Sugid Productions restaging BUWAN AT BARIL for its first production

There are lots of theater groups but each one has its own genre or theme for their productions. Sugid Productions is one of the newest theater guilds that have its own unique flavor to go with it. For Sugid, they focused on the socio-political situation of the country.

Sugid is a Kinaraya term meaning story which is suitable for Sugid Productions because they want to tell a story of our lives or what is happening around us. For their first production, they are restaging “Buwan at Baril sa Eb Major” by Chris Millado.

Buwan at Baril was first staged in 1984 at Raja Sulayman and in 1985 at CCP. It consists of different scenes during the events of the Martial Law era specifically in 1984. Most are not aware that in 1984 that there was a controversial event happened which is now known as the Mendiola Massacre. I only saw the footage when I watched it for my Political Science class back in college.

Actor Crispin Pineda is the only cast member from the original 1984 production. He is recalling back those days because he was also active in Kilusang Mayo Uno. He shares that after the EDSA uprising, Chris Millado said that hopefully, this won’t be staged again.

But because of the current “witch hunts” of drug pushers and extra-judicial killings, this was already raises a concern because the due process of the law is already ignored which was also similar to the Martial Law days.

Each scene is concentrated on specific character but all are connected. These scenes are also based on a true story especially the scene of the Student interrogated by the police overnight when was abducted during curfew. This is autobiographical because Chris Millado was a student when he was detained overnight by the police.

The purpose of this play is to orient the current generation about the stories and to think and ponder about what is happening around us. Director Andoy Ranay gathered this cast because they all share the same stand. Jackie Lou Blanco is also one of the cast. She shares that if ever history again repeats itself, she is worried because she is a mother and what kind of society her children will be in.

Also part of the cast are Cherrie Pie Picache, Mayen Estanero, Angeli Bayani, Paolo Ohara, Danny Mandia, Reymund Domingo, JC Santos, Joel Saracho, and Ross Pesigan. Buwan at Baril will be staged in Bantayog ng Mga Bayani starting January 26 until February 12 with 3PM matinee and 8PM shows.

The press launch was held last January 23 at Alab Restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. For more theatrical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.