File - Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio

Ang Paglilitis ni

Mang Serapio

SYPNOSIS

Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio is a play written by Paul Arvisu Dumol, currently an Economics professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific, during his high school years at Ateneo de Manila University. This play has been staged by countless theatre organizations already. However, probably one thing has been constant in each of them since it was instilled in the text itself – that Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio is a tragedy. Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio is not comedy. Being too comedic is like going away with its actual essence which is to promote “pity & fear” towards Serapio, the protagonist. Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio can still be a comedy but it does not guarantee actual laughs, but the irony of it all (all the significant happenings in the play) can make you think really hard and make you realize.

The fact that most tragic starts with the main character in a good position and as the story progresses fell into a tragic event but the play Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio starts the play with Mang Serapio already in the bad position as the trail already had the verdict of him being guilty even before the trail starts. This kind of element of the play shows to us the reality that even to those who are already in an unfortunate situation such as beggars can still fell to a more worst situation such as when Mang Serapio being blinded despite losing almost everything he has. This was a sequel of a tragedy where the main character falls to an even more tragic situation, thus a tragedy within a tragedy.

To Mang Serapio, the doll symbolizes the memories of his daughter. It gave him the will to continue his life despite of the fact that his family is gone. The doll is the only thing he have and that it hurts him that it has to be taken away from him. The doll symbolizes the simple happiness that one could get which is something priceless. And from that simple happiness comes the real meaning of life. Life becomes meaningful when we find happiness even though we experience some hardships and pains.

The blinding of Mang Serapio symbolizes how powerful those people with higher stands than the beggar. How those people contaminate their selves with vainglory pushing the weak just to save their faces. They could handicap another man and limit his or her actions. Being a blind man means a man is limited to see and that is to see the truth and eventually fight his or her right.

The protagonist on the play “Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio” is a beggar by the name of Serapio. He is a member of a federation and was accused because of breaking their rules. The accusation was dug by a trial with three antagonists. They are more powerful than him, by asking questions. One of the primary conflicts is person against person. It illustrates to us what a man can do to hurt another man just because of status and greed.

We can also say that it is person against society. It shows to us the social stratification. Social stratification is present in almost all society as well as social injustice and inequality. It happens that Serapio is a beggar and a lot of people are more powerful than him. More powerful people found holes just to punish him. In the end Serapio was blinded because of a very odd reason or crime, having hope and dreams.

The play is about Serapio, a beggar who carries around a doll and uses it to attract pity which leads to more alms. Once the authorities are alerted of this, they subject Serapio to a mock trial which leads to his blinding with ice picks. What makes the story interesting is that even before the trial began, the authorities already knew that they were going to blind Serapio. It makes the trial a source of entertainment instead of a channel for due diligence. This doesn’t happen just this once either as it is stated that this is a weekly occurrence and the culprits seem to enjoy torturing these people and it has turned into a source of entertainment.

In “Ang Paglilitis Ni Mang Serapio”, we see the corruption in the Philippines and the system. No matter what would happen in his trial, he would be acquitted guilty and be punished. He basically stood no chance and he was left at the mercy of the authorities who cheat the system. In our country today, this still remains true unfortunately. Men like Serapio are merciless at the hands of those with power. Serapio’s condition as a lunatic did not change the way that he was treated and he would have been treated that way no matter what condition he was in.

OTHER ELEMENTS

Brief Character Review

Mang Serapio is a beggar and a member of a federation and was accused because of breaking their rules.

Hukom who is higher compare to all the beggars in the federation and she decides who ever wins in every court hearings.

The Dalawang tagapagtanong are the two people who insist that Mang Serapio commit a mistake.

The Dalawang Tagabantay are the ones who are liable in handling Mang Serapio during the trials, to not escape.

The three Saksi are three liars who are willing to lie for Mang Serapio to be punish.

The two pilays are the one who the judge asked to get the baul. The baul or the treasure chest is the most important role in Mang Serapio’s life.

Suggestion of Time

Quick Summary

“Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio” is a play about social injustice and stratification of an old man named Mang Serapio against to heartless, mindless “Federation”, who only wanted was money from their members.

Mang Serapio’s only mistake was for loving too much his wife and daughter named Sol. By his pure innocence and ignorance he was accused to a mistake that No one knew how it became a mistake that he was able to punished, tortured and even he lost his eye.

All Credits

Urbiztondo, Karl as

Mang Serapio

Jenny Mae Suganob as

Hukom

Aillynne Pantojan as

Unang Tagapagtanong

Krystine Timtim as

Ikalawang Tagapagtanong

Laisha Gonzaga as

Unang Saksi

Edelyn Quijano as

Ikalawang Saksi

Rachel Tabora as

Ikatlong Saksi

Manilyn Saavedra as

Unang Pilay

Gwenn Patlunag as

Ikalawang Pilay

Gio Saligumba as

Guwardiya

Maria Fe Tepait • Leader • Researcher (kind of play and theme) • Equipment Coordinaator

Issahmae Subaldo • Beadle • Website Coordinator • Musical Director

Chrystal Faith Sagmit • Finance • Researcher (Conflict and Symbol) • Preview Worker • Portfolio Worker

Karl Urbiztondo • Trailer Editor • Location Editor

Gwenn Patlunag • Musical Director • Art Designer

Marian Uyanguren Propsman

Lira Valderama • Photographer

Play Date 

List of References

• Ruiz, L. (2006, Mar.31). Ms. Frances Sangil’s virtual classroom. Yahoo Groups. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 from http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/litera1/con versations/topics/3141. • (No Author). (2013, Aug.04). Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio. An Infinite World Lines. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 from http://aninfiniteworldlines.wordpress.com/2013/ 08/04/ang-paglilitis-ni-mang-serapio/

• Manzano, A. (2012, Nov. 11). Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio. Aldo Manzano’s HUMALIT Blog. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 from http://aldomanzanohumalit.blogspot.com/2012/ 11/ang-paglilitis-ni-mang-serapio.html • Redor, KV. (2003, Jun 20). Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio. Realm of Red_Door 8. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 from http://www.geocities.ws/k_psycho8/portfolio.ht ml

• (No Author). (2008, 12). Paglilitis Ni Mang Serapio Sa Mata Ni Aristotle. StudyMode.com. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Paglilitis-NiMang-Serapio-Sa-Mata-187273.html • Cathy. (2008, July 5). Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio by Paul Dumol full script. MY BLOG. Retrieved on September 26, 2013 fromhttp://meighan18.blogspot.com/2008/07/a ng-paglilitis-ni-mang-serapio-by-paul.html