Left Behind

I remember crying after finding out that my mom tricked me into taking a siesta, only to find out that she'll be going somewhere. You feel betrayed and lonely as a child. That's the closest thing I can relate on how Andy's toys might have felt in Toy Story 3.

There are ways to cope with being left behind. You can also rationalize to make you feel better or bitter. Worst, you can be really broken and get sick in the head.

I just need to connect all 4 stories I have seen last Sunday in a one-week old blog entry that I could have written after seeing them.

Virgin Lab fest last night opens with Suor Clara. The curtain opens with an old woman lighting a candle and reading verses from Songs of Solomon from the bible. She was interrupted by a knock on the door begging her to open for him. It was the Bishop visiting her to bid her goodbye. Spain's power in the Philippines is almost over and they need to leave. Clara decides to stay though the Bishop offers her to come with him. She knew how it is to be left behind but she realized that there's freedom that comes from being abandoned. She found her peace and happiness.

The actors brought life to the witty script written by Floy Quintos. I remember Arlo told me that he thought the play was high drama but the actors played it with it and made it a dark comedy. I wish I could write a play, like this, where you get something from the dialogue without getting preachy.

The second play pales in comparison to the opener because it was exactly the opposite. Package counter was set in a mall where you leave your baggage so you can conveniently run your errands around. Its main characters were ordinary folks but they talk like philosopher. Yeah, they may be full of angst like some kids who just got off from school but you don't hear people talk like in a telenovela.

Things started to pick up on the last play, Matyag. My sensibilities were offended on how the dad touches his daughter in the story. He seems to be entertaining lustful thoughts in his head while his wife works abroad to provide for their daughter's future. On the side, he's having an illicit affair with another woman. The show closed with a shocker.

All four stories were talking about toys and people who have no choice but to stay and watch someone go. There's always a wishful thinking that we could be together forever but more often than not someone has to leave us or we leave people behind. We can only keep memories and move on with the people who remains with us until we find each other again. Somewhere.