Theater review: ‘The Vagina Monologues’ a liberating experience in Davao City

Saying "bilat" (vagina in Bisaya) in normal conversation is liberating. It is a word that one should say with a lot of conviction, as the women in BJ Absin’s version of "Vagina Monologues" repeatedly do, until the word it is stuck in your mind.

The two-hour play, which had a two-performance run late last month at the Philippine Women's College of Davao, featured six stories delivered in Bisaya and English: six different stories of women celebrating the power of their femininity. The stories transitioned from one's love of pubic hair to orgasms to rape, and ended with a somehow liberating dance to stop violence against women.

“What we did was just enhance these transitions to be able to achieve something dramatic,” said Absin. “But of course, it should be an educational experience. Of course, that’s my hope and I hope that’s what’s happening.”

Most of the audiences were teachers and students from different universities and colleges in Davao City. According to staff member Jasmen Evasco, the production is open to holding campus tours in Mindanao.

Six stories of women

The play started with a dimmed atmosphere. The hall was dark and the only light you could see was the spotlight focused on the first monologist reciting "My Angry Vagina," in which she—with a distinct sense of humor—juxtaposed female genitalia with the problems of society.

This was followed by a comedic monologue, “The Bulbol” (“The Pubic Hair”), the story of a woman who is obsessed with her pubic hair. But the story is also about how women should not be treated. Womanhood has soul and it is in control, and Eloise Batas told the story flawlessly. She was a breath of fresh air, delivering just the right amount of wit, humor, and understanding. She did not exaggerate the jokes, and successfully conveyed her story—that her pubic hair is something sacred—to the viewers.

In “Ang Baha” (“The Flood”), Shiela Pacilan portrayed an old maid who travels down memory lane about a certain Kiko, with whom she had her first orgasm. They did it in his car and it was all good...until she came. It was a traumatic experience for her as Kiko ended up displeased and asking her to leave.

After this were more memories (and vivid imagery, such as a flood of come that includes a school of fish and birds), including finding out she had fallopian cancer, ending the story with a touch of sadness and sorrow. And even thought Pacilan's delivery was humorous and exaggerated, she left the audience applauding with tears in their eyes.  

Up next was Leah Morales Tan’s “Ang Pag-agumod” (“The Moaning”), which was just plain humor. She’s a sex worker for women and she enjoys having orgasms and giving them. During the course of the monologue, Tan demonstrated different positions to get an orgasm—a real crowd pleaser, even though the actress’ portrayal was intentionally exaggerated, in a way that felt tacky.

Both delivery and actions were exaggerated, and at times you couldn’t understand what she was saying. Despite this, Tan's monologue was the crowd favorite, the one where everyone laughed from start until the end.

Other monologues were “Si Bob” by Florie Mae Tacang, in which she talked about hating her vagina until Bob appreciated its beauty; “Ang Gamatoyng Kalachuchi” (“The Tiny Calachuchi Flower”) by Jeofel Socco Carreon, the story of a woman who was raped as a child, and who falls for another woman; and “Ang Abuso” (“The Abuse”) by Hochi Benitez, about the effect of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women And Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004.

“I asked around and interviewed women about their experiences. From there, I was able to come up with a plan on transitioning from one story to another,” Absin revealed.

“It should be fun because if it’s not gonna be fun then what happens is, baka hindi lalabas ng maganda,” he said about the viewing experience. “Isa ‘yan sa fear ko na baka magkaroon ng pangit na experience ang manonood na hindi sila natuwa at hindi natawa.”

Not to worry: the play was funny and enticing, an excellent showcase of six women—all different, but all playful, fierce, and confident. — BM, GMA News