PANAW, a concert theatre on domestic violence, and the goddess Mebuyan.
Rosario, an overseas Filipina worker, takes a trip back to her hometown to reflect and take a much-needed rest from work and a husband who batters her. While climbing sacred mountain Malakinay on a personal retreat, she meets tribal priestess Bae Malimlim who tells her about the ancient mythical story of the underworld goddess Mebuyan. Through a powerful ritual, Bae Malimlim allows Rosario a glimpse of Mebuyan's domain.
In Mebuyan's domain, Rosario sees the restless soul of her mother Delia. Delia had died by the hand of her own husband who had battered her for years. Her restlessness stems from an unresolved issue—that of having passed on the cycle of violence in her life to her own daughter.
As we hear the stories of the two women Rosario and Delia, we hear and see the songs of the past, the tragedies of the present, and the rhythms of power and inspiration towards a hopeful future for women in the arms of the Goddess Mebuyan.
Mebuyan is the underworld goddess who defies her brother Lumabet and builds her own domain under the earth. As she spirals towards the navel of the earth, she invokes her power over life and death. Her domain of pure gold becomes the place where souls take shelter before they reach Gimokudan, their final destination.
PANAW is a one-hour concert theatre performance by the all-women Mebuyan Peace Project of Mindanao, Philippines. It is a musical exploration and a re-inventive search into ancient indigenous mythical consciousness by contemporary women. It attempts to re-build tradition utilizing contemporary forms merged with modern thought.
PANAW premiered at the Locsin Dance Workshop on December 28, 2002.
Other performances of PANAW include:
Asian Women Directors' Conference and Festival, New Delhi, India, January 5, 2003; organized by the National School of Drama in New Delhi, in coordination with the Department of Women and Child Development, Natarang Pratishthan, and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Asian Theatre Festival, Imphal, India, January 9, 2003; organized by Chorus Repertory Theatre
Asian Theatre Festival, Kolkata, January 11, 2003; organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations
February Arts Festival, Taboan, Matina Town Square, Davao City, Philippines, February 17-18, 2003.
Asian Women in the Arts Festival, Manila, Philippines, March 5, 2003; organized by Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA)
International Women's Day Celebration, Quezon City, Philippines, March 8, 2003; organized by MAKABAYAN.
PANAW is a grantee of the NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
CONCEPT, MUSIC, and WEAVING Geejay Arriola
LIBRETTO Malou Tiangco, Geejay Arriola
MUSIC ARRANGEMENT AND DIRECTION Gauss Obenza
CHOREOGRAPHY Agnes Locsin
PRODUCTION DESIGN Lyndee Prieto
LIGHTS DESIGN Kaikai Lamanilao
PRODUCTION COORDINATION Aileen Fermalino
STAGE MANAGEMENT Juliemar Onas
CAMERAWORKS Julie Weidenbach, Geejay Arriola
PERFORMANCE Geejay Arriola, Bayang Barrios, Maan Chua, Maree Contaoi, Sheila Labos, Christine Lim, Gauss Obenza, Ditz Villas
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND SET UP:
SOUND SYSTEM
2 lapel mikes
6 vocal mikes with boom stands
percussion mikes for:
1 djembé set
2 kulintang (8-pcs brass
gongs)
1 agong (big gong)
3 sets chimes and small
percussion
instruments
3 guitar amps
sound monitors
appropriate mixers and soundboxes
SET
1 riser/platform (lwh 6" x 4" x 1") approximate; color black or forest green
1 riser/platform (lwh 4" x 4" x 1") approximate; color black or forest green
1 riser/platform (lwh 4" x 3" x 1") approximate; color black or forest green
overhead bars/beams on which to hang the curtains (front bar, middle bar, back bar)
STAGE
approximately 20 feet deep x 30 feet wide
LIGHTS (maximum available par 64s or fresnels with various color gels and dimmer board)
SET-UP TIME
We require a whole day of set-up of sets and lights, and 2 hours of strike down immediately after the performance.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Please provide us with at least 4 technical staff who can help set up the lights and the sets.
AUDIENCE
a maximum of 1,000 audience (age range-high school to adult)
