The author in the show
The musical has its last run June 23, 2024, Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport World Resorts, Newport Blvd., Pasay City.
On May 2, 2024, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya Ni Edgar Musical had its gala night starting with a pre-show cocktail to welcome media and guests. There were a lot of people, and I was, honestly, excited to watch the musical. I was counting the minutes until we could enter the theater. I really love plays, but I haven’t watched one in years. I was excited about the show because they said it would be fun, and there would be magic involved. Also, I love how crazy and whimsical the band’s songs can get.
When we were finally allowed to enter the Newport Theatre, there were two things on my mind. First, how relatable is it to women, and second, what does Parokya frontman Chito Miranda feel about the musical? I wondered how relatable it would be to women, because it was written by a man. The feminist in me was wondering, is it a generic depiction? I was wondering how Chito felt, after he has said that he did not expect these songs to be presented in this manner.
I noticed these, however. First, I loved how the music played out. The songs were not totally Ang Parokya Ni Edgar’s songs. But the performers made use of their instruments and rhythm, and made it its own. There were times the band’s songs and lyrics were also used, but they made sure they fit the story. They were able to weave a story based on the band’s music. It really felt connected to what Ang Parokya ni Edgar has written.
Second, the costumes—I appreciated how beautiful they were. There was so much color, and the designs were amazing. They really transported you to a different place. They tried to create a visual language and did some world-building. With the different scenes, the costume designer was able to design clothes that gave you a feel of the scene and the setting. I really felt the genius of the costume design near the end of the show, when the people were in monochromatic and somewhat boring clothes. It told you that they were back in reality. It made me wonder if the Philippines was really that dreary.
I was also amazed with the sets and graphics. Two giant screens gave the audience a closer look at the actors. The videos amplified the mystical scenes. The props were great. When I saw the colorful jeepney, I thought, wow, the jeepney can actually look fun. It made me feel bad that we are discontinuing it, and we are losing something symbolic of the Filipino.
Now, was it relatable to women? In a sense, yes. What was relatable to me was the idea that women should be stronger. That is something we grew up with. But for me, the message was, everyone should be stronger; the world is not a nice place. But I really wonder, why did the three women turn into monsters? Was it just the whimsy of the band? I feel they could have shown more. Women should be whoever they want to be, able to feel what they need to feel. But if I don’t think too much in a feminist way, the play makes sense. If I were to see it from a man’s perspective, would it be questionable or funny? Or maybe we shouldn’t think in terms of a single gender’s perspective. Maybe it’s just for everyone?
But overall, the characters were able to share their own stories. No one had a bigger role. But all the men were just supporting characters to what was really happening to these women. I think Tikmol, the brother of one of the characters, served as buffer for the women in the show. He had his own story.
I was talking to my sister about how weird it was that these different women became creatures, and one revealed she had a different sexual orientation. Like the characters kept saying, she doesn’t change. I also wondered, is it okay that they kept saying she was a boy? What if she didn’t identify as one? What if she just liked girls?
The last question on my mind was, again, how did Chito Miranda feel about the musical? At the end of the show, he simply stated that it was an overwhelming experience—“Nanginginig ako (I am trembling).’ The band was reluctant at the start because they didn’t trust their songs, but the production was able to make something magical out of them.
What made an impression on me was when Kingson Sian, president and CEO of Newport World Resorts, said that they got a chance to tell our story through music. It resonated with me because when I watched this, I thought, “Wow, this is our story as Filipinos.” It’s not a realistic story, but a whimsical one. And it came from the mind of Filipinos. Our stories don’t always have to be serious. They can also show worlds that come from our minds.
The musical overall was great. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a musical, and I was glad to see this one. It really was a Filipino musical. I felt like they were not trying hard to be something we are not, and they shared stories from the Philippine perspective. There were different Filipinos, and their stories were relatable. Even if I was left wondering how women would see it, it was still a great show.
