ELBI PIE, Defining Quality and Synergy for 17 Years

ELBI PIE, Defining Quality and Synergy for 17 Years

( A Reaction Paper in the Play ELBI PIE 17 - Rufo and the Ruffletes )

            The 17th installment of the critically acclaimed dramedy Elbi Pie once again, proves its existence. Just like the other seasons, the Bucoy-Rufo tandem has been a force to reckon with in UPLB's contemporary theater history. This one is a major success not because students, as expected, flocked the NCAS auditorium to witness the yearly spectacle, but as a celebration of the university's vast pool of talents.

           

            From the punch and crunch that each line leaves the audience everytime each actor talk, down to realizing how these uber talented people were able to execute and interpret the so-called Bucoy lines, the crowd, including yours truly, was left mesmerized - anticipating, waiting for every succeeding scenes.

           

            The creative depiction, featuring the presentday issues concerning UPLB students were again highlighted to the concept of love and many of its forms. You'll see that each character represents individuals and their different values systems and perspectives of love and affection. Different stories - struggles, faith, values, vice, competition- one at a time.

           

            Behind the commendable performance, one of the few things that have been very consistent in every staging of the play, was on how each character portray different characters, each giving justice to these respective roles. This, perhaps, is one of the best points of reflection all throughout.

           

            Each character has indeed showcased various beliefs in each portrayal. For instance, the actors in the play have one unique perspective in love - that is, to rely their fate base on the number of hearts that would appear in a card, given that each corresponding number(s) has equivalent meaning(s). It would be inferred that these affect their view on love. Consequently, these factors even contribute on how they are going to act upon love, again, according to what they think will win it.

           

            The quality of execution and interpretation defines standards. But what makes the performance even more worthy of remembering is the dedication and over-all attitude of each actor to their assigned characters. In fact, I'm pretty much aware that it is beyond their preferences. Expect that these actors can really perform different characters.

           

            Apart from having individual talents, the synergy and unity of cast, including the crew, are worth-mentioning, as well. When you are one towards a goal - tons of applause, success, and great reviews - I believe that this character of your group will take you to those, always.

               

                Rest-assured, the 17-year old play will be a living legacy of quality and synergy in UPLB's theatre history. 

Nagtataeng Bolpen

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Tinambangan na naman kami kanina.

Madugo.

Sa paulit-ulit, minsan di ko na kinakaya.

Oo, mahirap lalu kung diskurso na.Tagaktak ang pawis. Mga matang nakamasid. Anumang oras ay handang umulos.

Bawat salita ay binabantayan. Bawat buka ng bibig ay sisiguraduhing tama, dahil kung hindi, “You’re dead!” ika nga.

Pero sadyang kaysarap.

Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng kailangang usigin, sa dami ng kailangang halungkagin, di ko lubos maisip na darating ang oras ng paglisan.

L L L

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Wala na. Tapos na.

Tinapos ng isang oras ang maliligayang araw sa kwartong di sinisinagan ng araw. Ilang oras ang namayani bago tuluyang nagkasundo ang lamig at dilim.

Naglulupasay sa galak na tinungo ang tarangkahan at dire-diretsong tumakbo. Naiwang nag-iisa ang rostrong nagbigay daan sa diskurso.

Ang dating bahaing loob ng kuwarto ay tinuyot ng alikabok. Ang dating malusog na talakayan ay sinuyo ng nagmamadaling mga yabag. Walang naiwan kundi ang misteryosong rostro sa harapan. Nakapatong ang salamin at ang aklat na niluma ng panahon. Kupas ngunit hitik sa rason.

Madilim na ngunit aninag ang kanyang anino, at ang mahinahong tinig ay pumapailanlang paroo’t parito. Dalisay at matalinghaga kumbaga.

Kung gaano katagal akong tinitigan at pinagtatalakan ng kung anu-anong kalokahan, ganoon din katagal mananatili ang sanlibong katotohanan. Sa kabila ng masisiglang hagalpakan, nananatili ang hiwaga at katotohan sa likod ng bawat akdang inusisa.

