Angelo Miguel Flores

October 28, 2011 On The Pursuit of Selfdom At one certain point in our lives, we lose sight of who we really are and what we really

want; doing what we never expected ourselves to do. May Isang Sundalo is a story that focuses on the pursuit of the realm of the self. In this story, we are presented with two principal characters, the aggressive whore and the composed soldier, living through an armed conflict between the military and the rebels in Samar. Longing for the return of the unusual soldier, the whore recalls a momentous conversation she had with him on one particular night. On the eve of another day of war, the soldier pays an unexpected visit to the whores home in search of someone to confide with. The whore holds disbeliefs against the soldier and tries to reveal the intentions she presumes the soldier has which are not actually true. Ironically, although the story is set amidst an actual war, it is focused on the inward conflicts transpiring within the perplexed personalities of the two principal characters. As the night progresses, their individual dilemmas are gradually revealed. The whore is faced with the dilemma of leading a life that she never intended to live. Yung babaeng nagdala sa amin sa Maynila, sabi ipapasok daw kaming tindera o katulong, sa iba kami dinala (Villanueva 81). Being offered a job as a saleslady or a maid, she is tricked into being a common whore. She is left with no choice but to take the job as she is unaccepted by her father [Hinabol ako ng taga ng tatay ko (Villanueva 18).] upon announcing her unplanned pregnancy and is forced to work for money to survive however way it can be done. Iyong kapatid kong babae [s]umama sa kilusan (Villanueva 86). On the other hand, the soldier is faced with the dilemma of accepting a job that may possibly put him under a situation he does not want to be in fearing the possibility of encountering in battle his own little sister who joined the rebel camp and taking her down himself (Villanueva 86). Though both of the characters are very different in terms of their roles in society, little do they both know in the beginning of the conversation (but realizes in the end) that they actually have a lot in common [Pareho pala tayo., Oo. Sa maraming bagay (Villanueva 87)]. Both feel lost along the road they have chosen to take and both have nothing to go back to their homes for. Planning a stageplay for a story that is as simple as May Isang Sundalo is not easy at all. Since the script only has two characters, I had to work around the lack of characters and brainstormed with my team on how to add more to the play; which is why aside from Felix Rivera (Sundalo) and Bea Garcia (Whore), we added Kathryn Bernardo (The soldiers sister)

along with the other supporting cast to re-enact the recollection of events of the whore and the foreboding of the soldier. There are reasons behind ones decisions and he/she should not be subjected to stereotyping as the whore did the soldier as there exists a state where the interests of the individual is distinguished from the interests of the society. The two characters are made to realize that some individuals assumed roles in society do not necessarily reflect their personhood. I am deeply gratified by your choice to watch our presentation of such a beautiful story. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Work Cited: Villanueva, Rene. "May Isang Sundalo." May Isang Sundalo: Limang Maiikling Dula. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1998. 72-87. Print.