Uncovering 'Uwahig' / Phil Daily Inquirer ::
The Season of Peace by Stella A. Estremera / Sunstar Davao ::
MTS celebrates Peace Week 2005 by Mindanao Times ::
India Reviews ::
Bayang's Liberation and Journey to Peace by Jeffrey Tupas / PDI ::

ASIAN AFFAIRS
The Philippine play “Panaw” or Journey presented by the Mebuyan Peace Project, a multi-media musical theatre performance was hailed as one of the best shows at the Poorva Festival. Rosario, an overseas worker escapes domestic violence to come home and find that her family has either died or gone away. The mythical presence of Goddess Mebuyan weaves through the lives of Rosario, her mother who died fighting to prevent felling of trees and a priestess who brings the two women together. The play nurtures the idea that the Journey is the destination as it tackles issues of domestic violence, land loss, environmental destruction and women’s search for empowerment and meaning in their lives. >>>

ASIAN WOMEN DIRECTORS' FESTIVAL: TRADITION AND MODERNITY By Kavita Nagpal / asianaffairs.com
The Philippine play "Panaw" or Journey presented by the Mebuyan Peace Project, a multi-media musical theatre performance was hailed as one of the best shows at the Poorva Festival. Rosario, an overseas worker escapes domestic violence to come home and find that her family has either died or gone away. The mythical presence of Goddess Mebuyan weaves through the lives of Rosario, her mother who died fighting to prevent felling of trees and a priestess who brings the two women together. The play nurtures the idea that the Journey is the destination as it tackles issues of domestic violence, land loss, environmental destruction and women's search for empowerment and meaning in their lives. >>>

Flash Review Dispatch, 1-8: Healing and Homesickness; IN INDIA, POORVA TELEVISES THE REVOLUTION FOR ASIAN WOMEN ARTISTS By Maura Nguyen Donohue
From the Philippines, the Mebuyan Peace Project's stunning "Panaw" presents a domestic violence survivor's spiritual journey to Mt. Malakinay. The ensemble of six women uses rousing music employing indigenous vocal and instrumental techniques and Mindanaoan inspired dance to transport the viewers into a truly visceral response. My response was so physical I can still only describe it as an encompassing rush of homesickness for an unknown place. >>>

REMAINS OF THE WEEK by: Chitra Ahanthem / kanglaonline.com
What a week it has been - soaking up the essence and flavour of different cultures and theatre forms at the 'shrine playhouse' of Chorus Repertory Theatre during the course of the Asian Theatre Festival. It was quite an experience to be part of all the excitement generated by lively discussion/interaction sessions with play directors from Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and India….

But it was the cast of Panaw (Philippines) who stole their way into the heart of the audience with their open celebration of life. A pleasant surprise for the audience came in when the cast asked for volunteers to follow their dance movements onstage! Though hesitant at first, the claps that followed my way on to the stage made a middle aged suit booted gentleman to follow suit along with another person. At the end of the play, the cast asked the audience for an encore of the song refrain they had taught earlier and thrust their musical instruments into the hands of people selected at random. It was no surprise then that everybody was loathe to break up the bonhomie-the director of the play, Geejay Arriola (also one of the performers) had to announce, "sorry, this is the end." >>>

PIONEER (India)
"The third play, Panaw, performed by the Mebuyan Peace Project from the Philippines, stole the show with its unique depiction of domestic violence..."

Wahengbam Tiken, MANIPUR MAIL
"The musical presence is so powerful that there are moments when one almost felt as if the whole auditorium is enveloped in musical notes...As the chant of "...deyin de..." rant the auditorium signaling the end the spectators didn't quite leave their seats as if they haven't quite had their fill of the 'spectacle.'

THE HINDU
"The youthful high spirits in "Panaw", a musical from the Philippines moved by its teamwork, and by its avoidance of self-pity and melodrama in dealing with wife beating and violence..." >>>

Diwan Singh Bajeli, THE HINDU
"A gripping creation, it is remarkable for its lyrical quality, pathos, intensity and highly stylised choreographic patterns."