Head: Mia Gail Malaya and Shaina Adrias
Lights Designer: Thricia Arancillo
Sounds Designer: Axl Fernandez
Production Manager: Agustin Jose Taban-ud
A performance by PUP Sta. Mesa’s Bachelor of Performing Arts (Theater)
The Playwright In Me
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.”
K-Drama
(A one-act play written in Filipino)
Mga Tauhan:
Jack
Arnold
Joy
Waitress
Rose
Korean Man
Korean Woman
Customer
Tagpuan:
Sa isang restaurant sa South Korea.
Panahon:
Isang araw, buwan ng Marso sa kasalukuyang panahon.
(Magkakailaw sa tanghalan. Makikita ang interior ng isang pribadong bahagi ng isang restaurant sa South Korea. Nakasabit sa pader (nakaharap sa audience) ang mga larawan ng mga pagkain na inihahain ng restaurant katabi ang isang malaking larawan ng Jeju Island. Makikitang nililinis ng waitress ang mga ginamit ng mga papa-alis na customer. Nasa gitna ang mesa na kasya ang anim na katao. Walang upuan.)
Waitress: Kamsahamnida! Tashi Oseyo. Annyonghikaseyo.
Isa sa mga customers: Ne! Kamsahamnida!
(Tuloy lang ng paglilinis ang waitress. Nilagyan ng mga bagong hugas na kutsara at chopsticks ang lagayan. Maririnig mula sa labas ang mga usapan.)
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SUPLING
Dulang may isang yugto (One-act play)
Mga Tauhan
Marco – ang tatay
Maxene – ang nanay
Marc Andrei – ang anak
Aling Baby, Aling Nida, Aling Susie – mga kapitbahay
Dolly – isang midwife
____________________
Ang Tanghalan
Sa bahay ng mag-asawang Marco at Maxene.
Hati ang entablado sa tatlong bahagi. Ang terrace, sala at kuwarto. Sa terrace ay may mahabang upuang yari sa nilagaring katawan ng pine tree na kasandal sa pader at may ilang halamang nasa paso na nakapatong sa pasimano. Sa salas naman ay makikita ang sala set at isang rack. Nasa ibabaw ng rack ang isang flat TV at sa ilalim nama’y may stereo at mga speakers. Sa bandang likuran ng sala ay makikita ang kusina ng bahay. Bahagya namang nakaangat ng 2 baytang ang kwarto na ang hagdanang papasok ay nasa likuran ng isang divan. Sa kwarto ’y makikita ang isang king size bed, aparador at isang tokador na may salamin sa ibabaw.
____________________
Panahon
Kasalukuyang panahon.
____________________
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K-Drama
Dulang May Isang Yugto
Mga Tauhan:
Jack
Arnold
Joy
Waitress
Rose
Korean Man
Korean Woman
Customer
Tagpuan:
Sa isang restaurant sa South Korea.
Panahon:
Isang araw, buwan ng Marso sa kasalukuyang panahon.
(Magkakailaw sa tanghalan. Makikita ang interior ng isang pribadong bahagi ng isang restaurant sa South Korea. Nakasabit sa pader (nakaharap sa audience) ang mga larawan ng mga pagkain na inihahain ng restaurant katabi ang isang malaking larawan ng Jeju Island. Makikitang nililinis ng waitress ang mga ginamit ng mga papa-alis na customer. Nasa gitna ang mesa na kasya ang anim na katao. Walang upuan.)
Waitress: Kamsahamnida! Tashi Oseyo. Annyonghikaseyo.
Isa sa mga customers: Ne! Kamsahamnida!
(Tuloy lang ng paglilinis ang waitress. Nilagyan ng mga bagong hugas na kutsara at chopsticks ang lagayan. Maririnig mula sa labas ang mga usapan.)
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KABIT-KABIT
Dulang May Isang Yugto
(One-act Play in Filipino)
S Y N O P S I S
Matalik na magkaibigan at magkumpare pa sina Christian at Patrick. Pareho silang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.
Si Patrick ay napakamasikretong tao. Hindi siya mahilig magkwento ng mga personal na bagay. Para sa kanya may mga bagay at sikreto na hindi na kaylangang ipagsabi kahit sa mga kaybigan. Kabaligtaran niyan si Christian na tiwalang nasasabi kay Patrick halos lahat ng bagay tungkol sa kanyang buhay – lalong-lalo na ang mga kalokohan niya sa babae.
