Every family has someone who keeps the mood light, laughs the loudest, and insists that everything is fine, even when things are falling apart. But what happens when pretending to be okay becomes a way of avoiding painful truths?
2TinCans Philippines Inc. brings this question to the stage through I Am Normal, a new play written and directed by emerging Cebuano theatre artist Ciara Baricuatro, running on November 7 and 8 at The Kabilin Center in Cebu City.
The play follows the Dimaano family as its members navigate grief in different ways. Ian performs, Fern rages, Helen organizes, and Lolo watches. Beneath their individual responses to loss are emotions left unspoken and truths they struggle to confront.
At the center of the story is Ian, a boy who turns to sitcoms as a coping mechanism. Through humor, performance, and the comfort of fictional worlds, he tries to process emotions he does not fully understand. His experience reflects the pressure many people face to remain positive, independent, and seemingly okay even when they are struggling internally.
For Baricuatro, I Am Normal is a deeply personal theatrical undertaking. The story began with a simple premise: a boy using sitcoms to cope with experiences he cannot directly confront. Written nine months before its staging, the script went through several revisions, gradually evolving into a story about grief, mental health, and the different ways people protect themselves from emotional pain.
Baricuatro sees Ian as a reflection of people who find it difficult to acknowledge their feelings and often turn to distractions to avoid confronting what is happening within them. The character also explores the expectations placed on individuals to appear positive and self-sufficient despite their personal struggles.
The production marks Baricuatro’s first time taking on both writing and directing responsibilities for a play. Developed independently with guidance from her directing mentor and 2TinCans Managing Director Charlene Virlouvet, the project represents an important milestone in her journey as a theatre artist.
Through the Dimaano family’s story, I Am Normal invites audiences to look beyond the familiar words “I’m fine” and consider the grief, vulnerability, and unspoken emotions that may exist underneath.
Featuring Alexus Libarnes, Ernest Aleonar, Isabella Villarojo, and Vince Lopez, with Kjaran Dalay as stage manager, the play will have three performances: November 7 at 7 p.m. and November 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Kabilin Center.
I Am Normal is part of Kulukabildo II: Stories in Direct Light, a monthly theatre series presented by 2TinCans Philippines Inc. and The Kabilin Center. Inspired by the Bisaya concept of kulukabildo, or informal exchange, the series provides a platform for the organization’s directors’ training program, showcasing the artistic perspectives of eight emerging Cebuano directors.
Through Kulukabildo, 2TinCans Philippines and The Kabilin Center aim to support new theatre voices, encourage creative exchange, and contribute to the continued development of Cebu’s theatre community.
Performance details
I Am Normal
Written and directed by Ciara Baricuatro
- November 7, 2026, 7 p.m.
- November 8, 2026, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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/
Content advisory: The play contains mature themes, including mental health and grief. Recommended for audiences aged 13 and above. Younger audiences must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Production photos are by SHS Arts & Design, Southwestern University PHINMA School of Design + Communication, under the guidance of Prof. John Paul “Lakan” Olivares.
