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The dedication of the creative team and the cast to remain true to the roots of the tribes in the Philippines sends a clear message of how they wanted the younger generation of Filipinos to re-educate themselves on our culture.
Josef added that at the time where literature and history are being ignored and worse, being "bastardized" by colonial teachings, it is just fitting for Tanghalang Pilipino to focus in these types of production.
Local folks simultaneously do panag-aapoy (light a fire) on the graves of their departed relatives which gives a sight of bonfire across the cemetery. They believe that the fires give warmth and light to their departed loved ones. According to some community members, panag-aapoy is also a way of connecting to the souls of their ancestors.
Daring enough to tackle the grim conditions of Filipino farmers, the production deserves attention and support especially this October, the Peasant Month.
“One of the major themes [of ‘Katsuri’] that we’re trying to punch up is the importance of empathy and fighting for each other versus the individualistic nature of people when faced with trying realities."
“The spread of "fake facts" aims to distort history and present it as truth.”
Mabining Mandirigma provides its audience a new image of Apolinario Mabini, as well as a striking realization that, although cliche, history does repeat itself.
Truly, the descendants of the wicked remain wicked to the poor and cordial to the foreigner. It is evident in violent demolitions of communities such as Sitio San Roque in Quezon City, Aetas in Clark, Dumagat in Sierra Madre, and Sitio Aroma in Cebu to make way for development projects; it is evident when our islands are being sold--literally and virtually--to foreign business in the pursuit of investment.
Mabining Mandirigma, a Steampunk Musical, runs at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) from August 16 until September 1, 2019.
"Visual progressive art is important in protest actions like these. It expresses more clearly our calls.”
The documentation of the current attacks to peasant farmers and workers, particularly the killings of Negros 14 last March 30, seeks to spread awareness and urge people to stand against the oppression in rural communities.
The two-hour play emphasized the historic role of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in continuing the unfinished Philippine revolution against foreign and feudal domination in the country. The lessons from the decades-long uprising waged by KM were creatively portrayed through the play. It laid down the different levels of contradictions faced by youth activists in their eagerness to offer their lives for the revolution.
“We, the children of activists, were also part of the struggle.”
As an artist, he painted and wrote about the revolution and its people. Despite the dreariness of the the political and socio-economic situations, he still found these inspiring to paint with all the possible colors the advancement of the people's war, and turned his life and those of the masses into a colorful, vibrant, exuberant subjects of depictions.
“Our film screenings provide an invaluable service to the youth, the students and the general audience, especially since our education system has largely failed in informing them about the systematic atrocities that happened during the martial law era.”
For members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, art is a weapon against tyrants.
The movie made its point. Don’t put your luck on heroes, they are just human. Fine. But the least the movie could have done was show why Goyo was a hero in the first place. It assumed that del Pilar is as popularly known as Rizal and Bonifacio whose lives can be dissected and debated upon by the public. Del Pilar is rarely known. Demolishing him even before getting to know him is a disservice to the film’s audience who, like it or not, get their education in history from films like Heneral Luna. Take it from the millennials.
“Sa Digma ng Halimaw is a collaboration not only between us theater practitioners but more importantly, with them who have told us their stories and allowed us to retell them- they are the heart of the play.”
“Art should have relevance. In this time of pop culture, art should arouse the people in asserting their rights and fighting for their welfare.”
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