Answers

Today was probably one of the coolest classes I have ever had. My professor talked to us about the play that he wrote (when the purple settles), and it was really interesting to find out about the situations that cause a playwright to actually begin to and continue to write a play. One of the things I liked best was talking about the character names, specifically, Acrimea and Sia Lippin. The first time I saw Acrimea, I read it as "America", which is the intent, but I think I might be slightly dyslexic because every time I see that name and try to process it or say it, I always want to say "America"... I got that the Acrimea's were so named for a purpose, and that that was reflected in their dialogue and actions. However, my dyslexia wasn't working for the Sia Lippin's, so I didn't get that this was an anagram for "Pilipinas", or that it can also mean "this slave" (from "si" and "alippin") until Professor Aguas said so.
It was fascinating to delve into the reasons for why Professor Aguas wrote this play; that it is as much about colonialization and the ideas of "freedom" and "independence" as it is about a son dealing with his parents as he becomes a father. These ideas are manifested in the singular phrase "I know what's best for you, so trust me, it's for the best". Parents do this to us as we grow up, and it is part of the growing up process that we begin to question this statement. The same holds true with colonialization, especially of the Philippines (as it pertains to the play). Yet, in fact, we can see these aspects in other places, such as the US "occupation" of Iraq, where we as the US are there to help give freedom and independence to a people who are "clearly" inferior to us...