Photo shows (seated, from left) Edilberto S. Ramos, Christian Jerome O. Dobles, Justice Cielito N. Mindaro-Grulla, Judith N. Batang; (standing, from left) Janette Y. Abad Santos, Jay B. Pesigan, Teresa C. Noriega, Charles M. Noriega, Gil G. Grulla, and Arnel C. Batang.
On the celebration of its Centennial Anniversary in July 2016, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) will be staging the award-winning play, Bayan-Bayanan of the late playwright, Bienvenido“Boy” M. Noriega, Jr.
Paying tribute to PNB’s significant base of OFW clients, Bayan-Bayanan is a bittersweet vignette of stories of a group of OFWs who were based in Geneva, Switzerland in the late 1970’s. It tackles the struggles and victories of these migrant workers, in the fulfillment of their dreams for their families.
Last October 5, 2015, PNB has officially secured the rights to the production of the play from the heirs of Mr. Noriega - Justice Cielito N. Mindaro-Grulla, James M. Noriega, Maribel N. De La Cruz, Rosalinda N. Casaje, Norman M. Custado, Dr. Judith N. Batang, Charles M. Noriega, Lalaine N. Abrantes.
The PNB production of Bayan-Bayanan will be a collaboration of a roster of award-winning local theater talents, with the likes of Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Teatro 2015 Awardee, Tony Mabesa as Director for both local and foreign theater companies, Ceejay Javier for the Musical Direction and five-time recipient of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature, two-time recipient of the Philippine Theater Guild’s Gawad Buhay, and Floy Quintos for the Libretto.
What makes the play “much closer to home” is that, while still writing plays, Mr. Noriega was a former Executive Vice President of the bank in February 1, 1982. The play was Mr. Noriega’s Grand Prize Piece in the CCP Literary Contest for the years 1974-1975. It was first staged at the CCP’s Little Theater on November 1975 and has also been produced and staged in the former theater of the bank in Escolta by employee cum actors of the Bank, also under the direction of (Mr) Mabesa. Moreover, it has also been brought to the stage in several countries such as Athens, London, Geneva, Chicago, and more recently in Toronto, Canada.