The different color of love

CEBU, Philippines - Red symbolizes many things. The most common interpretation is love and passions that come with it – anger, war and rage. However, the stage play Berde gave love a different color. According to its tagline, “Hindi lang pula ang kulay ng pag-ibig” (Red is not the only color of love).

Cast of Berde

Berde is Filipino for green, a combination of yellow and blue and the compliment of red. It is a subtle yet striking color. For the first few minutes of the show, the connection between the title of the play and its message seemed to be a blur. However, the colors red, blue and yellow were at par in the different scenes of the play. It was only towards the end when green light flooded the stage. Hence, the title Berde.

Staged last August 4 at the CAP theater, the play changed viewer’s perception of relationships as it featured a story of a boy who was struggling with his sexual identity. He also wanted the acceptance of his father, mother and society.

It is said that relationships have changed these days. Edwin, the main character played by Jan Alife Bartolome, believed in this ideology so much. It was his belief that men can fall in love with men and women can do the same with fellow women. For him, love’s boundaries are not limited to that of a man and woman.

However, his father, Arman, played by Christopher Lingao, disagreed with this silliness. As an army captain, he wanted to take care of his reputation of being a man. A gay son would only destroy it. For him, a normal relationship was between a man and a woman, not between people of the same sex. That is why he disowned his son Edwin. Arman thought his son had a disease or a psychological disorder.

On the other hand, Edwin’s mother, Charo, accepted what her son was. Played by Andrea Pateña, Charo was submissive to her husband but permissive with her son. Her secret agenda only led her to lose the trust of the two people whom she held dear.

The love story of Edwin and his partner, Butch, as portrayed by Clint John Solante mirrored how society could not accept another minority. As events in the story did not turn out right, it proved that love conquers all, even if it is not of the color red.

It is true that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community has been calling on their rights to be heard, to have a relationship with one another out in the open and to be accepted by society. The sad reality of gender obscurity and stereotyping has driven the members of this community into continued hiding.

Berde has indeed served its purpose of sharing the message of ending gender discrimination to the people through theater and Focus productions continues to strive for more plays that address the concerns of the unheard.

**Published in the Freeman newspaper on September 5, 2012