When it was first staged in 2022, I missed Anak Datu for various reasons I couldn’t even remember now. This year, when Tanghalang Pilipino decided to re-stage the Gawad Buhay award-winning stage play, I vowed not to miss it this time. And I was glad I caught the agos because this play doesn’t disappoint.
It was so visually stimulating, with a beautiful set by multi-media visual artist Toym Imao, exquisite projection by GA Fallarme, and light design by Katsch Catoy, complemented by alluring choreography by Hassanain Magarang and costume design by Carlo Villafuerte Pagunaling.
The music by Chino Toledo, arranged and designed by TJ Ramos, was exquisite. I love the mix of contemporary music and the folk sound of kulintang, agong, and dabakan.
But it was the story – the interweaving narratives of fantasy and reality, history and make-believe – that really drew me in. In a time when speaking the truth and being critical would mean being tagged as the “enemies of peace,” Anak Datu is a brave, unfiltered work that every Filipino who cares for his/her country should watch.
Anak Datu, which was based on a short story written by the late National Artist Abdulmari Imao in the 1970s, started as a simple story about the son of a village chieftain who grew up believing that his father was a former pirate and eventually discovered the truth when the old man who he thought was his father died.
But the short narrative seemed to be not so simple after all, with layers of storytelling unfolding as the production team pored over the materials. And playwright Rody Vera did a great job threading the fantastical short story, the personal recollections of the Imaos, and the historical materials that have to be re-told without fear and filter.
Through the direction of Chris Millado, the multiverse narrative of Anak Datu is much clearer. The eventual delineation of each world – a folk tale, a stark social realism, and an all-too-familiar family drama – has become more transparent.
I also have to give it to the cast for portraying each character with heart and soul, and for being brave to tell this story.
To some, having high ticket sales indicates the success of a production. But for me, when the audience – even just one member of the audience – starts looking up and reading about a historical incident and learning the truth about it after watching Anak Datu, that is a clear success.
And if that one person shares his learning about Jabidah Massacre and the ensuing formation of the Muslim resistance in Mindanao with another person, creating a domino effect in his circle, then we would have a community of woke individuals who would exert narrative pressure to make these truths timeless and relevant in this challenging time. A small win for us as a nation.
Catch this brave work this weekend, with shows on October 12 (8:00 p.m.), October 13 (3:00 p.m./8:00 p.m.), October 14 (3:00 p.m./8:00 p.m.), and October 15 (3:00 p.m.), at Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater).
Prepare to be captivated as Anak Datu explores themes of identity, heritage, and the pursuit of peace. Tanghalang Pilipino’s innovative production promises to transport audiences into a mesmerizing world where the past, present, and future converge.