Sa loob ng kuwartong ito maamoy si Enkidu, ang tinibag na monumento sa Delhi, at ang sankalan ng mga diyos ng kusina ay maayos na nakahanay sa harapan. Mga bakas ng buhangin mula Kalahari, gulanit na imahe ni Guevarra, at ang lumang bibliya sa harap ng mesita. Saksi ang kwarto sa kamatayan ni Martha at sa mga digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan. Inusisa ang rehimen ni Chavez, Marx, at Mao, at pinag-aralan ang mga taktika ng digmaan ni Tzu.

Pinagtalunan ang mga kaalaman mula kay Freire at sa kung ano ang pamagat ng maiksing tula ni Kitaro. Dumaan sa kapatagan ng Africa bago naipit sa kabi-kabilang giyera. Makailang beses kinwestyon ang kalalakihan at itinaas ang imahe ng kababaihan.

Ang mga tattoo, ang mga makukulay na maskara, ang iba’t-ibang kutis at ang mga palamuti sa pagtatalik. Sinong makakalimot sa kasumpa-sumpang pagkikita sa C-Park. Mga hubad na katawang nagsihanay sa  kahabahan ng daan.

Pumunta sa kalawakan at doo’y nag-imbestiga. Sino ang totoo kina Yaweh at Allah? Sila ba ay totoong magkaiba o iisa? Nakipag-usap sa mga taga ibang planeta at nalamang ang napipintong pagsabog ng planeta.

Nakiiyak sa mga kasaysayan ng mga dakilang manunulat na hindi lamang pawis ang iniluwa, kundi nagbuhos ng sariling laman at dugo sa kanilang mga akdang ating lamang na binababoy.

Nakisaya at umindayog sa iba’t – ibang musika at kulay ng kultura at unti-unting kinilala ang iba’t-ibang bansa.

Natatandaan ko pa ng ako’y maidlip sa gitna ng malusog na talakayan. Hindi na ako nagising pa. Nilipad ng kung saan ang kaluluwa at napadpad sa klaseng puno ng husga. Dito tayo unang nagkita at muling magkikita. Kung ako’y magigising pa ngayong ang kuwarto’y sarado na ay tiyak na suntok sa buwan. Madilim, malamig at nangangamoy luma.

Humahalimuyak ang masangsang na amoy ng pinagsama-samang mga bansa. Ngunit kagila-gilalas ang namumuong kulay na sumambulat sa aking pagdilat. Asul, dilaw, pula. Madami sila. Napakarami nila. Lumilipad at masayang nagsasama-sama. Doon kita nakita. Marahil ako’y kasama nila. Hindi mo makita, dahil sa iba nakapako ang iyong mga mata.

Sa pagpihit ng pintuan, rumagasa ang ilaw ng pagkamangha. Lumiwanag ang kabuuan at nawala ang sigla ng mga kulay. Unti-unting maglaho si Enkidu, si Martha, ang mga tao mula Africa, sina Mao at Tzu, pati ang mga kasangkapang kani-kanila lang ay masayang inaanod ng mga kulay.

Makintab na makintab ang rostro. Tahimik ang madla habang nagsasalita si Dumlavski. Muling naghahasik ng panibagong mga punla. Tinamaan ng isa sa mga buto at ako’y tuluyang nagising.

Sa yaman ng literatura at mga pangitain ay saka pa lamang napansin ang nagtataeng ballpen na malayang inaagusang ng pulang tinta. Basang-basa ang mga papel. Mapula. Madugo.

Mag aalas-dos at masiglang masigla ang talakayan.

            Magsisimula na naman ang tradisyunal na pananambang.

WANTED: Miss Perfect, On-Cam at Off-Cam

( Isang Pagsusuring Pampanitikan sa Dulang ELBI PIE 17 : Rufo and the Ruffletes )

            Sa ikalabing-pitong pagsasadula ng isa sa mga pinaka-pinipilahang produksyon sa buong UPLB, hindi maikakailang ang tambalang Bucoy at Rufo ay isa o kung hindi man,ay ang pinaka-matagumpay sa larangan. Ang produksyon, na hindi lamang inaabangan taun-taon, ay isang institusyon ng malaya at malikhaing pagsasabuhay ng katotohanan sa likod ng bawat buhay ng mga tinaguriang “Iskolar ng Bayan” – sa kung ano ang kani-kanilang mga karanasan at malalalim nitong kaugnayan sa pagharap sa buhay at realidad.

