Brutal, explosive, and multi-dimensional, Battalia Royale 3 doesn't hold back on any level, creating a theater experience that is eye-opening as it is engaging. You have no choice, really, but to engage because the concept behind the show is for you to follow the story throughout the premises of Museo Pambata to each of the scenes, running and then crouching and then sitting on the floor to watch high school kids kill themselves in a battle for survival.

Battalia Royale 3 is loosely based on the Koushun Takami novel of the same name and the accompanying movie. The fictional class of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a class of 40, wakes up in a strange locale and their teacher tells them that instead of the intended field trip to Mount Pinatubo, they are in the midst of battle with each other. "Kill or be killed," and are sent their merry way.



Guided by marshals, you are led from one end of the exterior of Museo Pambata to the other end, and witness as these students face the chilling prospect of having to kill each other. Being right at the age of puberty, all their insecurities come out; their hopes, wishes, and resentments come to the foreground, and they must make surprising choices to stay alive or to stay sane.


The Malacanang Palace is a museum unto itself. Why not pay it a visit and learn more about this historic landmark?


This is not an experience for the faint of heart. There is running involved and sitting on the ground. The action gets brutal and you will have to fight for space to see what's going on. If you get too close, you will get splattered with blood (like I was). And what happens when teens are put into an extremely tense situation? They get horny, they curse, and they get mean.

You can tell that the work was developed from improv sessions because some scenes are a bit drawn out, mined completely for all its pathos even though the point has been made, and some of the fight choreography end up a little clunky (not all of it, though), but there are a lot of good stuff in it too. One particular character, the cutthroat Kakai, makes a compelling character and the sheer brutality is a great setting for some interesting discussions about humanity.



From Australian playwrights David Finnigan, Georgie McAuley, Sam Burns-Warr, and Jorden Prosser, directed by JK Anicoche, and performed by Sipat Lawin Ensemble, Mapua Tekno Teatro of Mapua Institute of Technology, and Dulaang Perpetual of University of Perpetual Help Dalta, Battalia Royale 3 had performances last September 14, 15, and 16 at Museo Pambata.


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For more information on the show and the company, as well as further showing dates and venues, visit Sipat Lawin Ensemble's Facebook page.


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Here's another must see: The King and I at Resorts World Manila! It's showing only until October 26 so you better buy your tickets now!

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