Following a successful debut at the Asian Youth Theatre Festival in Singapore, the Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts (YATTA) flew to Manila for the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Festival of Windows held last October 24-29, 2017.
PETA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and is a 2017 recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards. The PETA Festival of Windows is an opportunity to gather artists, partners, and audiences together to celebrate and explore the role of the arts in advocacy efforts in the Philippines. Over three hundred delegates from various parts of the country and countries including Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia participated in the Festival.
In line with PETA’S mission, the YATTA ensemble will perform Aah, Bakus or “Aah, the Belt!” which was adapted by Junsly Kitay from Liza Magtoto’s Rated PG. The piece opens a window into the life of the Filipino, urban-dwelling family and community as they face the harsh realities of poverty. Under these conditions, patience is hard to muster and consequently, when parents and teachers feel frustrated they often resort to corporal punishment to maintain order. The play portrays the perspectives of children and adults, and promotes positive discipline as an alternative to corporal punishment as the norm in the Filipino household, which is a way for families and communities to remain cohesive while navigating the daily stress of survival.
Aah, Bakus, a play performed many times over the years, struck a chord in me. As I sat in on a dress rehearsal, the audience was composed of high school students and parents. Both generations were captivated by the storytelling. YATTA’s performance of Aah, Bakus masterfully weaves together humor, music, and relevant social issues into a piece that provides a platform for the different generations to discuss the nature and function of Filipino families and communities! (Lauren Robinson)