            Isa sa mga di matatawarang kahalagan ng ganitong uri ng palabas ay sa kung papaano nagiging instrumento ang teatro upang magkaroon ng kahulugan ang bawat linyang ibinabato ng mga nagsisipagganap sa kanilang mga manunuri at sa pangkalahatang manonood.

            Karaniwan nang mahihinuha na sa ganitong mga panoorin, ang bawat manonood ay may kaniya-kanyang mga interpretasyon at pagpapakahulugan dito. Ang pinaka-karaniwan sa mga ito ay ang paghahanap ng mga aral sa buhay na maaaring gawin at isaalang-alang. Ang pagsilip o paghahabi ng mga ganitong aral ay naging tradisyon na ng mga Pilipino at ang panonood ay isa sa pinaka-epektibong paraan upang makakuha ng mga aral sa buhay base sa pagsasabuhay ng mga actor. Kung kaya’t karamihan sa mga palabas ngayon, tulad ng Elbi Pie, ay syang nagiging repleksyon ng iba’t-ibang karanasang hango sa mga tunay na karanasan sa buhay.

            Ang pag-asam natin sa maginhawa at makulay na buhay, halimbawa sa buhay pag-ibig dito sa Elbi Pie, ay ang pinaka-epektibong paraan di lamang upang marami ang manood, kundi magkaroon ng ideya ang tao at imulat sila sa katotohanan. Dahil dito, mas dumadami ang ating kaalaman sa buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagsisiwalat ng mga aral sa mga palabas.

            Sa paglalapat ng moralistikong pananaw sa bawat dula, isinasaalang-alang ang mga gawain at mga pangyayari sa buhay ng tao bilang hugutan ng mga aral nito.

            Halimbawa, ang ating mga paniniwala at mga ginagawa upang umalpas sa mga pasakit at problema ay dinadaan nating sa pagsamba, sa mga ritwal, sa paglalagay ng mga kung anu-ano at iba pa na wala naman talagang basehan o kinalaman sa ating hinaharap, ay naipakita ng husto sa dula. Upang imulat tayo sa katotohanan, minabuting sa huli, ay sabihing tayo ang gumagawa ng ating kapalaran at hindi ang mga bagay na ito. Sa ganitong konteksto, naipapahayag ang tunay na diwa ng teksto- magturo, magmulat, magbigay aral sa lipunan.

            Ito ang dahilan kung bakit karaniwang tumatalakay sa katotohanan ng buhay ang mga palabas ngayon. Upang pahalagan at pagyamanin ang mga aral na ito upang panatilihing buo ang pamayanan. Ang mga dula, bilang mga taga-linang ng mga asal, katotohanan, at sa kung ano ang tama o mali, kung tutuusin, ay taga-pangalaga din ng pagiging buo at kolektibo ng isang kultura.

            Datapwat, magiging matagumpay ang isang dula kung naipahayag nito ang tunay na nilalaman ng bawat linyang napapakinggan, humugot ang manonood ng mga aral  at ilapat ito sa kani-kanilang mga buhay.

“Sa huli, tayong mga manonood ang syang magiging direktor at aktor ng mga dulang ito.

Tayo ang magde-desisyon kung gagamitin natin ang mga aral nito sa ating mga buhay.”

Social Influence as Manifested in the First Episode of the Series, House entitled “Twenty Vicodin”

Conformity

At the opening of the 8^th season of the anticipated series House, Gregory House was in a meeting before the parole board. They said he would eventually get out of the prison for the reason of overcrowding in the jail. All he has to do is to wait for five consecutive days, starting from Monday to Friday, behave, and do nothing that would interrupt and cause delay of getting out. In short, he must not be involved in any trouble. Inside the jail, House was still a member of it, as a convict, even though he was about to leave it in five days. He did the usual routine. He worked as a janitor, almost. He cleaned the comfort rooms and even collects garbage and wastes from the jail’s hospital. This was not his usual life for he had been a doctor. So, to achieve his goal of getting out of the prison, he conforms to the environment he’s not used to.

