Kumprontasyon: Confrontations You Don’t Know You Needed

PETA’s ‘Kumprontasyon’ highlighted three political conversations taken from the long history of the Philippines.

Words Patricia Lanzagarita
Photos courtesy of PETA
February 27, 2025

In the recent run of Control + Shift: Changing Narratives Festival 2025 of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), we had the chance to hear and watch the confrontations that we, Filipinos, need. 

‘Kumprontasyon’ a three one-act play brought us down memory lane, highlighting the historical times that made us confused, lost, sad, and mad. In this play, we are brought back to three generations to achieve the clarity that we need.

Lakambini

“Matagal na kitang pinatawad, sana patawarin ka ng bayan mo.”

This quote was taken from the first play of Kumprontasyon–‘Lakambini.’ It was written by Allan Palileo intending to imagine a conversation between Gregoria de Jesus and Emilio Aguinaldo thirty years after the execution of Andres Bonifacio.

Known as the “mother of the Katipunan,” Oriang expressed her long wrath towards Emilio Aguinaldo for allegedly betraying her then-husband–Andres. Her pent-up anger surged that night, it was a mix of loneliness, longing, fury, and sadness both for her former husband and her country. Sherry Lara (Gregoria de Jesus) and Teroy Guzman (Emilio Aguinaldo) incredibly made the theater cry and mad. 

The Impossible Dream

“This country will not be able to envision its fate without you and me.”

This line taken from the second play “The Impossible Dream” made the audience silently applaud. Written by Guelan Luarca, the play intends to portray a hypothetical meeting between former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and then Senator Ninoy Aquino. One thing that is interesting about this play is that even though the characters are unnamed during the whole play, the whole theater knows who is the “president” and the “senator.”

Romnick Sarmiento and Ron Capinding showed well-balanced acting with earnestness and a subtle hint of comedy. 

A Color for Tomorrow

“This can’t be me.”

Most of the members of the audience saw this part as relatable. Written by Joshua Lim So, the play was set in 2058 and features a woman (Missy Maramara) who’s suffering from dementia. To recall her memories, she revisits specific periods in her life including her politically active 22-year-old self during the “Pink Movement” and her pragmatic 30s when she switched sides to the opposition.

During the talkback after the show, many of the audience shared that they find the last part relatable especially now that they have to consider living and their morals. Yet, one thing was left clear that day: upholding morals and standing with the truth will always remain.