Lahat ng mga babaeng nakarelasyon ni Christian ay ikinukweto ng detalyado kay Patrick, bukod lamang sa isa. Meron siyang sikretong kinakatagpong babae tuwing umuuwi sa Pilipinas na ayaw niyang ikwento sa kanyang kumpare’t kaibigan.
Dumating ang pagkakataon na parang nagsawa na sa mga ginagawang kalokohan si Christian. At sa gabing iyon, siya ay nagpasyang makipagkalas sa babaeng sikreto niyang kinakatagpo tuwing nagbabakasyon siya sa Pilipinas. Gagawin niya iyon alang-alang sa uliran niyang asawa at sa mabait na anak.
Ang pagtatangka ni Christian na iayos ang kanyang buhay ay sasalubungin ng isang malaking sorpresa.
**********
MGA TAUHAN
Christian, Patrick, Missette, Clarissa & Matthew
**********
ANG TANGHALAN
Nakadisenyong itanghal ang dulang ito sa isang intimate theatre na kung saan may dalawang malaking screen sa magkabilang bahagi ng entablado. Layon kasi nitong ipakita kung paano ginagamit ng mga tao ang mga social networking sites habang sila’y nasa loob ng pribado nilang kwarto – kung papaanong ang cyberspace ay nagsisilbing entablado para sa mga drama nila sa buhay.
Ang dalawang malalaking screen ay kunwaring dalawang computer monitors na kung saan ay makikita ng malinaw ang palitan ng mga messages at video-chats sa pagitan ni Christian na nasa loob ng entablado at ng iba pang tauhan na kausap niya sa cyberspace.
Isang study table ang makikita sa gitna ng stage. Nakaupo si Christian sa gitna na nakaharap sa isang laptop at sa audience. May dalawang mas maliliit na lamesa na makikita sa bandang kanan at kaliwa ng study table at sa likuran niya ay ang kanyang kama. May mga pagkain at inumin sa isang lamesa. Bukod sa laptop ay may isang 24-inch flat screen TV na ginagamit na extended monitor ni Christian. Ang kinalalagyang bahagi ni Christian sa entablado ay nakapagitna sa dalawang malalaking screen. Sa pamamagitan ng mga ito ay makikita ng audience ang lahat ng mga activities ni Christian na nasa screen ng kanyang laptop at sa nakakabit na extended monitor dito.
Dim light lang ang gagamiting ilaw sa entablado. Merong spotlight mula sa harapan ng stage na nakafocus kay Christian.
**********
PANAHON
Kasalukuyang panahon
**********
[Madilim.
Maririnig sa background ang kanta ng Journey na “Faithfully” na sinasabayan ni Christian. Kasabay ng huling salita ng second stanza ng kanta ay bubukas ang ilaw sa stage at makikitang nakaharap si Christian sa audience payuko sa kanyang ginagamit na laptop, sinasabayan pa rin niya ang kanta. Kasabay sa pagbukas ng ilaw ay makikita sa screen sa kaliwa na pinapalitan niya ang kanyang profile picture sa Facebook at sa kanang screen naman ay bukas ang Youtube at pine-play ang video ng kanta ng Journey na “Faithfully”. Matapos niyang ma-upload ang kanyang picture ay makikita sa screen sa kanyang kanan na tumatawag sa Skype ang kanyang kumpareng si Patrick. Ipo-pause ni Christian ang music video at sasagutin ang Skype call.]
Christian: Oh pare natawag ka. [Makikita sa kanang screen si Patrick, may hawak na mug.]
Patrick: Oo eh, kasi miss na miss na kita. [Tatawa.]
Christian: Excuse me, hindi tayo talo bruha. [Tatawa at pagkatapos ay susubo ng pizza.]
Patrick: Wow, pizza!!![Ipapakita ni Christian ang fried chicken, coke at beer.] Food trip ba? Kumain na tayo kanina bago tayo naghiwalay ah.
Christian: Gutom pa rin ako eh! Bitin ako sa kain natin kanina! Anong oras ka nga pala nakabalik d’yan sa apartment mo?
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M.A.D. LIGAYA
M.A.D. L I G A Y A 