Good in bed, out of it and on a sturdy table

Friday, 17 October 2008 17:59 Ivy Jean Vibar

“Bayleaf Bedroom” by Angelina :) , taken from Flickr.com. Licensed under Creative Commons license number BY-NC-ND-2.0-DEED.EN.

Rene O. Villanueva was an award-winning writer of plays, poems and stories. He was best known for his plays, which were diverse and well-crafted, as well as his children's books and former position as head writer for educational children's show Batibot. He died of a stroke at the Philippine Heart Center on December 5, 2007.

In 2005 a compilation of six of his Filipino-language theater, radio and television plays was published by the University of the Philippines Press. Entitled “Bedtime Stories: Mga Dula sa Relasyong Sexual,” the book asked readers not to concentrate on the carnal aspect of the book, but rather to reflect on the many intricacies and true meaning of human love.

“Rene O. Villanueva” taken from WikiPilipinas.org. This picture is protected by copyright and/or trademark. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of logos qualifies as fair use under Philippine copyright law.

The plays in the collection include the skit “Walang Iwanan (No One Gets Left Behind),” short play of farewell “Dobol (Double),” short play “The Bomb,” radio plays “Karamay, Dinamay (Companion, Made to Get Involved)” and “Ang Pambabading ay Gawaing Maselan (Gay Relationships are Delicate Affairs),” and teleplay “Stella.”

All of the plays except “Stella” had been previously performed by actors. Exploring various aspects of love or the lack of it, Villanueva's plays make room for in-depth character sketches and peeks into the minds of people of both sexes and various sexual preferences.

The best thing about this Palanca Awards Hall of Famer's plays? They avoid becoming tedious or moralistic, focusing instead on the things that make people only human.

Excerpt from “Walang Iwanan” (In Filipino):

Magsasalin ng beer sa baso ang LALAKI. Dadapa sa kama ang BABAE. Mamsahihin sya sa likod ng LALAKI.

LALAKI: Mas mabuti nga ngayon. Puwede na tayong maging open. Me sabit ka. Me sabit ako. Safe na. Di ba?
BABAE: Gano'n?
LALAKI: Ano pa ang masasabi nila?
BABAE: Malay ko? Hindi ko 'yon iniintindi.
LALAKI: 'Yan ang gusto ko sa 'yo. Ang tibay-tibay mo. Laging alam mo kung ano ang gusto mo. Alam mo, kundi dahil sa 'yo, wala siguro akong direksyon hanggang ngayon. Titi lang naman ang diretso sa 'kin, e.

Magtatawanan sila.

BABAE: Praktikal lang ako. Ayoko ng imposible.

Katahimikan.

LALAKI: Pa'no mo talaga nahulaan [na ikakasal na ako]?
BABAE: Hindi ka mahirap basahin. At hindi ako tanga.
LALAKI: 'Yan nga nagustuhan ko sa 'yo. Mautak ka.

Katahimikan.

LALAKI: Pahiramin mo 'ko ng five thousand.

Photo1: “Bayleaf Bedroom” by Angelina :) , taken from Flickr.com. Licensed under Creative Commons license number BY-NC-ND-2.0-DEED.EN.

Photo2: “Rene O. Villanueva” taken from WikiPilipinas.org. This picture is protected by copyright and/or trademark. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of logos qualifies as fair use under Philippine copyright law.

Photo3: “Screencap: UP Press, Bedroom Stories page” by Ivy Jean Vibar. Free for distribution and use, as long as image is attributed to the Philippine Online Chronicles.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites