Anino sa Likod ng Buwan - A Reflection
Just days before my flight to the land down under, I had the privilege of being invited as one of the guests of the director for the play Anino sa Likod ng Buwan. As someone grounded in international relations and deeply interested in the intersections of culture and politics, I viewed the play through several critical lenses.
1. Psychological Warfare. Robert Greene once said, “It is occasionally useful to imitate the court jester, who plays the fool but knows he is smarter than the king. He talks and talks and entertains, and no one suspects that he is more than just a fool.” The military-rebel conflict depicted in the play offers a compelling perspective on how psychology becomes a battlefield tactic for both sides. Early in the story, the military character feigns foolishness to mask his calculated intelligence. Later, his charade is revealed as a deliberate tactic, an act of psychological manipulation that ultimately leads to his success. The play also underscores a harsh reality: in war, there are no true winners, only casualties. Which leads me to my next point.
2. Gender Dynamics. Beyond psychological warfare, the play highlights another painful weapon of war: sexual violence. Conventional studies on gender have long established how sex is used as a tool of oppression, especially against women. But in this case, Emma, one of the main characters, redefines the narrative. Through her bodily autonomy, she reclaims her power, showing both vulnerability and strength. Her character powerfully illustrates how women play critical roles in social movements and are capable, even brilliant, intelligence agents. Initially, I thought the provocative “pataasan ng ihi, palakihan ng tite” scene was unnecessary, but I realized it was a crucial commentary on fragile masculinity and its destructiveness.
3. Narrative as Power. Finally, the play makes a poignant statement about the importance of narrative in sustaining movements. The government, with all its institutional power and resources, is able to uphold its version of the truth, branding the leftist movement as the enemy of the state. Meanwhile, the kilusan struggles to sustain its own narrative, its voice slowly fading. This mirrors our contemporary reality, where the public often chooses myth over empirical truth. The play becomes a reflection of the Filipino psyche and society at large.
As a final point, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan portrays that our greatest battle is often within ourselves, a conflict between the heart and the mind.
Thank you to Ms. Lorna Israel for including me on the guest list, and kudos to Direk Tuxqs Rutaquio for a masterful and thought-provoking play.
