Playwright Rody Vera lends an intriguing take on the issue of children and war through his opus “Ismail at Isabel". The plot revolves around two characters: Ismail (a Muslim) and Isabel (a Christian), who lived in a village called Dilangawen, an atypical place in Mindanao where Muslims and Christians once settled peacefully until it collapsed due to the pressures of violence and war. Mirroring similar events facing the country today, the play also exposes the plight of children and the ill effects of war towards them, their families and their environment. Although coined as a children’s play, Although it comes with a strong message, “Ismail at Isabel” promises to be an uplifting and celebratory story about the transformative power of hope.

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