A product of the PETA Playwrights’ Development Program Laboratory, Pinoy Wannabes presented sketches that focused on the crucial role of the family, the joys and frustrations of love and the complexity of relationships.

For the first time, the editors of One Philippines had a close look at PETA’s spanking new home, a glass, metal and concrete edifice called the PETA Theater Center on Sunnyside Drive off E. Rodriguez Ave. Quezon City.

We also had a good post-performance chat with actor Soliman Cruz and director Phil Noble.

I have a sister who had to leave the Philippines because of a job opportunity in Canada. Maganda naman yung migration niya kasi kasama ang buong pamilya. But of course it doesn’t always happen that way, especially to many Filipinos who have to bear the pain of being away from their families.

What did you learn from Pinoy Wannabes?

Ang kayamanan hindi sa bulsa, kundi sa isipan...yung pagkakaron ng dangal bilang tao. Naalala ko ang mga tinuro sa kin ng nanay ko.

What do you love about the theater?

Yung moment of the theater as a whole, yung fusion of actors, lights, music, the whole performance that produces a magical moment. There’s that element of purging, yun bang parang pinipiga ang kaibuturan mo.

The theater world is a very challenging art, a never-ending creative process that involves sensible people and sensitive thinking, but they’re not that egocentric, contrary to perception.

What is the message of Pinoy Wannabes?

When you serve your country the right way, ang balik nito magkakaroon tayo ng magandang future. Unless you’re a crook, there’s really no choice but to love your family and ultimately the country.

The story of Pinoy Wannabes

IN history books, Filipinos are described as having coming from the Malay race with a mixed Spanish and Indochinese ancestry.

These days, however, a lot of Pinoys “wanna be” an American, Canadian, Japanese, Korean, Australian – almost any nationality except Filipino.

Thus PETA struck a familiar chord in its recent production called Pinoy Wannabes.
Wannabe 1: Yung Plano (Tim Dacanay)

Mom Grace goes TNT in the US. Dad Jessie is in Canada. The three children are supposed to follow them soon. In the meantime, they must live on their own.

Their idealism as former activists did not stop Grace and Jessie from having to confront the daily needs of a growing family. Their idealism now transforms to a dream that someday, the family would be reunited even after being torn apart for 6 years now. The story is narrated from the point of view of the kids left alone with the lola.

Wannabe 2: Ang Kamera ni Mang Leon (Gamay Arkocel-Dacanay)
Doc Alejandro is home from the US where he works as a nursing aide. Dentist Rosario is also back from Canada where she is a caregiver. Doc Mike is a doctor in the Philippines and he’s gay. The grandchildren are not foreigners but can’t speak any Filipino. On Christmas Eve the family reunion turns into a bickering feud.

Exasperated grandmother almost goes nuts: “Ikaw, Alejandro, ginapang namin ang pag-aaral mo para ka maging doctor. Nung pumunta ka sa US para mag-nursing aide, may narinig ka ba sa amin? Wala. Ikaw, Rosario, tuwang tuwa kami nang nakatapos ka ng dentistry, nung pumunta ka sa Canada para mag-caregiver, may narinig ka ba sa amin? Wala. At ikaw, Mike, tiniis namin ng tatay mo ang mga inuuwi mong boyfriends sa bahay May narinig ka ba sa amin? Wala. Ngayon, ang gusto ko lang naman ay… magpa-picture tayo.”

Wannabe 3: Kalat (Tina Manipis-de Guzman)
Claire is a mother, a wife, a teacher and a gym instructor. She’s leaving the country to clean up other people’s mess. And her own.

Finding yourself and starting anew is what foreign shores offer. Probably.

Wannabe 4: Panaginip (Krisantha Nael)

Vic and Kris are young and in love. And oceans apart. When Vic finds a way to go to the US, Kris is already on his way home.

The original play was written for heterosexual characters, but love was not to be confined to just one kind of relationship, even at a distance. Love found a way to someone else’s heart to where it truly belongs.

Wannabe 5: Pasaporte (Janneke Agustin)
Meet Dina Asenso from Norzagaray, Bulacan and Manolo Dimakaahon from Quirino province. They both want to be in America. And all their bags are packed. All that’s missing is their visas.

So we dream and we work hard for our dreams. But dreams can be farcical and musical when they become absurd.