PRESENTING:

THE ART

THE ACTORS’ REPERTORY THEATER

KWENTO NG PAG-IBIG NINA FLORANTE AT LAURA, ALADIN AT FLERIDA

(FRANCISCO BALAGTAS)

THE CAST

ARNOLD REYES                    Florante

ADELFA ARGUEL                  Laura

DON UMALI                          Aladin

GENEVIE PALILEO                Flerida

TONY ROMA                         Sultan Ali-adab

ANDRO MORGAN                 Adolfo

SAM NEPOMUCENO            Menandro

JEROLD IGHARAS                 Duke Briceo

CHERO BALDONADO          Haring Linceo

SHYNE REDOTA                             Prinsesa Floresca

MARTY LEGANSON              Antenor

EJ CANILLAS                          Heneral Osmalik

JOEL TAN                               Kristiyano

ALLAN MACATUNO             Kristiyano

LURI NALUS                          Moro

IAN ULDADO                        Moro

SHERYL REDOTA                  Harem Dancer

FATIMA VILLAR                    Harem Dancer

JOY GUERZON                       Harem Dancer

The story is about the struggle and love of the Duke Florante and Princess Laura of Albania during the war between the Christian Albanians and the Moros (Muslim people).

Plot

In the Albanian forest

The story begins deep within a dark, gloomy forest. Florante, a duke of the Kingdom of Albania is tied to a tree, lamenting the death of his father, Duke Briseo. He is driven mad by the thought that his beloved, Princess Laura, has fallen into the arms of his enemy, Count Adolfo, son of Count Sileno. Nearby, two starving lions keep watch and try to attack Florante. He is saved, just in time, by Aladin, a Muslim prince who happens to be at the forest at the same time. Weak and bewildered, Florante faints.

The merciful soldier nurses Florante to health. Upon recovery, Florante is initially taken back by Aladin who he considers as an enemy due to his Islamic faith. After a few explanations are made, however, Florante is grateful and begins to tell his story.

Florante’s tale

The son of a princess and a royal adviser, Florante grew up in happiness, showered with love. He liked to play games when he was six, and was almost killed by a vulture that entered in their mountain cottage, which was also followed by the attack of a falcon, who snatched his cupid diamond. He was saved by his cousin Menalipo, an archer from Epirus.

At the early age of 11, his parents, Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca, sent him to Athens, Greece to study under Antenor, a renowned teacher. There, he met Adolfo, a fellow countryman, the brightest student in their school. After 6 years of study, Florante surpassed Adolfo’s capabilities, talents and intelligence, gaining popularity.
While acting during a school play, Adolfo attempted to kill Florante. Fortunately, Florante’s friend, Menandro, was quick enough to intervene. Adolfo headed home to Albania after his failed attempt. One year later, Florante received a letter from his father, announcing the death of his mother.

Though filled with grief, Florante waited two months before he returned home. Menandro, unwilling to be separated from him, accompanied him on his journey. Upon his arrival to Albania, an emissary of the kingdom of Crotone requested his assistance in the incoming war against the Persians. Florante had not the will to refuse, for the King of Crotone was his grandfather.

During his stay in Albania, Florante was invited to the king’s palace. There, he was stunned by the sight of Laura, the daughter of King Linseo, ruler of Albania.

Coming to the aid of Crotone, Florante fought with the Persian general, Osmalik for 5 hours, finally slaying him in the end. He stayed in Crotone for 5 months before returning to Albania to see Laura. He was surprised by the sight of a Persian flag waving atop the kingdom. He recaptured the palace and saved his father, the king, and Adolfo. He also saved Laura from being beheaded from the hands of an Emir. He was declared “Defender of Albania” for his bravery, deepening Adolfo’s envy and hatred.

Florante protected the kingdom, once more, from the Turkish forces, under general Miramolin, an acclaimed conqueror. This took place in Aetolia, where he later received a letter from his father. The letter summoned him back to Albania. He left his troops in the care of his friend, Menandro. Upon returning, he was ambushed by 30,000 soldiers under Adolfo’s orders and was imprisoned for 18 days. There, he learned of the tragic fate of his father and the king. Under Adolfo’s hands, they were beheaded. Florante was then exiled into the forest and tied to the tree. “Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option”

Aladin’s Tale

After months of wandering in the forest, the Persian, Aladin shares that he is also in a similar circumstance.

Sultan Ali-Adab accused his own son, Aladin, of leaving his troops and allowing his conquered enemy to be recaptured. He arranged for his son to be beheaded. Flerida, very much in love with Aladin, begged the Sultan not to kill, but merely exile his son. In return, Flerida agreed to marry the Sultan, who was very taken with her.

Reunion and Peace

Aladin’s speech is interrupted when they hear voices. A woman narrates her escape from a kingdom and a marriage. She speaks of her search for her beloved, a search which lasted 6 years. She shares that while deep in the forest, she heard cries for help. Finding a lady about to be raped by a man, she uses her bow and arrow to kill him. The woman introduces herself as Flerida.

