The Vs that bind

Vagina Monologues fosters maternal bond between mother and 2 daughters

By Abegail Kionisala, UP Cebu Mass Comm Intern

IT IS not uncommon for mothers and daughters to talk about vaginas, but before an audience?

That’s what happened last April 25 when Carmel Cabaero and daughters Kyra and Tara joined 27 other brave “Vagina Warriors” in the staging of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues at the OnStage Cinema of Ayala Center Cebu.

The Cabaero women are no strangers to the monologues, but last month’s one-night benefit performance was just as meaningful, mesmerizing and exciting for them. They opened the show together, enumerating the different names of the vagina in Cebu and other countries.

“This was not our first on the stage of the Vagina Monologues,” said Kyra. “We were first invited to perform together in 2002 by Ms. Daisy Baad and Ms. Sarah Enclona. It was the first time all three of us got to perform together on stage, although at that time we were doing separate pieces. We got to perform again in 2004, this time we were performing together in one piece.”

The Vagina Monologues aimed to uncover the different stories of women as the performance celebrated women’s sexuality with vigour, wit and charm — and uncover, they did. And for Carmel, Kyra and Tara, being part of the production offered something else: bonding time.

“It was fun seeing my mom and sister on stage with me – surreal in the beginning but it was a great experience,” said Tara.

Carmel chipped in: “With our own busy schedules, The Vagina Monologues allowed for extra bonding time in a different environment.”

And what could be more unique than an environment that fosters creativity with purpose?

“It was great to bond with them over something as important as the movement that the Vagina Monologues supports, and which we, as individual women, support as well,” Kyra said.

Stage fright, senior moments

Being part of a production like the Vagina Monologues entails effort. From the rehearsals until the big night, it was nothing but hard work for the Cabaeros.

“Preparation on reading my lines for the intro took quite a long while. ‘Senior’ moments just kept knocking on my head,” said Carmel. “I was pretty nervous during rehearsals and fumbling over my lines… I had to get out of my embarrassment and just do it.”

For Kyra, performing together with her sister and her mom made Kyra less nervous during the big night. But during the preparation stages, her confidence level went south.

“When I got my script, I would try to rehearse by myself at home, in front of the mirror, even recording my voice! I wasn’t all that confident, to be honest,” Kyra admitted. “I’m not very comfortable speaking in front of an audience. The days leading to the Vagina Monologues show was a super busy week for me at work. I barely had time to rehearse. So you can imagine how nervous I was as the show was about to start. But being with my mom and sister, and having everyone backstage encouraging me, I got the nerve to go out on stage and say my piece.”

It wasn’t easy for Tara either, having just arrived in Cebu from Manila just days before the big night. Her excitement, though, inspired her to do her best.

“It was all so quick for me. I worked on my monologue alone in Manila, and just joined the rest of the cast for the general rehearsals. I made sure to show up as performance ready as I could be. Performing in front of the other cast for the first time was nerve-wracking, but they were all supportive and encouraging. When the show came around, I was excited to perform my piece,” Tara said.

A beautiful battle

The three also enjoyed working with the other Vagina Warriors, describing them as all strong, wonderful and beautiful women. “Working with the warriors was amusing — a camaraderie of vaginas,” said Carmel with delight.

Kyra added: “I got to see strong women from different fields, with different experiences, all bond together. I loved how easy it was to form new friendships, how everyone was encouraging and supportive of each other.”

What made the experience even more amazing for the Cabaeros was that the play became a venue for them to express the worth of women, with each performance carrying a great advocacy.

“It’s a movement that I strongly support,” Tara said. “Its medium being a play appeals to me best because theater is my passion and my job, and I am always honoured to be a part of this wonderful production that is not only a play, but a beautiful battle for women’s rights, protection and freedom.”

Year after year, The Vagina Monologues brings together all these graceful, confident ladies like the Cabaeros, whose performances on stage become a cause for celebration in a community that can no longer deny the issues that women confront every day.

That being said, the Vagina Warriors are doing pretty well with the campaign they are waging, winning this beautiful battle for awareness one monologue at a time.