Every family has one. The one who fills the silence, laughs the loudest, and finds a reason to celebrate an ordinary Tuesday. The one who insists that everything is fine, and almost makes everyone believe it.
But what happens when keeping up appearances becomes a way of avoiding the truth?
This November, I Am Normal, a new play written and directed by emerging Cebuano theatre artist Ciara Baricuatro, takes audiences into the lives of the Dimaano family, where grief manifests in different ways and the things left unsaid may be the hardest to confront.
The play follows a family struggling to grieve, each in their own way. Ian performs, Fern rages, Helen organizes, and Lolo watches. Beneath their individual responses lies a shared loss, and somewhere in the spaces between them, something remains waiting to be said.
At the center of the story is Ian, a boy who turns to sitcoms as a coping mechanism. Through humor, performance, and the familiar comfort of fictional worlds, he attempts to navigate emotions he does not quite know how to face. His struggle reflects a larger question: what happens when the pressure to remain positive, independent, and seemingly okay becomes another burden to carry?
For Baricuatro, I Am Normal is more than a theatrical story. It is also a deeply personal undertaking.
Written nine months before its staging, the play began with a simple premise: a boy using sitcoms to cope with what he cannot confront directly. Over the following months, the script underwent multiple revisions, gradually developing into a more fully realized story about grief, mental health, and the complicated ways people protect themselves from painful emotions.
Baricuatro describes Ian as a character written for people who struggle to acknowledge their own feelings, often hiding behind something else to avoid confronting what is happening inside. The character also reflects the pressure many experience to appear positive and self-sufficient even while struggling in silence.
That personal connection has made this production particularly meaningful for the young playwright-director. I Am Normal marks her first play as both writer and director, bringing together two creative responsibilities in a project shaped by months of writing, preparation, and learning. Developed independently with guidance from her directing mentor, 2TinCans Managing Director, Charlene Virlouvet, the work represents a significant step in her theatre journey.
The result is a family drama that invites audiences to look beyond the familiar phrase “I'm fine” and consider the emotions, vulnerabilities, and unspoken truths that may lie beneath it.
Featuring Alexus Libarnes, Ernest Aleonar, Isabella Villarojo, and Vince Lopez, with stage management by Kjaran Dalay, I Am Normal will be staged on November 7 at 7:00 PM, and November 8 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM at The Kabilin Center.
The production is part of Kulukabildo II: Stories in Direct Light, a monthly theatre series presented by 2TinCans Philippines Inc. and The Kabilin Center. Rooted in the Bisaya concept of kulukabildo, or informal exchange, the series serves as a dedicated platform for the organization's directors' training program, showcasing the distinct artistic visions of eight emerging Cebuano directors.
Through this initiative, Kulukabildo creates space for new voices to develop their work, engage with audiences, and contribute to the continuing growth of Cebu's theatre community.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
I AM NORMAL
Written and directed by Ciara Baricuatro
November 7, 2026 | 7:00 PM
November 8, 2026 | 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Venue: The Kabilin Center, Cebu City
Cast: Alexus Libarnes, Ernest Aleonar, Isabella Villarojo, and Vince Lopez
Stage Manager: Kjaran Dalay
Tickets: https://2tincans-philippines.yapsody.com/
Part of: Kulukabildo II: Stories in Direct Light, presented by 2TinCans Philippines Inc. and The Kabilin Center.
Production Photos: SHS Arts & Design, Southwestern University PHINMA (SWU PHINMA) School of Design + Communication, under the guidance of Prof. John Paul “Lakan” Olivares.
Content Advisory: Contains mature themes, including mental health and grief. Suitable for audiences aged 13 and above. Younger audiences must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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