Bagahe: An Undergraduate Recital Thesis

50 QA flashcards for exam review based on the Bagahe notes.”} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }}

What does the title 'Bagahe' mean in Filipino?

Baggage; it symbolizes emotional, physical, and generational burdens carried by the characters.

Bagahe is an adaptation of which American play?

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, localized to the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) context.

Who is Wilfredo in Bagahe?

The main character, an Overseas Filipino Worker who works abroad to support his family; husband and father.

Who is Linda in Bagahe?

Wilfredo's wife and mother; grounding force in the family, supportive and emotionally resilient.

Who are Loki and Deffrey?

Loki is the eldest son under pressure to follow his father's path; Deffrey is the younger son, more light-hearted.

Who is Lorelei in the play?

Wilfredo's secret lover; a source of emotional conflict within the family.

Who is Nikolás in the story?

Wilfredo's neighbor and friend, a successful businessman who helps him find work; has a son named Bernie.

Who is Bernie?

Nikolás's son; Loki's childhood friend who is less pressured by his father.

Who is Karlos?

The executive head of the company where Wilfredo works, representing corporate distance.

What type of play is Bagahe categorized as?

Tragedy (as in Death of a Salesman) with melodramatic elements.

Name three literary/dramatic devices used in Bagahe.

Foreshadowing, Monologue, Symbolism.

What central object drives storytelling in Bagahe?

Luggage/bags, used as a central metaphor for emotional and experiential burden.

What is the major symbol in the set design?

A pile of boxes representing baggage and accumulated burdens.

List some props that carry symbolic meaning in Bagahe.

Wilfredo's box, the laptop/phone, family photographs, a basket, lipstick.

How is Loki's costume described?

Brown shirt and maong pants with box designs; grey tones to symbolize burden and restraint.

How does Linda’s costume symbolize her role?

A duster with colorful flowers that fade over time, symbolizing hope and its erosion.

How does Wilfredo's costume change over the play?

Starts neat; becomes dirty white and torn, signaling decline and wear from hardship.

What colors symbolize Deffrey?

Yellow and light orange, representing a ball of sunshine and youthful optimism.

Describe the stage lighting progression in Bagahe.

Amber at the start, greens, brown wash, red/purple at climactic moments, then white spotlight and warm tones leading to resolution.

What are key elements of the sound design?

Car horns, city sounds, and phone chimes; video calls; traditional Filipino music; spatial audio.

How is Realism defined in the notes?

Accurate depiction of nature or contemporary life with natural dialogue and behavior.

How is Expressionism defined?

Prioritizes subjective truth, with symbolic staging, non-linear structure, and intense lighting.

How is Naturalism defined?

Emphasizes determinism and environment; characters are depicted as victims of forces shaping their actions.

What is Stanislavski's view of Realism as quoted in the notes?

Realism tries to present the world as it really is—like a photograph; plain, sincere action.

What is Artaud's influence on the production?

Symbolism integrated with expressionism and realism; emphasizes primal, emotional truth.

How is the 'Filipino Dream' defined in the context of the play?

A parallel to the American Dream focusing on migration, sacrifice, and family pursuit of a better life.

Who is the intended audience for the dramaturgical research?

Bicol University students, faculty, staff, theater enthusiasts, OFWs, and their children.

Where is the play performed?

Bicol University College of Arts and Letters Amphitheater, Legazpi City, Albay.

How does Bagahe address gender norms?

It subverts traditional roles: Linda becomes a more active voice, challenging the silent-provider stereotype.

What memory technique is associated with Expressionism in the notes?

Non-linear plot with flashbacks and dream sequences to reveal past influence on present.

What is a central theme of Death of a Salesman echoed in Bagahe?

The elusive American Dream, identity, and family dynamics under pressure.

In the original, what do seeds and the rubber hose symbolize?

Seeds symbolize legacy and growth; the rubber hose symbolizes suicide and mortality.

What is Britannica's definition of tragedy used in the notes?

A serious, dignified treatment of sorrowful events caused or faced by a heroic individual.

What is StudioBinder's definition of melodrama used in the notes?

A dramatic work with sensationalized events and exaggerated emotions and stereotypes.

How is Bagahe’s performance style described?

A synthesis of Realism, Symbolism, and Expressionism with symbolic staging.

What is the setting in Bagahe?

A simple Filipino living room filled with boxes (the baggage) as a core visual ground.

