Photos by Susan Rodriguez /http://www.ggoryopictures.com/ Events/Dulaang-Bayan-Melbourne-Inc

Almost all members of the audience were left teary-eyed after the reading of Manny G. Asuncion’s BAYAN MO, BAYAN KO held at the Pamana Hall, Philippine –Australian Multi-purpose Centre, 93 Cowper Street,  Footscray, Victoria, on 20 February.  

The play was read by the Dulaang Bayan Melbourne Inc. Ensemble and featured the haunting music composed and performed by Rolly Limun and Anthony Crisostomo. 

The three-act play in Filipino, Bayan Mo, Bayan Ko narrates the poignant story of two Filipinas, Narcisa and Carol, who migrated to Australia to work as nurse and teacher, and the impact of their heartrending experiences to their families and people around them.



The play also delineates the parents’ pains of waiting for a long-lost daughter and the loneliness of living abroad cut-off from one’s family, relatives and friends.

The comedic respite was provided by the barrio barkadas (Gabby, Juancho and Romeo)   and the three barrio spinster teachers (Miss Katiday, Miss Kankanay and Miss Tarabitab) who acted as the Greek chorus.

With Barrio San Gaspar, Ilocos Norte, as the setting, the dialogues were peppered with Ilocano words and expressions which delighted and touched the audience no end. 

Like any other DBMI’s presentations, the play Bayan Mo, Bayan Ko raised relevant migrant issues such as alienation, isolation, loneliness, brain and brawn drain and non-recognition of educational qualifications as well as prevalent Filipino values like hiya, amor propio and  close family ties to mention a few.      

The play reading was the highlight of the launching of Tagpuan,   a mobile theatre arm of Dulaang Bayan Melbourne Inc. (DBMI), sponsored by the Filipino Community Council of Victoria (FCCVI), the umbrella body of the Filipino community associations in Victoria.  

Ms Norma Serrano, the vibrant chairperson of FCCVI, gave a rousing welcome and congratulated DBMI members for their dedication, unity and hard work.  Mr George Gregorio, the current DBMI chairperson spoke about the objectives of the association and the aims of Tagpuan, while Mr Manny Asuncion, one of the founding members and artistic director, gave the background and synopsis of the play.    

Envisioned to bring theatre closer to the people, DBMI Tagpuan will present short plays, vignettes, monologues, play and poetry readings, excerpts from DBMI plays and musicales in the comfort of one’s home and community venues sans the trappings of expensive stage productions.

Another salient feature of Tagpuan is an open forum after each presentation. This will give an opportunity for the audience to voice their views about the production and for DBMI to get instant feedback from the people. This open-discussion is envisaged as a mechanism for audience active participation and for DBMI’s further development in its artistic and creative endeavours. .   

Tagpuan is open to all individuals or community organizations who would like to host a theatre presentation. Venue, refreshments, publicity and small donations will be shouldered by the host as part of production arrangements.