LAC’s New Masterpiece: “Ang Mansanas na Daigdig”

Watching Lipa Actors Company’s new masterpiece made me feel bewitched, bothered, and guess what? Bewildered!

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“Ang Mansanas na Daigdig” or “The World is an Apple” is originally written by a known Filipino playwright Alberto S. Florentino. This piece is very common in most secondary schools in the Philippines. Students would do a play about the story as part of their academic development.

Basically, the story is about a family which experiences poverty. The house consists of Mario, the provider of the family; Gloria the wife of Mario, and Tita, their daughter. Mario has a dark past wherein his works are mostly illegal. With the negative consequences and distress that he brought in his own house, his wife Gloria urged him to change. Gloria was successful, but little did she know that Mario will go back in his heinous ways. All it takes is a piece of juicy red apple and an old friend.

The said masterpiece by Florentino, was adapted by Lipa Actors Company (LAC), and was translated into Filipino. A masterpiece gave birth to a new masterpiece. The man behind this masterpiece is Mr. Luisito Nario, he adapted, directed, and designed the whole theater play alongside with Mr. Rhon Kenneth Mercado. The lights and sounds effects were handled by Mr. Adrien Rosales with the technical aid of Ms. Lour Baculpo and Ms. Janel Balitaon. There are 7 performers in the said play, Mr. Glenn Ramirez, Ms. Carmel Mariveles, Mr. Delfin Lubis Jr., Mr. Peregrine Santiago, Mr. Rhon Kenneth Mercado, Ms. Verniz Buenaflor, and Mr. Carlo Aguila. There are many actors and actresses included in the theater play, this is due to the fact that each play has different casts.

Source: Lipa Actors Company

I had a small chat with Mr. Nario and I learned that the Cultural Center of the Philippines advocated mental health awareness and held a 3-day art festival. Mr. Nario stated that their theater play is quite rooted by the movement of CCP held last September 2018.

While watching the play, I made up my mind to put psychology aside and focus on the artistry itself. I tried my very best but I failed, one of the characters who is Gloria, showed clinical manifestations or symptoms of psychotic disorders. Psychotic, not in the sense that the character of Gloria is a serial killer. Psychotic in the sense that Gloria manifests visual hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. It is really hard to put on these passages what I really saw and what I felt during the performance.

The set is fascinating and for me out of this world. The concept and the symbolisms that they utilized clearly falls to the category of art exhibit.

After the show, there was a sharing of feeling, thoughts, and questions about the performance. I was given a chance to speak regarding the psychology behind the performance. I tackled mental health issues that I observed in the play. I tried so hard not to be technical and it was fun to share what I know in the field of clinical psychology.

Again, my passages are not enough to transmit what I really felt and witnessed. One thing’s for sure, is that you will have a lot of questions after the show. Just ask them and it will be answered, trust me.

I suggest that you take a break and watch their show this January 2019. Their office is located at Big Ben, Lipa City and the theater show itself is being held at Big Ben’s LBX studio.

You can visit and like their facebook page, just type Lipa Actors Company or click this link https://www.facebook.com/Lipa-Actors-Company-111362758920842/.