“Eye-opener”, “Very important”, “Totoong liwanag at katarungan”, these are the reactions of Juana Change’s thought provoking monologue show when ‘Tao Po (Monologues on Extra-Judicial Killings)’ was staged at the CCP’s Pista ni Rizalina’ on September 8th along with ‘Indigo Child’ last year met with responses from widely known critics of President Duterte’s war on drugs, Chito Gascon of Commission of Human Rights, expressed his enthusiasm and encourages people to watch the play: “Every person of goodwill must see ‘Tao Po’” and praises Mae Paner’s performance: “Her portrayal is raw, intense, moving, and thought-provoking” and needless to say, Paner’s take allowed us, the audience, to take a glimpse on different perspectives of the drug war and shows us the cost of human life and the psychological impact to the families and friends of those have been caught in the killings.
TAO PO follows through the zumba instructor haunted by her husband and son, both victims of summary killings; a photographer whose sanity is questioned by the newspaper that employs him; the apparent double life of a policeman, sworn to uphold the law; and a hitman, paid to violate it; and a young girl paying tribute to EJK victims haphazardly buried in the notorious Tokhang Wall.
The play goes beyond informing. Tao Po encourages the audience to find empathy above all the horrors of politics. It tells the story of human beings- real people who lost their loved ones and are now crying out for justice. There is a message yearning to be delivered in the monologues. It hopes to knock into people’s hearts and asks the hard question: Is there humanity left within us?
Through these four characters given to life by Mae Paner, the monologue show gives us a complete picture of a Filipino psyche from all sides. It challenges our perception and at the same time lets us understand empathy.
This year, Optimum Minds Media Productions will re-stage the monologue show at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP Diliman on Saturday, June 16, 2018, 6:00 P.M. The university run aims to attract everyone to be engaged on the relevant issue of ‘Tokhang’ or “oplan double barrel” where the police pursue potential drug suspects door-to-door.
Through these four characters given to life by Mae Paner. The one-man monologue show gives us a complete picture of a Filipino psyche from all sides, it challenges our perception and at the same time lets us understand empathy.
Ticket price is at P500. For inquiries, please contact Optimum Minds Media Productions at TAO PO is written by Maynard Manansala and directed by Ed Lacson Jr.
For ticket inquiries, please call 09457634400. The play is presented by Optimum Minds Media Productions.