                       

Obedience

Dr. Adams, who was at first unimpressed of Gregory House’s knowledge about medicine, gave Nick, the one with suspected lupus, some aspirin as suggested by House in an attempt to induce the attack. Dr. Adams said she was actually frightened when House was about to give Nick the drugs. But when the confrontation between House and her supervisor ended, she decided to give those aspirins to Nick, as ordered by House before they were caught. Here, Adams decided for herself and trusted House about the situation and needs of the patient.

The second instance in which obedience was evident was when House gave his own painkillers to the head of the jail’s neo-Nazi gang. When these people demand something from him and he can’t give one, they would hurt him, inflicting pain and fear so that their requests would be granted. When they knew House was about to leave the jail, they even requested more, now by demanding him twenty vicodins.

Compliance

After the incident where Nick was given aspirin, House requested twenty vicodins to Dr. Adams. Along with his painkiller, these vicodins will be given to the “leader” of the Neo-Nazi gang inside the prison and will serve as his “tax”. But instead of giving it to this leader, House intentionally throw the vicodins. He now faces the rage of the gang for this action. Apparently, when House seemed to be beaten by the group, his roommate, the big man who has this cricket House cured, came to rescue him (House). The big man, being gratified with the little favor House did for him and to his cricket, helped his roommate survive the fight. Aside from helping the cricket, House, having medicinal expertise and background, makes sure that his sociopathic roommate takes his medications. They both exhibit reciprocity norm in which one returns a favor of a good deed after receiving another good deed from the other.

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Reference:

            PoliteDissent.com. (October 3, 2011). House episode 1 (season 8) “twenty vicodin”.                                  Retrieved March 19, 2014 from http://www.politedissent.com/archives/8035

Rinconada Bikol: Characteristics of the Dominant Language in Libon

Among the varieties of language in Libon, Rinconada Bikol is the most dominant, having features which are unique to this variety of Bikol language and suit the Libongueños’ way of life.

Libon is a first class municipality in the province of Albay with 47 barangays, where majority of its people, the Libongueños, are farmers and fishermen. Geographically situated at the boundary of Albay and Camarines Sur, the town has a rich and varied culture. It lies within the Rinconada area of CamSur where it shares the Lake Bato, a fishing ground to which Libongueños catch sira or fishes. Fishing has become the most stable form of living to most of the peole, right behind farming, giving the term sira two different meanings in this place: either sira as a (1)fish or as (2)any form of ulam/dish. 

Libon (formerly named Villa Santiago de Libong by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1573) was once a Spanish Villa, becoming Bicol’s first Spanish Citadel (Gerona, n.d). Hence, up to this time, words that are of Spanish origin are still used in communication, particularly in trade, where Spanish numbers are still in use. For instance, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, sinco, etc. are used by town people in everyday communication. In some cases, however, some sounds and morphemes are changed. For example, setenta y cuatro (74) becomes setentay kuwatro, and trenta y sinco (35) becomes traintay singko and so on.

Moreover, the place is home to many dialects and varieties coming from surrounding areas; (1)Daragueño Bikol or simply Albaynon, spoken by most Albayanos and people from Sorsogon; (2) Oasnon from neighboring town, Oas; and (3) Rinconada Bikol from neigboring province of CamSur. The latter being the most dominant variety in Libon, spoken by almost everyone. What is more interesting to point out is that Libongueños can actually speak and understand these varieties, making them multilingual speakers. For instance, the sentence “You’ve been at the market for a long time.” can be translated into different varieties yet, Libongueños can still understand and even speak using these varieties.

You’ve been at the market for a long time.

Rinconada Bikol Uban ika adto sa saod.

Daragueño Bikol Ulay ka didto sa sawd.

