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OBRA Inc., an abbreviation for Organisasyon ng mga Batikan at Respetadong Artista ng Bayan, when translated in English, Organization of Expert and Respected Artists of the Philippines is the brain child of one person who’s passion for the arts takes him to places.

Nash Anggahan, the Founding Director of this non-profit organization has gone beyond the standards of being an artistic professional. A painter, a dancer, a director, a photographer, a web designer, an event organizer and even a model and cosplayer in his younger years, Nash embodies a person whose soul is fulfilled through its entanglement in the arts. Nash shares this passion with several other aspiring artists through forming OBRA. Although an abbreviation, the word means masterpiece when translated in English. True to its name, several subgroups and events were born under this organization.

With the out breaking news of OFW being abused or accused of crime they never did; of rural girls being sold in the city to work in clubs as sex slaves; of young women forced to marriage due to early pregnancy; OBRA Inc. staging of Filipina…Bakit Ikaw? is nothing but timely. Written by OBRA Inc. pool of writers in latter part of 2010, Filipina…Bakit Ikaw? is a more youthful take on presenting women’s concerns without sacrificing the weight of issues and the quality of stage performance.

OBRA Inc. wanted to bring in something that fit the society’s needs for awareness and information, which are lacking still in many areas of the country today.   Filipina…Bakit Ikaw? is a trilogy of the different life stories of Filice, Pinpin and Yna representing the true to life stories of many Filipina who labored for survival but were taken for granted and gotten abused physically, verbally and sexually. Filipina…Bakit Ikaw? was initially a great hit on its grand launching last March 12, 4   pm in CAP Auditorium, Makati City with students, teachers, professionals, and representatives from media and the arts expressing their positive appraisal.

Once again, OBRA Inc. stages Filipina…Bakit Ikaw? this coming August 20-21, 10 am and 3 pm at CAP Auditorium, Makati. After the successful launching, actors underwent extensive advanced acting workshops facilitated by Bong dela Torre of Creative Body Movement and Dance and Rosswil Hilario of National Commission for Culture and the Arts. OBRA Inc. is headed by Artistic Director Jesie Barandino, who also directed this production and Founding Director Nash Anggahan, who has been awarded the very prestigious Ani ng Dangal at the Malacanang Palace earlier this year as his artistic contributions continuously top international competitions.

 

Filipina… Bakit Ikaw Pa? (Synopsis)

Domestic helper, a prostitute, and a call center agent.

Three characters were interwoven to see the fight of three different individuals. Three Filipino women who have different lives but all experienced same hardships and struggles fighting to have equal treatment from their home and the society – as an individual and as a woman.

Filice, a domestic helper and a mother who ventured an opportunity abroad just to give life and support financially her physically and mentally-illed child but only to find out the she was about to face the greatest struggle of her life.

Pin-Pin, once had that simple and almost perfect life in the barrio not until her uncle and by some twist of fate brought her to the dirty world of “prostitution”. She now recounts her life as a prostite and sex slave and later on having a disease that is incurable.

Yna, finds herself working in a call center to support her financial needs now that she’s bearing a child and her husband’s income as a taxi driver isn’t just enough for them. She now juggles the hardsips of both her married and career life.

Modern – day Filipino women play more decisive roles in the family and in the society. The Philippines is a nation of strong women, they run the business realm and given the same opportunities as to their male counterparts, they are the family’s treasurer – sending the children to school, they are dedicated to work, thus more opportunities are entrusted to them – talking about women empowerment and the roles of the modern Pinay in the society.

The intention of the play is for the students and young people to realize how important the roles of the women are in the society. OBRA Inc.  aim to have equal social rights for any human being regardless of sex, for both men and women.

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