Dubai theatre play depicts OFW journey

Gulf News

Theatre production Ang Pambansang Litanya ng mga Inang Wala sa Bayan tells stories of women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

Transcript

00:00This play is about three women and their story.

00:29Their stories of hope and their love for their family.

00:33It is set in a money exchange booth.

00:36So Liluki happens while they're waiting for the booth to open.

00:39So they suddenly remember their families back home and then the reason why are they there

00:46in their respective countries.

00:48They kind of remember the struggles and what keeps pushing them forward.

00:52This is the first time that we're doing a Filipino play staged by a Filipino team.

00:57Initially the idea about this production is to just create a play for the Filipino

01:03people here in UAE.

01:06Something that is relevant to the people, to us generally.

01:09We've come up with several events.

01:11We've come up with shows highlighting Filipino creativity in visual art, painting, photography,

01:22filmmaking even.

01:23We also dabbled into arousing the songwriting and music production community.

01:30But we've never really tackled and we've never really pinpointed theater.

01:35When you speak of the Filipino talent when it comes to the acting department, we're tops

01:41in there.

01:42We hope that this Sambansang Litanya would then awaken the theatrical spirit and the

01:49zeal in performing for the Filipino.

01:53What better way to come up with this sort of environment in December, which our government

01:58has labeled as Overseas Filipino Month.

02:02This play is relevant to OFWs because it is important that we continuously tell the stories

02:08of Filipinos who are marginalized, not always being represented.

02:12We know that some Filipinos are being successful in their OFW journey, but some are still struggling.

02:20This kind of retelling is a reminder that in some ways, we are responsible in making

02:25a better life for our fellow Filipinos.

02:38It starts from the departure of an OFW from the Philippines to abroad.

02:45At first, you get excited, but then when you reach the immigration area, loneliness starts,

02:50missing our family starts.

02:52When you're abroad already, you will face some struggles.

02:55The second song will be focused on that part of the story.

02:58The closing song gives hope to the audience and to the OFW.

03:03I'm doing the character of Azon.

03:06Azon is an outgoing person, the usual kabayans, the usual OFW, happy, fun, outgoing.

03:12You will see her soft side.

03:14You will see in her eyes that there is something bothering her.

03:19She's happy, yeah, but deep inside her, there is pain.

03:23My role here is Grasha, a 40-year-old teacher who applied as a DH in Saudi Arabia.

03:34She's an English teacher, so she was hired as a tutor for a princess.

03:39She's quite privileged.

03:41Before she left, she has her own baggages.

03:45That's where the story is going to revolve.

03:49It will be my first time to be part of an event related to us OFWs,

03:55since I've been here in Dubai for six years already.

03:59So this will be my first to produce this kind of show.

04:02We want to tell the story of love, determination, resilience of these OFWs working abroad.

04:08We want them to leave asking questions about their journey as OFWs.

04:14We want them also to think about how we can create a community,

04:19this sense of oneness within us, build a strong Filipino community through the arts,

04:23and also to have an avenue to help each other, to empower each other,

04:28to support each other in our journey as OFWs.

04:38I know that I can do it

04:42I hope I can join the immigration

04:49I can't remember anything!

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