Thread by @jessyouandmarie

#Buruguduystunstugudunstuy - An honest review (of a fan who grew up to PnE Songs <Thanks to my brader> but a newbie theater goer)

A thread

Warning: spoilers ahead. Basically, I summarized the play. If you don’t want to know, stop reading from here

Exactly a week ago, I watched my very first musical in Newport Performing Arts Theater, and I had fun. Want to know why?

Here we go.

I entered the theater as a PnE fan, I went home wanting to watch more theater plays.

“I love @parokyaniedgar ” is an understatement. I waited for hours in an open space in Bago City to secure the front area of the plaza

(show is at 9pm, we started standing in front of the barricades at 6pm. We were already strolling the area at around 3pm. We don’t have connections, so despite being an avid fan, i didn’t get the chance to meet them). Other casual music listeners flocked at around 8pm.

By the end of the show, the whole area was too crowded that even rooftops of buildings were occupied. Next, I travelled in an unfamiliar area in Biñan after my shift (since I am not a local) just to see the mall show of the band even if there were so many fans crowding the area.

I braced myself and pushed through other fans so that I could have a better view of my favorite guitarist, @gabnomods When I heard @chitomirandajr voice in Megamall, I ran like my life depends on it to have a good view of the band. Again, I was at the side of the guitarist.

Even if their setlist in every gig/show is relatively identical, I would still stay and jam to every song.

PnE is the epitome of real friendship fueled with common passion. They represent simplicity with substance. Smart but approachable..

Their songs portray the reality of friendships and day-to-day life struggles. Some are beautiful love songs, others are purely nonsense while others have double-meanings

So yeah, I expected a musical jam-packed with PnE hits, and I am glad it did not disappoint.

The musical started with the introduction of the main casts and their current dilemmas as they celebrate their birthday on December 6 (which is apparently PnE’ anniversary).

Aiza, being bullied by her guy classmates, she has no friends and her only best friend was Murlock, the dog (Again, knowing Murlock from Buloy, I was giddy!),

Norma, living alone since her ex left her, Jen, struggling from misfortune as she lives in a dumpsite which will be reclaimed and will be turned into a shopping mall courtesy of a male capitalist,

and Girlie, having an existensial crisis since she’s turning into an old hag being pressure by men saying that at her age she should be married or have children.

If you’ve notice, the people who made the lives of the main cast miserable were men. It is important to take note of that.

Oh, by the way, I loved that the main casts’ names (and apparently the whole cast) were derived from the names mentioned in some of PnE’s songs.

On their birthday, they didn’t want to celebrate their special day despite the fact that people close to them kept on mentioning it. Aiza’s bullies, Jen’s brother (Tikmol) and their neighbors in the dumpsite, Girlie’s workmates, and Norma’s assistants and drivers.

However, they heard a very unusual beat of the drums. Even the sound of the drums on their day was from the filler in one of PnE’s albums. The drumbeats can only be heard by the 4 protagonists.

It bothered them, but the people around them could not hear the sound so they were judged as crazy! Until there were doors that showed up out of nowhere. Only the 4 ladies and Tikmol can see the doors.

They went there, and they were brought into a common area where they met each other. They introduced themselves to the tune of Bagsakan! Gahd, I was too excited when this was played. They shared their struggles, and what’s common between them.

Jen was carrying a portable mirror the whole time, but she sees a different reflection of her.

A few moments later, a portalet showed up. Uncle Ralph went out, talked to ladies and eventually convinced them to go with him to discover why they were gathered together.

They were brought to ParokyaVerse where they met the Bigotilyos including Mang Jose, Buloy, Murlock (a guy dressed like a dog), which is Buloy’s best friend, and of course, Mr Suave.

The 4 ladies also met the other members of the Bigotilyos (which I honestly could not remember their names). These other men also came from the human world but got stucked in the ParokyaVerse since they were not able to face their inner fears.

Jen kept on looking at herself in the mirror, but she sees a different person in it. The other characters can see their same selves in the mirror.

The bigotilyos accompanied the 4 ladies as they travel the different parts of the ParokyaVerse.

Uncle Ralph accompanied Jen and Girlie in their quest in space, Mr Suave and other bigotilyos went with Norma going to the forest, while Buloy and Murlock accompanied Aiza and Tikmol to the sea.

Buloy and Murlock threw Aiza and Tikmol to the sea, and Uncle Ralph left Girlie and Jen after their takeoff. Mr Suave never left Norma. Apparently, Mr Suave looked like Norma’s ex.

As the three ladies (Norma, Aiza, Jen) embraced their real identities as a mananggal, mermaid and an alien respectively, Girlie was stucked to her old self. The three ladies were able to overcome their fears as they saw who they really were.