The lady saved by Flerida is revealed to be Laura, who begins to tell her story. While her love was away at war, Count Adolfo gained the popularity of the people, having lied to them and turned them against the king. Count Adolfo then rose to the throne, forcing Laura to be his queen. An army under Menandro, Florante’s childhood friend, was able to overthrow Adolfo from power. Adolfo, seeing all was lost, fled into the woods, taking Laura as hostage.

After hearing all this, Florante and Aladin reunite with their loved ones. Florante and Laura returned to Albania, and became king and queen. Aladin and Flerida returned to Persia, where Aladin became the new sultan as his father committed suicide. The two kingdoms lived in harmony and peace.

Francisco Balagtas

Francisco Balagtas, later Francisco Baltazar or nickname Kikong Balagtas or Kiko, was born on April 2, 1788 in the barrio Panginay in the town of Bigaa, now known as Balagtas in his honor, in the province of Bulacan. He was the youngest of four children: Felipe, Concha, and Nicholasa. His parents where a blacksmith, Juan Baltazar, and Juana de la Cruz.

As a young boy, Balagtas loved to watch the land and hear the sound of the leaves. He saw beauty in the sparks caused by the pounding hammer of his blacksmith father. He even heard music in the sound of the horses’ shoes.

Balagtas studied in a parochial school in Bigaa, where he studied prayers and catechism during his elementary years. Once Baltazar was eleven he moved to Tondo, Manila to work as a houseboy for his aunt, Doña Trinidad, who sponsored his studies. He enrolled at the Colegio de San Jose, where he graduated with degrees in Crown Law, Spanish, Latin, Physics, Christian Doctrine, Humanities, and Philosophy.

Dr. Mariano Pilapil taught him how to write while one of the most famous Tondo poets, José de la Cruz (Huseng Sisiw) mentored his poetry. Cruz challenged Balagtas to improve his writing, and even refused to edit Balagta’s poetry. He continued to write more awits, corridos and moro-moros.

In 1835, Balagtas moved to Pandacan and met Maria Asuncion Rivera, who would later serve as a muse for his writings, such as in Florante at Laura as ‘Celia’ and ‘MAR’.

Balagtas’ feelings for Maria were challenged by Mariano Capule. The influential Capule used his wealth to imprison Balagtas and marry Maria. In prison, Balagtas relates the parallels of his own situation in Florante at Laura.

During an age when Filipino writings were written in Spanish, Balagtas wrote his poems in Tagalog. Scholars are lead to believe his poems reflect the abuses of the Spanish colonists.

Upon Balagtas’ release from prison, he published Florante at Laura in 1838. In 1840, he moved to Udyong, Bataan and served as a Major Lieutenant. There, he met Juana Tiambeng of Orion, Bataan whom he would wed in 1842. Together, they had eleven – five boys and six girls – although seven died.

In 1849, Governor-General Narciso Claveria ordered that every Filipino native adopt a Spanish surname. Henceforth, Balagtas became known as Francisco Baltazar. He was imprisoned in 1856 for shaving the head of Alferez Lucas’ housemaid, forcing his wife to spend their entire fortune to pay the court expenses. In 1860, he was released and continued writing to support his family.

Upon his death bed, Baltazar asked that none of his children become poets like him, who had suffered under his gift. He stated that it would be better to cut their hands off than to let them be writers.

Francisco Baltazar died on February 20, 1862.

Balagtas is considered the equivalent of William Shakespeare and the “Prince of Tagalog Poets” for his impact on Filipino literature with Florante at Laura regarded as his defining work. In fact, he is so greatly revered in the Philippines that a tradition held for debating in extemporaneous verse is known as ‘Balagtasan’.

– Malcolm Forbes

THE ACTORS’ REPERTORY THEATER ( THE ART) started on February 19, 2002 with its production of a twinbill : New Yorker in Tondo and May Katwiran ang Katwiran. Performances were held at the Batangas National High School Gynasium, Batangas City.

THE ART’s Artistic Director, Edith S. Mandigma is a product of the then Teatro Pilipino owned by the late Rolando S. Tinio at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Metropolitan Theater. Ms. Mandigma continues on making theater productions applying the experience and knowledge earned from Teatro Pilipino and the other theater group she was with so many years, Student Theater Artist Foundation, Inc.

THE ART’s main objective is to showcase great literary works of the world and Filipino famous playwrigths through the performing arts for the students in Manila and the provinces.

To realize this objective, THE ART sought the help of PROSCENIUM ENTERTAINMENT owned by its Artistic Director, Cedric Lao Nicomedes. Its functions are to help provide talents, give insights to the production and financial assistance through marketing the shows. Since THE ART is basically on the creative area, PROSCENIUM ENTERTAINMENT, a more established company, supports the production.

