PETA launches its 42nd theater season

MANILA, Philippines - PETA has been known and credited with creating issue-based performances that mirror and reflect the times — and for its fearless delivery of truth through a palette of theatrical forms. Now in its 42nd theater season, PETA continues to contribute to help bring about social awareness and change through its productions, performances and workshops, as it calls on its audiences to act and respond to the clarion call to Philippine society. Using fresh, innovative and interesting techniques and approaches, PETA welcomes its new theater season as a renewed challenge to test and push the capacity of art to inform, influence and inspire its audiences.

First on its list of productions is Nic Tiongson’s opus, Noli at Fili Dekada Dos Mil, an adaptation of Jose Rizal’s two most influential novels: El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere. Reworked as a postmodern narrative, Noli at Fili Dekada Dos Mil was inspired by real events, characters and testimonials that arose during the landslide in the Quezon province. The story, which revolves around small town politics and the fight against corruption, also zooms in on the problem of illegal logging and its corrupted relation with governance and religion. 

Following Noli at Fili is Christine Bellen’s Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. Now in it’s third year, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang still remains to be one of PETA’s most-loved productions. Featuring stories from Severino Reyes’ folktales, Prinsipeng Mahaba ang Ilong, Ang Babaeng Tumalo sa Mahal na Hari at Prinsipeng Duwag — Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang presents different mythical stories about self-discovery and values formation.

In August, PETA celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child through its presentation of Ismail at Isabel (Ang Paghahanap ng mga Bagong Kuwentong Bayan), a moving story about two children, a Christian and a Muslim, who once lived happily in their small village in Dilangawen, Mindanao. Blind to their differences, the two told and retold the folktales that narrate the similarities between of Muslims and Christians — until the fearsome war reached their community and permanently broke their innocence.

In time for the 2010 elections, PETA creates a comical vaudeville musical, Boto-boto-boboto-bonana-fanna-fo-foto-fee-fy-momoto-boto (BOTO Another Musical), which uses iconic characters of the Philippine electoral process: Lorrie Logarta, Chix Pedero, and popular terms such as “trapo,” “ispits” (speech) and many others. The story, cast with 10 actors with interchanging roles and characters, also follows the electoral process, beginning with the voter’s registration and ending with the need for vigilance after elections.

The four productions, which officially begin in June, 2009, also commence PETA’s renewed commitment to artistic excellence as it cradles a people’s culture through its use of theater that is distinctly Filipino.

For inquiries regarding PETA’s new season, call PETA at 410-821 or 725-6244, e-mail petampro@yahoo.com, or visit www.petatheater.com