Last July 24, 2012, at the
MSU-IIT Mini-theatre, I was able to see the phenomenal play of the creative
director, Mr.
Steven Patrick Fernandez and the astounding Integrated Performing
Arts Guild (IPAG) entitled Ming-ming.
The story was all about three generations of a powerful political family which
was dodging the controversies that threatened their survival. And in
order to ensure political and personal survival, her family was pushed to make
painful decisions that determine the lives Ming-ming (the main protagonist),
her mother, her grandmother and her uncle took.
The
story was focused more on flashbacks with regards to the events that took place
which led to Ming-ming’s death. It begun with the tonongs (spirits) and how
they witnessed the family’s drama unfold. Ming-ming’s mother, R, have
already failed in two marriages and the last one being an indispensable excuse
to hide the truth of Ming-ming’s birth, the offspring of her affair with an
Economics teacher. R’s first marriage to an older man, however, was arranged in
order to prop their family’s declining political fortunes. The husband, an
ambitious politician, was more enthusiastic with being in the company of young
boys who patronize his mahjong sessions. R’s
pregnancy of Ming-ming, was hidden in order to preserve family honor or maratabat, which is a traditionally upheld and dictated virtue
which shame is a transgression greater than death. And so, R was kept in
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, so she could give birth to Ming-ming. A marriage was then
arranged with a distant relative who was unaware of Ming-ming’s circumstances;
he only knew that the baby was adopted. MingMing was born seven months before
R’s second marriage. However, this distant relative-turned-husband turned out
to be callous and a chauvinist.
Conversely,
I, Ming-ming’s grandmother have lied all about Ming-ming’s story
to save maratabat and her only daughter’s life. She knew that even a small
offense of dishonor will provoke death, which was to be sentenced and carried
out by the family’s own strict codes. The penalty was essential in order to
uphold honor to the family and restore the loss of its face. When she was just
14 years old, I had already sacrificed her love to respect her family’s
obligation to marry the elder brother of her secret love and the uncle of
Ming-ming, P. This was needed in order to end a family feud or rido and consolidate political power between the two
antagonistic families. I’s decision however, devastated P who in turn, laments
his life after losing I to his brother, the heir apparent of his family. He
trains as a guerilla and cultivates a revolutionary attitude dictating
traditional views to his family. Caught in this chain of events, Ming-ming
tries to untangle herself, culminating in the occurrence of the inevitable.
The
portrayal of the characters was definitely amazing. They did it so well that it
was easy to understand the context of the play. Though it was not my first
time to see the IPAG perform, it has been more than two years since I last saw
one of their plays. And so, I am fortunate enough to have seen Ming-ming.
I am definitely looking forward in seeing another one of their
spectacular plays in the near future.
One thing the play portrayed very well is the upset and unhappiness that forced marriages cause, mainly to the wives, and children. In my opinion I consider that the cast put over very well the torment felt by Ming Ming and her mother. I think it is important that this is understood , as forced marriages take place in various countries throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteOne thing the play portrayed very well is the upset and unhappiness that forced marriages cause, mainly to the wives, and children. In my opinion I consider that the cast put over very well the torment felt by Ming Ming and her mother. I think it is important that this is understood , as forced marriages take place in various countries throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteOne thing the play portrayed very well is the upset and unhappiness that forced marriages cause, mainly to the wives, and children. In my opinion I consider that the cast put over very well the torment felt by Ming Ming and her mother. I think it is important that this is understood , as forced marriages take place in various countries throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteIt is a play that I would recommend to others to watch.