ILIGAN City ― The Comedia San Miguel has always been a part of the celebration of the month-long celeb of this city's fiesta and tourism month every September. St. Michael the Archangel is its patron saint, hence, the title of this stage play.
Naturally, it depicts the story of the celestial battle between the good and the bad angels. Wherein, the latter wanted to overpower the good angels with God as their leader. So, even during those times, there were coup stories then? We have several of that kind of stories. Like that one when the people kicked the Marcoses out of Malacanang in 1986. Or Pres. Erap in 2001. These were called EDSA I and !! respectively. Oh by the way, in this poor country of ours, after a successful "EDSA, I heard Korina say that this might be called a "banana republic." Now, this isn't hard to figure out what this means.
These Comedia thing though is a stage play held at the city public plaza. This year it is slated to return, after missing for years, for whatever reasons.
I have seen two of those plays. Wherein the players say their pieces in some sing-song way about how they're going to accomplish or defend this one, depending upon whether they are good or bad. They move through the stage in a gliding sort of way and well, it entertains the audience really. It helps that they all speak Bisaya.
It is said that the script is written by some of the prominent families here. The cast of characters too come mostly from these families. It is said too that the participants are devotees of the saint so they have to do it to continue getting the "blessings" they desire. With the help of course, with the saint.
The finale of course, as expected, is the "defeat" of the bad, the "devils" who are then reduced to lowest terms, like improper fractions. So, dressed in screaming red signifying the "devils" they say their pieces below the stage as they are "demoted" while the good angels, dressed in white, remain above the stage.
In a Comedia a few years ago before the pandemic, I was surprised to see Joe, that special person you see walking about by his lonesome usually in the area near the plaza. He reminds me of somebody with the Down Syndrome, but I think his "specialness" is different. Though somewhat similar.. For he is kind of tall but doesn't walk straight.. He rides in a jeepney by his lonesome too and if you happen to take the same jeepney, you have to be careful in navigating the aisles as his two feet are on the center. His body too occupies several seats because of his ungainly posture. When he speaks you can hardly figure out what he is saying. He gestures with his two long arms though as he speaks. Yet, somehow you can understand what he is saying. That is, if you try hard enough.
He is tolerated too to walk around by himself for he isn't a violent persons. And it helps too that Joe is said to be a scion of a prominent family here in the city.
Naturally in that finale all eyes were on the devils, saying their pieces below the stage. Which was a depiction of "hell"? Especially in that Joe of a devil. We were then wondering, could Joe deliver the goods? Could he hack it? The other "devils" now were done saying their devilish antics. And they did them with aplomb. It was Joe's turn.
And he said his piece, complete with the devil in him. With all the sound. And the gestures!
In short, the audience wasn't disappointed.
There followed then a standing ovation. Mostly for Joe!
What's the lesson in this? Never underestimate anybody. Even somebody like Joe. Didn't they say "all men are created equal"?
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