Tanghalang Molave (TM), the ocial theatre organization of the Department of Performing Arts at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), will be staging Malou Jacob’s Juan Tamban as one of its major productions this coming March 2025. As part of the organization’s history, TM has been staging Filipino plays, either classical and contemporary works, that highlights and reclaims Filipino narratives through staging compelling and student-led productions.
In this season, PUP TM highlights its season theme “Piglas”. Rooted in its vision of asserting our identity and exploring the powerful narrative of resistance, “Piglas” serves as a metaphor that explores narratives and stories concerning our unending quest for freedom and resilience. Historically, “Piglas” became a symbol and an icon of our struggle towards independence. This evokes our collective memories ghting against oppressive regimes, dictatorship, and social injustices. As a Filipino term, “Piglas” embodies the act of breaking free and struggling out from the societal, political, and personal constraints and expanding the platform from personal liberation to historical revolution.
As part of this theatre season, PUP TM stages Malou Jacob’s “Juan Tamban”. This play is considered as one of the well-researched and landmark plays of contemporary Philippine theater. This play was initially staged by the PETA Kalinangan Ensemble in 1979 and won Second Prize in the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
“Juan Tamban” centers on a boy named Juan Tamban who was reported in the newspapers as eating cockroaches and lizards to attract attention. Marina Torres, a graduate student and a social worker, investigates his case as part of her master’s thesis and in the process, comes face-to-face with the reality of Juan, his family and environment, the society, and herself.
At the helm of this staging is Joseph Victor Deseo, the chairperson of PUP Department of Performing Arts and the adviser of PUP TM, as the director together with Novelyn Nalic and Miguel Decena, students of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPeA) program, as his assistant directors.
As a student-led production, the team consists of collaborators from the program, including: Set and Property Design by Mico Napata and headed by Maichi Tabifranca; Costume, Hair, and Make-up Design by Martin Almeda and Jasmine Aplacador, and headed by Keesha Leigh Bula; Lighting Design by Lawrence Ojeda; Music Design by Exodia Sarto; Sound Design by Patrick Aquino, Graphic Design by Mark Rosadeño; Dramaturgy by Danica Layne Reyes and Thea Lorraine Renon; Projection Design by Danica Layne Reyes; and Technical Direction by Patricia de Andres and Aerhon Formadero. As part of the production and stage management team: Erica May Camacho and Chariz Dianne Cudog as production managers; Ginny Arorong, Angel Corpuz, and Charlotte Openaria as stage managers; Crizza Villanueva as marketing head; Batty Stephyy as sales manager; and Alfred Filip Jacinto as house manager.
The cast features of a pool of actors from the BPeA program: Dave Del Socorro in the titular role of Juan Tamban; Shenah Mae Dizon, Frances Marie Akol, and Perssian Austria alternating as Marina Torres; and Art Cristobal as Mang Tino; Clark Suva, Andrea Contreras, Fernando Jose Pabeloña, Paul Cariaga, Myx Cayabyab, Analyn Marasigan, Aubrey Ga, and Ymanuel Puno as Principal Ensemble Members; and Al Paul Crieta, Hashie Rodolfo, Ivan Hinggan, and Koleen Albero as Core Ensemble Members.
“Juan Tamban” remains one of the most signicant plays in Philippine theatre, continuing to challenge the ongoing struggles related to child poverty in the country.
“Juan Tamban stems from an actual incident, reported in the newspapers, about a boy who ate cockroaches and lizards to gain attention. It triggered PETA to do an inquiry, which led to the idea of writing a play for the International Year of the Child. Juan Tamban is a landmark in Philippine modern theater because of its well-researched and realistic portrayal of contemporary social problems, and its combination of both realism and nonrealistic styles” (CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts, 2020).
Witness the staging of PUP Tanghalang Molave on March 11-13, 2025 (10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM) at the PUP Theater, COC Compound, Anonas St., Sta. Mesa, Manila. Tickets are at 50 pesos (PUPian audiences) and 100 pesos (non-PUPians/VIP/Guests) which can be purchased through the social media platform of PUP Tanghalang Molave.
