Actors redefine manhood and masculinity

How does one define manhood?

Director Phil Noble’s upcoming theatrical play DickTalk will also tackle the journey of manhood and the issues that a man goes through in society.  The play stars Jake Cuenca, Archi Adamos, Gold Aceron, Nil Nodalo and Mikoy Morales.

In a press conference held recently, direk Phil said he doesn’t mind being compared to previous theatrical plays that talked about sexuality such as Vagina Monologues and Ricky Lee and direk Joel Lamangan’s Penis Talks.

“It is clear to us that we will be compared and it is a good comparison because that’s a healthy thing also for the people to discuss things,” he acknowledged.

“We are so careful that when we talk about the penis here, hindi naman pwede na gawin nating musical. Hindi naman pwede nating gawing hubaran lang with the dance number. So, what is it that we should do?”

“Let’s talk about men and his relation to society and women. What’s manhood? It will be a long discussion. As a gay man (laughs), inalam ko kung anong katauhan ba talaga ng isang lalaki,” he added.

Phil admitted that they are still continuously working on the script with the theater actors.

“So, if there’s a similarity, siguro sa kultura ng Pilipino nagmumula yung pagtingin ng pagkakalaki,” he asserted. “And at the same time, we want to say something that’s not just about penis. But we want to transcend or instill in the minds of the people that it’s not just about it that we want to talk about here, rather, what men go through in our society.”

The STAR asked the actors how they personally defined manhood and each offered various takes on the subject matter.

Jake equated manhood with “courage and discipline.” He shared, “(It is) the power to say no, the courage to be unconditional about yourself and putting others before you. I think manhood siyempre in this day and age, it’s like so scattered but I think those are the main things at least when I hear the word manhood. (That’s) what pops in my mind — discipline, courage and doing the right thing.”

Manhood is having “respect for women,” stated Archi. “The same way that you earn respect is how you give it to them. So parang bang it’s not measured by what you have or the penis that we talked about, but it’s more like how you let the other sex know that you are important. Your womanhood is as important as my manhood.”

Transman Nil said, “It’s about being the man for your family and friends.” He asked, “Paano mo masasabi na lalaki ang isang tao? Of course, it is important na dapat may isa kang salita. You work hard for the family and for the community.”

“The most important of all is you have to be a good person. If you are a good person and you love what you do, everything will follow,” he furthered.

Manhood for Mikoy is “all about your values and dignity.” The actor elaborated, “That’s where it is centered regardless of all the sexual things and all the gender-based factors aside. It’s really about your values, dignity and principles. Kung ano ang paninindigan mo and how you fight for it and for your loved ones, dun siya naka-based for me.”

Gold said the same thing, “Kung ano rin yung pinaglalaban ng isang tao,” and added that it is manifested on how a man talks and acts.

DickTalk also marked Jake’s return to theater and every time he gets the opportunity to do plays, he would always do so. “Especially at that time na nanggaling tayo ng pandemic, for the artists because it’s confusing what an artist now really is nowadays. Parang you don’t know if you are an influencer, you don’t know if you are on YouTube.”

Jake accepted the project because he wants to remind himself why he does acting in the first place. “It’s because I’m an actor,” he added. At the same time, it is also a “continuous challenge” for him. “I’m like a masochist, I keep going back to theater, continuously trying to fail so that I can get better.”

He considered it as a “takeaway” whenever he does a theater play, he furthered. “It’s like I do plays and then I go back to the real world, which is movies and TV. And then I feel like parang may growth. I feel like I’ve evolved as an actor.”

He also said yes to the project because of direk Phil, which is his way of giving back to the latter who helped him in his showbiz career.

During the press event, the actors gave a glimpse of what to expect from their performances. Gold, who plays the 16-year-old Jun-jun, pulled off a very daring act in one of the scenes.

The press members were curious if Jake, who plays a 35-year-old callboy named Peter North Teves, will also do a daring act in the final show.

“I do have the freedom to do it if I want to,” he declared. “So we’ll see what we feel on that day. Like for me, the main reason why I do go back to theater is for the acting. It’s not because I wanted to do a skin show or do a clothing brand show or like (something like that). What I wanna showcase is how I do theater. Iba ako sa teatro, iba ako sa movies and iba ako sa TV and that’s my main purpose of being here talaga.”

“So we’ll see. Like for me, (as what) I’ve said, that’s what I love about theater, it’s dangerous. You don’t know what’s gonna happen ‘pag nandun na kami and I’m in control and I can do whatever that I want. So, if I feel that the audience wants it then I might give it,” he teased.

DickTalk will run on April 15, 16, 18, 20, 21 and 23 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium (RCBC Theater) in Makati City.