Aiza and Tikmol developed their feelings towards each other. Same is true with Mr Suave and Norma. Jen saw her true form in the mirror, but Girlie, still in denial of her true self, could not admit who she was.

Back to the parokyaverse, the bigotilyos were wondering how the 4 ladies were. They talked about how they also had their quests, and how they were able to face it.

After a few months, the ladies came back, feeling good about their respective quests. They told Uncle Ralph how they wanted to stay at that place, claiming that there was a huge difference of how they are in the ParokyaVerse compared to how they were in the real world.

The rest of the Bigotilyos agreed. However everyone wondered how come there was no change in Girlie. They kept on telling her to know her truth, asking her that she should embrace her real form.

That’s when it was revealed that Girlie, apparently, is not a girl! The plot twit shook me.

After the revelation, everyone was relieved. The men expressed their true intentions to the girls. Tikmol to Aiza, Mr Suave to Norma and Girlie to Jen!!! Love wins!

However, because of their past experiences, the girls were adamant. They were convinced that men only thinks with their Birdie! (cue Don’t touch my Birdie!). The double meaning of the song HAD another meaning, thanks to this play.

In background, the screens showed that the problems of the main cast were caused by men and their big egos. However, the boys kept on pursuing them (cue Halaga, Lagi Mong Tatandaan, Para Sa’yo and Pangarap Lang Kita).

Everything went well after that — the girls gave in to the boys, except for Norma. She ate Mr Suave’s insides! Mr Suave was rushed to the hospital but was discharged after while. However, the 4 ladies can still hear the sound of the drumbeat!

Buru showed up on stage, the cast played “Pinoy Henyo” and they finally figured out that the drumbeat was actually “BURUGUDUYSTUNSTUGUDUNSTUY”. The mystery was solved. Only these 4 women were able to face Buru.

The Bigotilyos were amazed that only the women were able to figure out the mystery behind the drumbeat.

When they finished facing Buru, the 4 women didn’t know what to do. Uncle Ralph told them that they should go back and face the real world.

They had doubts and fears, but they were assured by the fact that they are stronger now. They did not change, but they became stronger. They now have the strength to face the men with big egos in the real world.

They sang Your Song, apparently giving the song a whole new meaning, again. They also sang Don’t Think to encourage themselves.

Uncle Ralph and bigotilyos sent them off. Buloy, with Murlock, came with them. He said he’s ready to face the world again after having the profound strength given by the 4 ladies and the rest of bigotilyos

(This was a touching moment, if only Buloy also had that before, he should have been still with us today). Mr Suave was sad as he bid goodbye to Norma.

The 4 ladies came back to the real world. Girlie and Jen continued with their relationship.

The dumpsite turned into a mall where Girlie was assigned. Jen works for the mall, too (not sure if as Janitor, Nang Marynor, kindly confirm). Jen was able to send Tikmol to school where (I think) Aiza goes to as well. Aiza was able to face her bullies with the help of Murlock.

Norma became nicer to her staff, and eventually met Mr Suave again in the real world.

Apparently, life became good.

Until…

Tikmol heard the beat of the drums as he prepares to go to school on his birthday.

Will there be a sequel?

I do hope they will.

As a fan, I was able to sing most of the hits during the Musical. I was amazed by how organic they inserted the major sponsors in the play. Costumes, props, makeup were on point. The performance of the cast was astounding.

I was laughing, crying, giddy the whole 3 hours of the show. I don’t want to leave my seat from start to finish. I definitely had fun.

The story was all about acceptance, love, kindness and strength.

Thank you to everyone behind the show. Thank you for taking us to a memorable trip full of lessons hidden in a full of fun production.

Thank you @chitomirandajr and @parokyaniedgar for giving the production staff the artistic freedom to do whatever they want with your songs.

Thank you to the playwright and the other people behind the musical for justifying PnE songs and making it more beautiful than what it was before.

Parokya was never the deep, complicated band. They take things literally. Their songs were written as to what they really felt that time. The play was also like that.

I went to the play as a PnE fan, I went home wanting to watch more plays like these.

Thank you Manang @ohmyMNOR! I am so so proud of you!!!

*Songs included (as far as I remember, di rin ito yung pagkasunodsunod)

Dont Think
Mr Suave
Yes yes show
Okatokat
Pichapie
Ordertaker
Halina sa Parokya
Halaga
Para Sayo
Your Song
Lagi Mong Tatandaan
Harana
Inuman na
Swimming Beach
Gitara
Pangarap Lang Kita
Random fillers