Oasnon/Coastal Bikol Haloy ka duman sa saoran.

(Table 1: Dialectal Variations spoken in Libon, Albay)

Among the varieties present in Libon, Rinconada Bikol, the closest language of Albay Bikol and is mutually intelligible, has the most number of speakers as this variant has a flat intonation and is spoken rapidly. Just like Visayan languages, Rinconada Bikol uses shorten commands. Rinconada speakers, including Libongueños, have distinctive patterns of language use. They’re known for having some unique features: the so-called Angry Speech Register, and the “Inigin” (Baby Talk) which are totally exclusive to Bicol languages as it cannot be found in Philippine or even other Austronesian languages (Lobel, 2010). Often in sarcasm or in anger, Angry Speech Register is used by older speakers to younger ones that hereby, denote power/authority when speaking.

	Normal Register	Angry Register
eye	mata	malsok
clothing	bado	lamakdo
ear	talinga	talingogngog

(Table 2: Common words used in Angry Speech Register)

Meanwhile, Inigin (meaning binabata or bine-baby in Tagalog) or Baby Talk, is described as a language used by elders for them to communicate easily with babies and serves as an introductory language that trains them how to talk. Here, syllables are limited into two and letters such as “r, g, s, j, and h” are absent.

Normal Words (in Bikol) 1.       Inom 2.       Kaon 3.       Tabid/iyi 4.       Oda na

Inigin Words 1.       mamam 2.       papa 3.       wiwi 4.       nana

English Equivalents 1.       drink 2.       eat 3.       urinate 4.       no more

(Table 3: Inigin words and their respective Bikolano and English translations/equivalents)

Conclusion

Sapir is indeed right when he uttered that there are specific places and groups of people who have their own way of interpreting the world. In Libon, the varieties discussed play important roles in the context of its people’s day-to-day living. The peculiar characteristics of these varieties are unique to which only Libongueños can understand and utilize. Indeed, history, geography, and culture contribute to language use and variations. Libon is a melting pot of these dialectal variations, with Libongueños being able to speak different varieties of language.  Rinconada Bikol, being the dominant language has unique features such as Angry Speech Register and Inigin Talk that manifests how people of this place use language to their own way.

Appendix

Daragueño- a native of Daraga Albay; of or pertaining to Daraga or its people

Duman/adto/didto- there, somewhere

Ika/ka- you

Libongueños- people/ native of Libon

Oasnon- of or pertaining to Oas, Albay; people of Oas

Saod/sawd/saoran- market

Sira/isora- 1. Any kind of fish; 2. Any kind of dish or ulam

Rinconada- 1. Of or pertaining to the 5^th District of Camarines Sur, particularly Iriga City, and the municipalities of Bato, Buhi, Nabua, and Balatan; 2. the language spoken by people from these places

Uban/ulay/haloy- too long, long time, matagal

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References:

            Books, LLC. (2011) Central Philippine Languages: Bikol Languages, Tagalog Language,                           Visayan Languages, Tagalog Grammar, Waray-Waray, Filipino Language,                                      Baybayin.

            Brown, Keith and Sarah Ogilvie. (2009) Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World.                           Elsevier Ltd., Oxford , p. 158-160.

                 Devine, Monica. (1993). Baby Talk. Berkeley Books.

         General Books LLC. (2010) Languages of Bicol: Bikol Languages, Central Bikolano,                                   Masbateño Language, Albay Bicolano, Iriga Bicolano, Inland Bikol Languages.      

                 Gerona, Danilo Madrid.(n.d.) Villa Santiago de Libon.

            Harry van der Hulst. (2010). A Survey of Word Accentual Patterns in the Languages of the                           World. Hubert and Corporation Publishing, Germany.

            Lobel, Jason William. (n.d.). The Angry Register of the Bikol Languages of the Philippines.                          University of Hawaii.

             Reid, Lawrence Andrew. (2008).Philippine minor languages: word lists and             phonologies,                            Volume 8, Oceanic linguistics. University of Hawaii Press.

            Toll, Aaron