Lean - A Filipino Musical

Larry V. Sipin
Manila Standard

29Sep97 Opinion

I felt lost at the gala showing of Lean, A Filipino Musical.
      Cocktails preceded the show. Not cocktails as cocktails go in the social and business circuits. The producers served diluted juice in plastic tumblers and a few trays of "chichakorn" (crispy corn kernels) and green peas — that was cocktails. Cocktails, street parliament style. For those who ran out of the free water-spiked juice and the poor man's nuts, soft drinks and university canteen-type sandwiches were sold, along with Lean T-shirts, nationalist publications, and those bracelets, anklets and necklaces made of ethnic beads which are always on sale wherever UP-types congregate.
      There was an impromptu reunion of activists circa 80s, Lean Alejandro's times. They remembered their martyred friend and comrade — the gala showing celebrated Lean's 10th death anniversary — with speeches and songs.
      As a frontliner of the so-called "Mosquito press", I crossed paths with Lean Alejandro a number of times. However, I can't claim his acquaintance. At best, we were on a "nodding-to-each-other" basis.
      Like I was saying, I felt lost. Just the fact that I am not a UP alumni made me feel lost. It was as if Lean, A Filipino Musical — staged at the UP Theater and co-produced by the UP-dominated Leandro L. Alejandro Foundation and the UP Student Council in cooperation with the UP Diliman Community for Arts and Culture — was a purely internal affair.
      But I told myself, "why should I feel lost?" Doesn't Lean Alejandro belong to the people.
      No matter my self-assurance and reassurances, I felt like I gate-crashed a UP party. However, my ticket, which set me back by P500, told me I was no gate-crasher but a paying patron.
      If you missed Lean, A Filipino Musical, you missed a lot.
      Lean Alejandro's friends, comrades and UP contemporaries enjoyed the retelling of his life and times best. It's true as the rock opera was billed — "For those who knew him, the musical will bring back fond memories of a friend and a comrade."
      But those who did not have the privilege of knowing Lean Alejandro — youth leader wasted at age 27, 10 years ago — the musical was similarly enjoyable.
      One does not have to be from UP, one does not have to be an activist, one does not need personal acquaintance with the subject to enjoy Lean, A Filipino Musical.
      The bard was right, as usual — music is the language of the soul. There was Lean Alejandro communicating in the language of the soul through the music of Gary Granada.
      I have to cheer, and whistle, and clap, and stomp my feet, and do whatever it takes to show the cast I love 'em.
      Curtain call for the three lead players.
      Chikoy Pura, lead singer of the alternative band called The Jerks played Lean Alejandro as if he is the reincarnation of Lean Alejandro.
      As for Cookie Chua of the band Color It Red who essayed Lidy Nacpil-Alejandro can only say "Wow!" and a double "Wow!" I've got a huge crush on you, Cookie Chua.
      And then there was poet-composer-singer Noel Cabangon, playing a variety of pivotal roles, who as usual, was his old league-of-his-own self. Well, Noel Cabangon --- whose Wednesday groupies at the 70s Bistro rival, the piety of the devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran --- is Noel Cabangon.
      Sit back for a synopsis...

