When it is time to answer all the whys, what do we say ?

WHEN THE DRAMA IS OVER



AT THE END OF THE PLAY, when the drama is over, MR. ONOFRE PAGSANGHAN of the ATENEO de MANILA UNIVERSITY summons all the Dulaang Sibol actors to return to the stage and face the audience.

Now THE DRAMA IS OVER, so all the masks are removed, and all the disguises shed.

Costumes and crowns and all things false are left in the dressing room. Only THE TRUTH remains.

No wig, no make-up, no perfume, no cologne, no deodorant. No more. Only the truth.

The silk and the jewels are gone. The names, the titles, the honors are dropped. The only thing left is the participant’s frail humanity. To face the audience. In the nakedness of what he truly is. And finally to tell THE TRUTH.

And to answer their questions. All their questions. And to explain WHY did you do this? Why this way? What did you feel? Why? What did you really want to do? Did you ever think of the other characters? Did you only want to impress? Did you hunger and slave for applause? And in all this short drama of yours, where was GOD? Where was GOD?

The drama is over. It is time to answer all the questions.



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I really, really like this practice of Mr. Pagsi, to summon all the actors to face the audience at the end of the play.

Because I... would like to summon all the actors in the drama that is MY life. And to strip them of all their make-up and disguises and costumes and make-up and crowns. And to ask them questions, and to demand the truth. AT LAST.

Why did you make us suffer, why did you torture us? Why did YOU think you were God? Why did you judge and condemn? Why did you destroy my hope and my trust and my love? Why did you DESTROY ME? Why were YOU the Grand Inquisitor? And why were WE the heretics, the infidels, the Enemy?

Why did you step on us why did you use us? Why did you ignore our rights, our dignity, our sensitivity, our peace of mind, our freedom, our happiness? Did you not know that God is ALSO in me, and in every poor person you destroyed or used or despised?

Why did you not share? Why did you not invite? Why did you only stifle and dominate and control? Why did you torture? Why did you destroy?

You never listened to us. You never apologized. You were always right, we were always wrong. You never heard our cry, you never dried our tears. You ignored us. You rejected us.

You never shared your power. You never shared your wealth. You never shared your love. You never served. Everything, and everyone, was for you, and you alone!!! SELFISH. SELFISH. SELFISH. You were a useless steward. We could have been so happy. You allowed, you caused our lives to be so miserable and so sad. Because you were selfish.


NOW, at the end of the play, when the drama is over, kindly tell us: WHY? WHY?? WHY???


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What about you, my dear Reader, my dear Friend?

WHOM would YOU summon to YOUR Stage of Truth, and strip, and question?

Maybe all those who hurt you, and stifled you, and made life miserable for you.

Maybe former LOVERS, former FRIENDS, who betrayed you and were unfaithful to you, and wounded you, and forever ruined you.

Maybe all those who did not allow you to be free, to be happy, to be yourself, and to grow and to blossom, reaching the fullness and the best of what you could possibly be in happiness and fulfillment and wealth?

WHO were these torturers, these executioners, my friends, and WHAT were they? Maybe, YOUR FATHER, maybe YOUR MOTHER. Maybe some UNCLE or RELATIVE or TEACHER or CRUEL BULLY, who delighted in your weakness, and raped your tender body and mind and soul. Maybe even CHILDREN, who simply and selfishly took advantage of your goodness and of you.

Maybe some AUTHORITY FIGURE, some COP or SOLDIER or NUN or PRIEST. Maybe some macho GANG LEADER, some sexy CRUSH, some married BOSS, who seduced you and lied to you and forever deflowered you of your innocence, your ideals, your life, your future, your joy, and your dreams.

Or maybe some RIVAL, some ENEMY, some selfish, avaricious, lustful Casanova or Jezebel. Some business TAIPAN, some shabu DEALER, some super SALESMAN, some CON-ARTIST, some eloquent EVANGELIST.

OH, our Stage of Truth will be packed and overcrowded by all those we will summon and strip and question because they have ruined our lives.

BUT..... look very carefully my friend, because there are TWO MORE persons you may have missed. Two more. GOD. And YOU.

GOD !!! GOD. God, or rather, YOUR PERCEPTION of God. Do you not blame God -- deep within you -- do you not blame God for ALL THE UNFORTUNATE that happen in your life, including your parents, your poverty, your ugliness, your misfortunes, your sins, your rejections, your defeats, your failures your pain, and everything you do not like? GOD -- why did you do all this to me??? WHY ME?? WHY??

And finally, who else? YOURSELF!!! YOU. BECAUSE the one accusing, and the one blaming, is the same one person who is ultimately responsible for everything. Who sinned? Who made the decision? It was YOU who always and ultimately made the choice. You, in your pride, your lust, your selfishness -- YOU made every choice. YOU are responsible. YOU ARE TO BLAME. YOU.

THESE ARE ALL THE ACTORS OF MY STAGE WHOM YOU AND I WILL CONFRONT -- WHEN THE DRAMA IS OVER.


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BUT WHAT IS ALL THIS, ANYWAY, FATHER JUNI JESENA?


This? RECONCILIATION. FORGIVENESS. HEALING. When the drama is over, at the end of the play. For you and I -- WE ARE ALL ON THE STAGE OF LIFE, painfully acting out our individual roles. Sometimes we win. More often we lose, and we make a mess of our lives. But we are all members of the human family. In the reality of our fragile imperfection we should never condemn, but understand. And FORGIVE. Because all of us -- ALL OF US are all PRODIGAL SONS and DAUGHTERS.

And JESUS is our infinite Lover. He is our compassionate Savior, our Healer, our Brother and our Friend. He loves. And understands. And forgives. And heals. Then He holds our hand. And we begin again.

And GOD... GOD is GENTLE UNDERSTANDING. HE is COMPASSION. And MERCY. And FORGIVENESS. And HEALING. And JOY. The WAITING, LOVING MOTHER-FATHER of YOU and ME -- HER STUMBLING, WAYWARD, DESPERATE, NEEDY PRODIGAL CHILDREN, DESPERATE FOR HER WELCOME, HER LOVING EMBRACE, AND HER LOVE..... WHEN THE DRAMA IS OVER.



A. C. J.