Dulaang UP steps back onstage this season with Para Kay Tony: Tungo sa Ginintuang Alaala, a heartfelt tribute to its founder and National Artist for Theater, Antonio “Tony” Mabesa. The twin bill feels both nostalgic and forward-looking—honoring nearly 50 years of theatrical excellence while spotlighting the next generation of UP’s young artists, who delivered performances that kept pace with, and sometimes even echoed, the caliber of professional actors.

The evening opens with a reimagining of Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero’s Kalahating Oras sa Isang Kumbento, translated by Lilia F. Antonio. The play follows Yolanda, a young student searching for solace after being expelled from her strict convent school. Under the direction of Theatre Arts student Lloyd Sarmiento Uy, with guidance from director-mentor Erika Estacio, the piece finds new emotional depth.

The cast—Kris Caaya, Rona Lynne, Jan Magcaling, Paulyn Abando, Janna Talampas, Gena Suelto, and Sheryll Ceasico—anchors the story with honest, grounded performances. Their commitment, timing, and emotional grip brought a refreshing sincerity to this classic, offering the audience a nuanced portrayal worthy of any professional stage.

The tribute’s second half shifts in tone but not in power, featuring Rolando Tinio’s May Katwiran ang Katwiran. Directed by Theatre Arts student MJ Briones, alongside director-mentor Charles Yee, the play follows Senyor, a wealthy haciendero, and his servant as they navigate a treacherous mountain journey filled with danger and revelations.

Actors Francheska Andaya, Julianne Quimio, Akin Cullarin, Pat Ebro, Kerr Allen, Camille Fabian, and Daniel Duplon carry the material with impressive range—balancing Tinio’s wit, rhythm, and tension with a maturity well beyond their years. Their interplay and control over the script’s shifting moods captured the audience from start to finish.

Throughout the evening, one thing was clear: Dulaang UP’s student-artists are not just “promising”—they are ready. Their performances held their own against the legacy they were honoring, offering a fresh, vibrant interpretation that felt both contemporary and deeply respectful of Mabesa’s vision.

Para Kay Tony is part of Dulaang UP’s 48th theatre season, Paano umuwi nang may pagpapasya?, a multi-year celebration leading up to its 50th anniversary. Since 1976, the company has championed both canonical and experimental works, cultivating a space where emerging artists can learn, create, and shape the cultural imagination of UP Diliman.

Show Dates – IBG-KAL Theater, UP Diliman:

• November 15, 22, 29 – 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
• November 20, 21, 27, 28 – 7:30 PM
• November 16, 23, 30 – 10:30 AM & 2:30 PM

Tickets: Php 1,000 via TicketMelon (bit.ly/DUPParaKayTony)
UP students, faculty, and staff may avail tickets at a discounted rate of Php 500. Tickets are also available onsite at the Dulaang UP Office, Pavilion 3, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.

To sponsor student beneficiaries for Para Kay Tony, visit bit.ly/DUP48_PKT_SponsorADreamer.

For inquiries, email dulaangup.marketing.upd@up.edu.ph. Sponsorship and bulk ticket concerns may be directed to Ms. Anna Gamboa through the same email or dulaangup_sponsorship.upd@up.edu.ph.
Phone: (02) 898 18500 loc 2449

About the Author

Portia Amparo is the Digital Editor of Subselfie. She is a public relations specialist, content writer, and freelance communications creative. Writing has always been her anchor—from academic papers to digital content, and now as a medium for telling stories that matter.