Playing Abdul in Vince Tanada’s Play

Ni Oggie Medina

I was asked to read a portion of a script as part of an audition for a Vince Tanada’s play “Ika-apat Na Tagpo: Sa Azotea”.

I would be enacting a strict Muslim father from Maguindanao, Abdul, who follows the rules of Quran. He has a teenage son Kashmir, 15, who is a new student in Manila and he befriends his Catholic classmates.

But Abdul encourages Kashmir to befriend Muslim only and stay away from Catholics.

Verbal argument between father and son starts when the son reveals he eats pork that his classmate shares with him.

The son receives a slap from Abdul just because of eating pork.

Muslims avoid eating pork primarily because it is expressly forbidden (haram) in the Quran, considering it impure and filthy. Consuming pork is viewed as direct disobedience to divine commands and a violation of the spiritual and physical cleanliness required in Islam, often regarded as an act of submission to Allah’s laws.

Kashmir later asks for forgiveness for eating pork and Abdul likewise asks for forgiveness for slapping Kashmir on the face.

In the end of the story, Kashmir faces the audience that he is fortunate that he does not reveal to his father that he is gay.

Let’s watch the “SA” Series this Saturday, May 9 at the PhilStagers Blackbox Studio on Calabash B corner G. Tuazon Streets, Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.