‘Juan Tamban’ Stirs the Stage with a Raw Portrayal of Abuse, Poverty, and Survival

With haunting lines and deeply human performances, the play Juan Tamban gripped audiences at the AEC Little Theater in May 2025, stirring silence, reflection, and tears. A production of the Pleyhaws, an accredited theater organization of MSEUF, the performance was directed by Tok Guerra and was based on the powerful script by Malou Jacob.

At the heart of the play is the story of Juan, a 12-year-old boy whose physical and emotional scars mirror the silent struggles of many children in marginalized communities. Suffering from diseases like malaria and amoebiasis due to eating pests to survive, Juan becomes the subject of a master’s thesis by Marina, a young academic who soon discovers that Juan’s illness goes far beyond the medical.

Set in the cramped quarters of an illegal settlers’ area, the story reveals how economic deprivation, gender inequality, and generational trauma feed a cycle of abuse. Juan’s father, Justino—a former drug user turned gambling addict—embodies a hardened masculinity that lashes out in violence, control, and emotional neglect.

Guerra’s direction allows the script’s most piercing lines to linger, such as Justino’s scathing indictment of systemic injustice:

“Kung parehong tao ang mayaman at mahirap, bakit kapag ninanakawan ng mayayaman ang mahirap, okay lang? Pero kapag mahirap ang gumawa, krimen?”

Throughout the performance, audiences were confronted not only with the visible signs of poverty but with the often-unseen weight of marital rape, verbal abuse, and toxic expectations of masculinity. These scenes were powerfully conveyed by a cast that committed to honesty in every word and gesture.

Yet Juan Tamban does more than portray victims—it challenges systems. Marina, whose middle-class world contrasts with Juan’s, also wrestles with emotional manipulation and career-shaming from her fiancé. In doing so, the play highlights that abuse is not confined by economic class—it changes form, but its impact remains deeply harmful.

Beyond the stage, the play sparks timely conversations about existing social structures and how they shape family dynamics and community well-being. Its relevance echoes in current national discourses on gender-based violence, addiction, and the need for inclusive support systems.