The usual narrative of a person living with HIV/AIDS stems from trauma, violence, sex, and defeat. Rather than celebrating their lives and how they touch many people by giving hope and inspiration, they’re remembered as the stigma that comes with their condition. I would say a weak point in storytelling. Solely focusing on sympathy or pity for the specific character. That common strategy captures the heart of the audience through a heartwarming drama – an irrelevant strategy nowadays.

 The staging of RENT Manila 2024 by 9 Works Theatrical was bold, provocative, and informative. The direction of Robbie Guevara was straightforward and on point. He put the topic in the spotlight as much as possible for it to be heard and understood. The personification of Angel Dumott Schunard, played by Lance Reblando, was powerful, strong, and inspiring. The topic of HIV/AIDS was represented, in a different light, the truth on the human side of the character. It digs deeper into the core. Rather than focusing on the condition, she was brought to light as compassionate, capable of love and being loved. That trans women are women. The message of the character was whole on its own.

 Lance made a breakthrough experience in theater. She is a woman of strength, love, and compassion. A trans woman was represented, without the need for comedy to be loved. She captured the audience by being true to herself, to her character, and to her goal of conveying a message to the audience. In my opinion, she broke the stigma about people living with HIV and the trans community from that very moment. The communities she’s representing are living in a space where no one is judging, and I hope that the future is brighter for everyone because of the hope and love that she showed during her performance.