SYNOPSIS. The opening sequence is Lean's funeral. The song is haunting. "Lean, Lean, Lean/ Sa piling ng mamamayan/ Ika'y laging naririyan/ Lean, Lean, Lean..."
      Flashback, Lean is admitted at UP. He is indoctrinated "Huwag ninyong hayaang ang inyong pag-aaral/ Ay maging sagabal sa inyong edukasyon/ Suriin n'yo, suriin n'yo ang tunay na larawan/ At ihayag ang kalagayan ng ating lipunan".
      Lean searches for the meaning and the relevance of education. "Ano ba ang kahulugan, ng kahulugan, ng kahulugan/ Ano ba ang kabuluhan, ng kabuluhan..."
      Lean as student leader. "Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino pa ang kikilos?/ Ano pa ang ating hinihintay?/ Kung di ka ngayon lalaban, kailan ka pa lalaban, kung malapit ka nang mamatay?/ Kung hindi ngayon, kung hindi ngayon, kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"
      Amidst uncertain times, love blooms between Lean and Lidy. "Sa gitna ng agam-agam, sa piling ng pangangamba/ Kakambal ng kasaysayan itong ating pagsinta/ Ang pagsubok at panganib, ang panahon ng ligalig/Ang siyang magpapanday sa ating panata't pag-ibig."
      In a heated discussion among activists, Lean makes known where he stands. "Di tayo mga gunggong na hanap lang ay away/ Sa halip na gulong ay magsunog ng kilay/ Dahil di ang mga bagay ang dapat na basagin/ Kundi ang isip at malay na naaalipin."
      Lean defines nationalism's reason for being. "Tayo ay naririto upang hasain ang kaisipan/ At ang mali at wasto ay patunayan ng karanasan..."
      Ninoy Aquino is assassinated. Yellow fever erupts, Cory sings. "Umo-over na sila, sumo-sover talaga/ Si Ninoy ay pinaslang, kay Galman ibinintang/ Tayo ay lumaban na/ Basta huwag lang bloody, ha?"
      Lean's comrades express apprehension that the Cory-led protest movement is neither for the masses and by the masses. "Ang masa ang lumilikha ng kasaysayan/ Ang masa rito'y ginagamit lang/ Damhin mo ang pulso mamamayan/ Damhin mo ang pulso ng mayayaman."
      Lean's first arrest. Soldiers gloat over his incarceration. "Huli ka, huli ka...yari kang bata ka!"
      A mass action featuring a fusion of forces, albeit certainly not of principles, among nationalist groups and Cory Aquino supporters ends Act I.
      Act II opens with the laments of mother and son. Lean, unable to serve as a good son because he has devoted his life to the movement, commits his mother to the motherland — "Inang Bayan/ Alang-alang sa iyo, Inang Bayan/ Inang Bayan/ Kupkupin ang ina ko." The mother likewise commits her son to the motherland. "Inang Bayan/ Alang-alang sa iyo, Inang Bayan/ Inang Bayan/ Kupkupin ang anak ko."
      The debate over boycott and participation in the 1986 snap elections split the anti-Marcos forces. Lean appeals for sobriety. "Dapat lang igalang ang pagkakaiba/ Ngunit kailangan ang pagkakaisa/ Kung mali o tama man ang ating pasya/ Lulubog, lulutang na magkakasama."
      Love in the time of dissent. Lean and Lidy get married. "Ang mga tula at himig/ Ng minimithi nating daigdig/ Ang siyang magpapanday/ Sa ating panata't pag-ibig."
      Contemporary history unfolds onstage. People power installs Cory Aquino as President. Subsequent events culminating in the Mendiola massacre convinced Lean and his comrades that the fight did not end with the downfall of Marcos. "Sa Mendiola, sa Mendiola/ Inilibing ang pangako nila."
      As the opera nears its conclusion, the spotlight focuses on Lean's family life, or lack of it. Lean, calling himself "padre de pamilya" tries to devote as much time as he can to Lidy and their newborn. But he never has enough time. Lidy understands, but, at the same time cannot quite understand "Ang dinadaing ko'y para sa iyo/ Paano mahalin/ Paano mahalin ang katulad mo."
      One day, Lean has the rare luxury of a free afternoon. He rushes home. He plans to take Lidy to a movie. "Parating na ako, parating na ako/ Di ako magtatagal/ Hintayin mo ako, hintayin mo ako/ Hintayin mo ako, mahal."
      BANG! Lean's life is stolen from him, from Lidy, from the country, at the age of 27.
      The good, indeed, die young.
      "Lean, Lean, Lean/ Sa piling ng mamamayan/Ika'y laging naririyan...."

Site Editor's Notes: Some lyrics as originally cited in the published column had typographical errors but have been corrected here. –mabq