Beware of Sigbin

Everyone who grew up in the rural areas might have heard of sigbin, a mythological creature from our local folklore. They are said to come out at night to suck the blood of victims from their shadows. They are also described to walk backwards with their heads lowered between their hind legs and to have the ability to become invisible to other creatures, especially humans. They resembles a hornless goat, but has very large ears, which it can clap like a pair of hands and a long flexible tail that can be used as a whip.

Sadly, many of the younger generations have not heard of this creature that haunted our childhood. With the advent of technology and foreign culture flooding the nation, many of our local and ethnic traits and treasures have been forgotten, sigbin being only one of them. Through theater arts, our local Cebu Theater aims to bring this beloved and feared creature back to life by telling its story!

Sigbin: Stories of the Region is a collaborative trilogy of short plays that tell the stories of the eponymous sigbin as they are displaced from their natural habitat due to deforestation. They are forced to live in the urban areas and survive among the humans, coping with the difficulties of living in the modern world. This allegorical play portrays the impacts of deculturalization in the modern society and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

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This producion is collaborated on by members Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts (YATTA) of Dumaguete City, Kasing Sining of Bohol, and Guang Ming Institute for the Performing Arts of Cebu City, all members of Tabok Central Visayas Theater Network. This trilogy premiered in Dumaguete City on October 6th and in Bohol on October 13th.

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“Sigbin” will be performed here in Cebu on October 26th in Siddhartha Theater in Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts at 246 V. Rama Avenue, Cebu City. There will be two schedules on the day of the performance: matinee is at 03:00 PM and gala is at 08:00 PM. Tickets are now available at PHP 300.00 each (admitting one). For ticket reservations, you can contact Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts at +63 977 814 8457.

How to Get There

Via Jeepney

• From Lahug, take any jeepney going to Fuente Osmeña Circle area (17B, 17C, 17D, 04B, 04C, 04H, 04I) and get off at the most convenient stop. Head to B. Rodriguez Street and take 06B or 06C jeepney to V. Rama and get off at Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts.
• From Fuente Osmeña Circle, proceed to B. Rodriguez Street and take 06B or 06C jeepney to V. Rama and get off at Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts.
• From Colon or Jones Avenue, take 06C or 06B jeepney to V. Rama and get off at Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts. You can also take 01C, which takes the Colon – Sambag I – V. Rama route (which might be more convenient).
• From Mabolo area (SM City Cebu), you can take 06H going to V. Rama Avenue and get off at the institute.
• From Ayala Center Cebu, you can conveniently take the 12L jeepney at the terminal. This passes by V. Rama, and you can get off right around the area of the institute.

Note: If the driver is not familiar where the institute is, you can ask them to drop you off at KKD STK + BBQ or Kusina ni Nasing, which are right across the gate of the institute.

Via GrabCar or Angkas

You can use Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts as your drop off pin. Upon entering the temple gate, simply tell the guard that you are headed to the institute.

Via Taxi

You can tell the driver to drop you off at Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts in V. Rama. If they are not familiar with the location, you can tell them that it’s inside the temple across Kusina ni Nasing or KKD STK + BBQ in V. Rama.