Coming Home: A true-to-life play on recovery from drug abuse

Recovery and hope are the values highlighted in "Coming Home," a play presented by Recovery House, Rate Holdings, The Aboitiz Group Foundation, with the cooperation of Cinema One of Ayala Center Cebu, and the City of Cebu, under the direction of Benjie Olmedo.

A true-to-life story based on the experiences of former drug addict Vicente (Tico) Aldanese, "Coming Home" tells how Tico managed to recover and live a new life after almost 30 years of active addiction. See how innocent curiosity, peer pressure and experimentation with drugs of all types can be the start of a nightmare leading to a roller coaster ride of sadness, fear and anger mixed with a lifestyle full of manipulating, cheating, lying and stealing.

The play also shows how a loving family relationship can be put at risk and become unhealthy because the behavior and attitudes of both the drug user and the family members change as the drug use gets worse. It also aggravates as it goes from Experimentation, to Habituation, to Abuse, and ultimately, to Dependency.

The play also shows how things go after turning away from active drug addiction, which is a series of challenges that need to be hurdled by both the drug addict and their family members before achieving a true and lasting recovery. See and understand the process of Denial, wherein one denies or hides from the fact that there is a problem.

This play is a project of the Recovery House for the benefit of the Save An Addict Foundation, whose goal will be to help people suffering from the disease of Addiction and deprived from the financial means to avail of rehabilitation and necessary treatment to once again live a responsible and productive life. Another goal is to help the community with Drug Abuse Prevention campaigns aimed at stopping the growing problem of drug addiction.

The cast of the play includes students from University of Cebu, namely; Tirso Tampus as the young Tico; Angeline Sacedor as Maricar; Juvinal Torregosa as Joey; Jolly Merci L. Gimarangan as Ann; Joan Marie Pancho as the aunt; Marjon Pondar as Albert; and Ann Margaret Abapo as the house help. The play also features the participation of Recovery House staff Alain Aliño as Tico's dad and Apollo Oriel as the older Tico; with Gina Bellen as Tico's mom and Bert Pursoo as Pablo.

Helping the project as co-presenters and sponsors are the City of Cebu, the Ayala Cinemas at Ayala Center Cebu, Ross and Sharyn McCarthy, Anita's Home Bakeshop, Isuzu Philippines, Y101, Kamatuoran Inc., and the friends of Recovery House. Playdates are on Friday, February 3, 2006 at 10am and 7pm, and then on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 11am, 2pm and 7pm at Ayala Center Cebu Cinema One. For more information, please call Recovery House at 234-0355 and 231-5229.