What are the major themes addressed in Bagahe?

Family dynamics, trauma, mental health, intergenerational conflict, gender norms, and the Filipino Dream.

Who comprises the target audience beyond university members?

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their children.

What cultural items are suggested for grounding the set?

Abaniko (fans) and banig (mats), family heirlooms to root the play in Filipino memory.

How does the set palette influence mood and meaning?

Earth-tones create warmth and nostalgia, while the boxes symbolize burden and claustrophobic weight.

What is the director’s main aim in this adaptation?

To evoke empathy through cultural specificity while preserving the emotional universality of Miller’s text.

What is the primary theatrical innovation of Bagahe?

Using luggage/bags as central storytelling devices and visual metaphors.

Which character experiences parental pressure to become a doctor?

Loki, the eldest son.

How is audience reach enhanced in the production plan?

Through social media and collaborations (Kugos Production, Sining Banwa, BU main page) with sneak peeks and posters.

What is the function of memory sequences in lighting design?

Distinct lighting marks memory scenes versus present-day scenes, creating contrast between past and present.

What broader cultural issue does Bagahe interrogate through family dynamics?

Migration, emotional labor, and the redefinition of masculine and feminine roles in Filipino society.

What is the role of the director’s notes about Filipino hoarding in the set design?

To communicate emotional attachment to possessions and the weight of unspoken burdens.

How is Linda’s redaction of emotion conveyed through costume?

Her evolving costume shows calm, strength, and eventual weariness as burdens mount.

What is the significance of Wilfredo's box in the props?

A central symbol of his personal belongings and emotional/psychological burdens as an OFW.

What role does Lorelei play in Wilfredo’s story?

Her presence represents temptation, emotional complexity, and the fracture in family trust.

What is the relationship between the play’s theme and the Philippine context according to the notes?

The Filipino Dream mirrors the American Dream, with migration and sacrifice shaping family destinies.

How is the concept of 'baggage' physically represented on stage?

A growing pile of boxes and onstage luggage representing accumulating burdens.

Which character’s costume features a duster embroidered with flowers, and what does it symbolize?

Linda; it symbolizes hope and the nurturing, hopeful vision for the family.

What is the function of the laptop/phone in Wilfredo’s props?

Represents connection to family abroad and simultaneous isolation at home.

What is the role of the bicycle or car sounds in sound design?

To create realism of travel and movement and to cue time progression and memory.

What does the set’s avant-garde design aim to evoke?

A sensory journey into migration, memory, and broken expectations with symbolic elements.

How does the play redefine Willy Loman’s character as Wilfredo?

Wilfredo’s sacrifices and emotional breakdown are tied to the Filipino migrant experience and family expectations.

What is the set designer’s view on the 'box' motif?

Boxes as the physical manifestation of internal and external burdens.

Which character is described as the 'ball of sunshine' and what does that imply?

Deffrey; implies optimism and emotional resilience despite family tension.

What is the narrative purpose of the photographs on stage?

They witness memory fragments, reflecting fragmented memory and the Filipino Dream’s costs.

What academic references support the symbolism and stage practices in Bagahe?

Turner and Behrndt on stage symbolism; Artaud on symbolism and primal theater; Stanislavski on realism.

What is the role of the 'abandoned' or 'extra' objects in the props list?

They reinforce the domestic, everyday life and the layered meanings of family and migration.

What is the educational aim behind Bagahe for Filipino audiences?

To reflect on sacrifice, gender roles, and familial obligation through a familiar, culturally grounded lens.

How does the play treat mental health discussions?

As a delicate, important topic; presented with nuance to avoid melodrama and stereotypes.

What is the 'intended audience' reach in terms of geographic focus?

Primarily the Bicol Region and BU community, but with universality to broader audiences.

What is the function of the 'living room' as the primary set?

An intimate, domestic space that anchors the story and its baggage in everyday life.

How are memory sequences distinguished visually?

By distinct lighting shifts to distinguish memory from present action.

What is the relationship between the OFW experience and the Filipino Dream in the play?

OFW experiences are used to illustrate sacrifice, family duty, and pursuit of a better life.

What is the significance of the end lighting turning white/yellow?

Aims to signal resolution, peace, or acceptance after tension and conflict.

Which real-world statistic is cited to describe OFW prevalence in the region?

PSA 2020 Census data: about 67,477 overseas workers in the Bicol Region (1.7% of 15+ population).