La Estrella --- What Can You Do for the Sake of Love?

Text and Photos by Mark Anthony Cabrera
La Estrella, a play top billed by the actors and actresses of Lyceum of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Batingaw is a story of great love and fighting for what you believe is right and just.Featuring three love angles set in three different timelines, La Estrella gives a message of hope in this trying times.From the past the two lovers were (Theo (Clark Bartolome) Jean (Rkeen Semira , for the present Mio Liway(Justin Santiago ) Ely( Xander Go ) and future : Gerard (Markie Laderas) Andres (Neil Capili).What’s good about the play is that it veered away from usual love stories (normally a man and a woman) and was about a brave take on having men portrayed as lovers in three different time periods .The central message was not compromised as it leaves us with the belief that whatever was sacrificed in the past should not be jeopardized in the future.Lives were taken but lessons were learned. What’s also good in noting in this play is the artistic use of people painted in white (used as props ) in good transitions from one act to another.I find that really brilliant though this is not the first time I saw something like it.La Estrella is Spanish for The Star- it was metaphorical for hope as suggested in the said play.People are killed, sometimes even lovers to hide what is true and authentic.Spanish officials were able to do it in the past and up to this present times, politicians who get bad PR hire people to kill journalists who gets in their way.

A book is passed on from one generation to another and the play was able to send out that message to the audience.It was definitely much difficult to be in a relationship for male lovers in the past than it is today.If you were caught in one, the society will judge you heavily and there are even times when your parents would disown you (the case of Theo and Jean) .Journalism also portrayed a huge role in the play.Should we be swayed by people and power to bend the truth or should we write what should be written ? –The whole truth in all its glory, not fabricated and stained , this was for the case of Clark who had been killed for writing about what is true and real.The future holds promise for La Estrella, should we be brave to fight for what is right or should we be persuaded by the rich and famous to hide the truth? La Estrella will have a run at Fringe Manila 2017 on February 15 and 16, 2017 8pm sa CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute .