Lui CarungayThe Premise of “Ang Pag-Uusig”
Photo Source: Tanghalang Pilipino
“Ang Pag-uusig” is loosely based on the 1692 Salem witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts . It centers on the lives of the people in the seemingly quiet and peaceful town of Salem, which was unprecedentedly thrown into chaos, after the town’s teenaged girls were seen dancing in the woods at night, as if in some sort of ritual calling upon malevolent spirits and maybe even the devil himself.
In a time where religion is the basis for everything (i.e. simply going to church can decide if you’re a decent person or not, even if your actions outside the church utterly say otherwise.) Abigail Williams (Antonette Go and Lhorvie Nuevo), a beautiful, cunning girl, being one of the girls caught dancing in the woods in the dead of night, turned the situation to her advantage, by spinning a lie to condemn the people around her, to selfishly save herself. Together with her clique, they start accusing the most unlikely people in Salem for allegedly communicating with the devil. This includes John Proctor’s (Marco Viaña and JV Ibesate) wife, Elizabeth Proctor (Rhodora Dayao and Monique Nellas). The reason behind her accusing Elizabeth Proctor being her ‘love’ for John Proctor , who she believes has feeling for her, as well. Though not directly punished for her crimes, Abigail ultimately got her bitter punishment by not ending up with John Proctor, who chose to die instead of admitting to communicating with the devil, even if it meant that he could be acquitted and not hanged.
Photo source: Tanghalang Pilipino
The Relevance of ‘Ang Pag-Uusig’ to the Present Times
In the present times when everything seems to play with the people’s minds, it’s really hard to determine how the game is being played. Is it by fairness or is it through power? Everyone might have a different interpretation and opinion of what is happening in the country. Some may say that power is king and some may say that the truth will always prevail. You? What’s your opinion? Do you think fairness still exist?
Photo source: Tanghalang Pilipino
When asked if fair trial still exists in the country, theater actress, Lhorvie Nuevo who played the role of Abigail Williams, took her time to ponder it. The simple question, indeed was on point, especially in the country’s current situation where in being on the ‘right’ side can give you power to condemn people even if solid evidence is lacking.
To the question, the actress replied, “sa tingin ko meron, kaso nagbubulag bulagan yung mga tao na nan- diyan siya. Ang nangyayari, kinakatakutan nila yung fairness, kasi feeling nila, pag naging tama sa isang side, sa kanila, dehado sila. So as much as possible, kailangan sila ang laging nasa angat, kaysa sa mag balanse. Kasi kapag balanse, dehado sila, hindi nila alam kung aangat ba sila or babagsak ba sila. Atsaka yung mga tao, may nakakalimutan sila, nakakalimutan nilang maging tao, nakakalimutan nilang tumanaw. Nawala siya, nakakatakot kasi nawala siya. Pero nan-diyan siya, isinasantabi lang siya, hindi siya pinapansin. Kailangan lang natin ng paninindigan. (I think there is (fair trial), but people just choose to ignore it and close their eyes . What’s happening is that people are scared of fairness, because they feel that once a particular side is right, they’d be greatly disadvantaged. So as much as possible, they prefer to be on a higher level (than others), rather than it being balanced. Since, if its balanced, they would feel disadvantaged, they do not know if whether they would rise or fall. And the people, they forget, they forget to be humane, they forget to honor past debts of gratitude. It was lost, it’s frightening because it’s gone. But it’s still there, it’s just tossed aside, ignored. We just need to stand up for it (for our beliefs).
Photo source: Tanghalang Pilipino
In times like this, where in fake news or hearsay, is clothed to look so believable, and with the current situation of the country being instable, that a single word uttered can be a basis for condemnation, we people can get easily scared to stand up for what is right. As Ms. Lhorvie Nuevo said, ‘kailangan lang natin ng paninindigan”, and that wouldn’t be too hard if your morals and conscience is all in the right place.
‘Ang- Pag-Uusig’ runs from October 5 until October 28, 2018 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines.
