By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Having staged a spectacular theater performance of ‘Ang Lagusan’, the Teatro Normal of the Mariano Marcos State University – College of Teacher Education earned praises and a standing ovation from hundreds of viewers of their two runs on Tuesday, January 24.

An alumna of the University of the Philippines Repertory Company (UP Rep) commended the production team, most especially the “very talented” characters for their debut in the university. Atty. Josefina Patricia M. Asirit stressed “the show should be presented in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, as all I saw was sheer talent, ingenuity, and use of resources.” (UP Rep is a student organization that raises Filipino social consciousness through theater.)

“You left your audience thinking, and that is what stage play is all about. When you brought out the emotions, the audience became part of your performance,” she added. 

Atty. Asirit, former commissioner and now a consultant of the Energy Regulatory Commission, joined the high-spirited audience of the play at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia, together with officials of the Department of Energy who visited the campus. 

“Overjoyed and almost speechless,” University President Shirley C. Agrupis said the performance of the CTE students “spells the future of MMSU as an emerging home of exceptional theater producers and actors.” 

Commending the CTE for coming up with a theatrical play as part of the 45th MMSU Foundation Anniversary, President Agrupis said she wants MMSU Teatro Normal to be institutionalized as a platform to nurture the students’ potentials. “The days for your performances only being marveled at in your college is up, because your students are up for bigger stages,” she exclaimed. 

Thrilled by the positive response of both the MMSU community and guests, ‘Ang Lagusan’ Director James Zandro Ventura III hopes the success of the show will pave the way for more support and opportunities for theater talents. He added, “Atty. Asirit’s remarks push us even more to envision an MMSU-CCP partnership for our Ilocano talents.” 

Showing dramatic cues and hard-hitting punchlines, ‘Ang Lagusan’ portrays various social issues, aiming to make people realize that people’s actions while living will bear consequences in the afterlife. 

Characters include a soldier, a money-hungry attorney, a child who craves for his mother’s love, an extremely busy doctor, an abused OFW, a teacher who fell in love with a student, and a prostitute. These were portrayed by Nathaniel Balisacan, Deejay Antonio, Nathaniel Doropan, Fevilyn Aglipay, Jonalyn Bareng, Amherstia Magayano, and Angeline Caraang, respectively.

The cast also comprised the MMSU team which emerged champion in the Short and Sweet Play competition during the regional Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges Culture and the Arts Festival last year. – with report from Niña Christelle Sumintac, Correspondent (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)