19/10/2025
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐: ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฒ-๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฒ โ๐๐
In line with the celebration of the 27th Theater Season, the official theater company of Saint Louis University (SLU)โTanghalang SLU kicked off Pagninilay-Nilay 2025 at C013 of the Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) Building on October 17-18.
Before the performances started, Katherine Nobleza-Estavillo, artistic head trainer of Tanghalang SLU, expressed her delight and gratitude for those who came to witness the performances of Tanghalang SLU and mentioned their preparations for the said event to present performances that came purely from their hearts.
CCA building transformed into a cradle of artistry as soon as it was filled with electrifying music as Tanghalang SLU paved their entrance by performing ๐ซ๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฒ๐จ! by SB19 with a dance composed of powerful and dynamic moves that stirred up the crowd's energy.
Soon after, the long-awaited event began with the performance of ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, where performers deliver their monologues composed of one's personal thoughts with an event that struck their hearts which includes: ๐ต๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐; ๐จ ๐ช๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐
๐ฉ๐๐๐; ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐, ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐; ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐ด๐ณ๐ต; ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐-๐ฐ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐' ๐๐; ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐
๐ด๐๐๐๐๐. Followed by ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐
๐ ๐ฉ, which breathes new life into familiar tales by retelling them through the eyes of side characters delivering curiosity, fear, and laughter to the audience in stories like ๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐
and ๐จ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐.
A comedic yet powerful skits based from merging two random pictures tickling the minds and hearts of the crowd by ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐-๐ป๐๐๐ (๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐) which includes: ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐ด๐๐๐๐๐. Next in line is the ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ that encapsulates the artistry and storytelling by playing with silhouettes. Depicted is the story of a family whose lights in their lives seemed to be taken away when the light of their house bid farewell, as well as a story of how ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ made two people's hearts beat in sync, featuring the hit song ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ by Ben&Ben.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ captivated the hearts of the crowd as performers chose a song that is close to their hearts while telling a story as to how they relate with the music which includes: ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐, ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐; ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐, ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐); ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฒ๐๐๐); ๐จ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐; ๐๐๐
๐ช๐๐๐๐ (๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐).
To formally end the event, the performers rocked the stage once more with ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐โฆ by Boy Sullivan accompanied with a powerful dance, and as Tanghalang SLU lets go of the crowd, they offered one more activity to conclude the programโ๐จ๐๐๐๐, wherein the crowd gets to write down the things and thoughts that brought and continuously bring worries to their hearts as they let go of the paper, it is also a sign of letting go of what burdens their hearts and setting their minds free like that of "makaalpas."
In an interview, โJoe Macky Bib Canal, Theater Master of Pagninilay-nilay, shared that preparing for the event came with challenges and struggles, such as balancing time as a student and a scholar of CCA while leading a large production, but expressed his pride in how their members delivered authenticity to their performance, particularly in revisiting emotions that were once buried.
โNaramdaman ko lahat n[o]โng pieces. As [a] theater master, natutukan ko sila, proud ako sa mga co-members ko, sa mga ading ko, sa mga trainees namin kasi alam ko kung gaano kabigat at gaano ka importante para sa kanila sabihin โyung mga ganiyan na alaala at emosyon,โ he added.
A performer, Ezekiel Dupo mentioned that his journey was filled with excitement and nerves. โEspecially as a new member, โyung challenges po sa โkin ay โyung mga preparations po talaga ng teatro mismo. Pagme-makeup, pag-cocostume, dahil ako po personally, hindi po ako sanay sa ganoโnโฆ At โyung kaba po na nasa audience po, d[o]โn po talaga ako kinakabahan,โ he shared.
In an interview with the audience, Kyle Ren Tataro, a SEA student, shared his unforgettable feelings and admiration towards the performers during the performance.
โโYung pinaka hindi ko maka[li]limutan is galitโฆ syempre kilig na rin,โ he said. โExpected ko na magagaling na talaga sila [tapos] ngayon ilang mga event na rin โyung mga napanood [ko] sa kanila kaya alam kong magagaling sila.โ
Ultimately, Pagninilay-nilay became more than just a performanceโit was a mirror of emotions, a shared journey of rediscovery, and a celebration of reflection through artistry. Like a rock, shaped by time, it became a symbol of unwavering strength. It proved that every story, no matter how small, deserves to be heard. The performances may have ended, but their impact remained and was reflected in the words of those who brought them to life and those who watched in awe.
By Kian Supeรฑa & Mary Nel Baptista
Photos by Aerin Mangaya & Faye Villanueva
