IBANG-IBA ANG mga kabataan noon at ngayon pagdating sa relationships at sex. Noon, pasulyap-sulyap at pangiti-ngiti ka lang sa type mo. Kung noon uso ang mga love letters, chocolates at umaakyat ng dalaw, ngayon eyeball na, blind dates, textmates at chatmates. Ang bilis-bilis magka-boyfriend o girlfriend. Ang ligawan, relasyon, hiwalayan ay puwede lahat maganap sa cellphone.
Noon, may sariling censorship sa bahay pagdating sa usaping sex. Many parents choose not to talk about sex to their children. Sabi, hindi puwede magtanong tungkol sa sex kasi sabi ni tatay bawal at masama ito sa mga bata. Pero ngayon there are progressive parents who freely discuss sex at home na parang kabarkada lang ang kanilang mga anak. Communication is open. Hindi sarado.
But is there a right time and way for adults to talk about sex to their teenagers?
Atlantis Productions dares to be daring with its musical Spring Awakening as it presents these issues to audiences. Sa totoo lang, naiintriga ako sa stage play na ito. Ano’ng meron ito para ma-ban for one hundred years sa Germany where it originated? Spring Awakening is a story of teenagers on the road to self-discovery and sexual awakening. Kung tutuusin, the story is still relevant today. Magkaiba man ng panahon na ginagalawan ay sinasalamin pa rin nito kung ano ang saloobin at tumatakbo sa isipan ng mga kabataan.
The cast members have their own views regarding the theme of Spring Awakening. Cheska Iñigo springs back onstage after a 25-year hiatus as the Female Adult Figure in the play. It was like traveling back in time inside a time machine for her. Kung noon siya ang Bagets na si Ruth na may sariling trip sa buhay, she is now a mother who deals with her three teens’ personal trips. “Spring is a musical that my children can relate to. They’ve seen it on 90210.”
Jett Pangan rocks the stage not as the frontman of The Dawn but as the Adult Male Figure. “In as much as we’re living in ‘modern times’, there still exists a communication gap between the young and old in certain homes and communities. This promotes unnecessary tensions,” he says. Jett is strict with his two kids’ studies but he spoils them with laptops, guitars and video game consoles.
Sitti sings her way onstage as the conservative, obedient yet brave and resilient Martha. When asked to describe her upbringing, “We were raised well. Conservative. Pag sinabi ng parents na no, no talaga. Pero mabait akong bata,” she says.
Go and watch Spring Awakening at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City on September 25 until October 18. You might just be watching yourself!
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