THE ART’s partnership with PROSCENIUM ENTERTAINMENT started from the year 2003 to present. The productions are as follows : 2003-2004 Romeo and Juliet; 2004-2005 Ang kwento ng Pag-ibig nina Florante at Laura; Aladin at Flerida; 2005-2006 A Midsummer Night’s Dream; 2006-2007 Hamlet; 2007-2008 Ang Hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna; 2008-2009 The Merchant of Venice and the present, 2009-2010 A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

THE ART’s ultimate goal is to become one of the country’s most patronized theater company. To realized this goal, They will continue honing talents, enhance production design, adapt more literary works and be an efficient tool for class discussions for the students and teachers of all levels; primary, secondary, and tertiary both public and private schools.

I have been into theater since college(school theater). I myself acted in a play, a mere school play. I’ve done lots of petty works from propsman to  actor to director. I’ve experienced to do even the smallest role onstage and backstage and… I still have the longing in my heart to perform in a big stage. I hope soon.

I’ve already been to different venues and I’ve seen different sets of stage. How they transform the stage into something else. A wonderful place with props, arts, colors, ligths etc…

I am truly fascinated by the magic of this art. I love theater.

I happen to watch The ART( The Actors’ Repertory Theater) performed last year in Souther Luzon State University, Lucban, Quezon. The Play was “Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare. It was played in Tagalog. I can say the performance was great. Two thumbs-up. I’ve seen how they moved the audience including me, the excellent acting performance of every character, the transformation of the stage into different settings, the fusion of humor. The love for the art and artists were evident when the show ended because I can see the craving of the audience for more play and they promised to comeback the next school year.

I told myself to feature The ART in my space so that others can see and wait for them just like me. I will soon post them next and their plays.

The ART marked something in me that forced me to cultivate the talents of my students in this kind of art. I then, organized the theater group in our school rigth after( I will also posts some performances of them in my blog).

Today, I continue to embrace the theaters’ magical body and I am sure , I am poisoned by its venom that is now flowing in my blood stream. As a matter of fact, I joined the “ BUSILAQ”(Bukluran and Sining sa Lalawigan ng Quezon). I will be active for sure.

I know if I’m not producing a local/school play, I will be into writing… into writing plays and writing about some watched plays.

When…

…You don’t know what to do.

… ‘ don’t know what to think

… ‘ Know not what to act

It’s EASY

When…

…You know how to make plans

… ‘ Know how to prioritize

… ‘ Act and Strive

by: EA Molines

Buglas is the old name of Negros before the Spaniards came in 1565. Culture, on the other hand, has different meanings as follows:

a. It is an excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture.

b. An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the

capacity for symbolic thought and social learning.

c. The set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

Different sides of the issue are enumerated to come up to a certain conclusion whether the premise stands true or not at this point in time.

Why is it fading?

1.The native Atis , early settlers in Negros,with its new generation are now living in different barangays and even cities. They are now wearing modern clothes setting aside their native clothes.

2.Olden beliefs of Kang-laun and the bird Manaul is now forgotten.

3.Not majority of the modern negrenses nowadays believe of the the aswang, amanhig,tayho etc… those are only fictitious characters according to them.

4.Lifestyle of negrenses is now continuously changing coping with the modern world.

5.The art of courtship has gone like the Harana

6.Some sugarcane plantations are now converted to different modern establishments like subdivisions, malls etc…

Why is it not Fading?

1.There are still sugarcane haciendas that depicts what negros has before.It is also in the sugarcane fields where the “composo” started. Composo is making songs based on experience during drinking sessions of the sacadas. It is still being practiced today.

2.Many Heritage houses were built to preserve remains of the past.

3.The different festivals in different places here in negros shows their tradition and practices.

4.Native dances were presented in the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

5.The place has local historians who are deeply knowledgeable of Negros like Mr. Ramon H. Hofilena. 6.The campaign for culture preservation is so strong. The Local government is using computer as the main tool to educate the young negrenses of: who they are, what they have, and where they come from. “ A Negrense who cannot identify and live with his culture does not deserve a place in history.” It is a powerful qoute showing how a negrense must live his/her life accordingly.

Now readers, Is Buglas culture fading or not?

View This Poll

Negros Occidental : Tourists Temptress

By: EA Molines

Boarded in a plane from Manila, I am wondering what is ahead of me in the Campblog 1c. The notion, of what I can take from Negros and what Negros in return can take from me, is but a little jolt of expectation, an exciting expectation.

Answers to my small but important queries came in through our Heritage tour. And what did I find? Here’s the list:

Balay Negrense- A graciously sweet house of a multi-generational families of the past as was engraved on wood near the front door. It is a spacious two- storey house with the following features inside: receiving room, living room, 12 bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and a basement . Once inside the house, I am swayed to imagine myself living with them and partaking with what   they have in their time. I became a little Fernandez who goes up and down the stairs discovering my little world. My little world now comes to the real world when I step out of the house. Taking the last look , as we are living the place, I know my imaginative mind was nailed in one of its corner. I will go back…

Manuel Severino Hofilena Ancestral House- A heritage house recognized by the National Historical Institute in 1993. It is a great cultural contribution to the City of Silay. Mr. Ramon H. Hofilena intelligently shares every bit of important information detailing each subject such as the different articles, art collections, prints using an old machine, and paintings of noted artist in the Philippine History. I am gasping for air hearing the words of Mr. Hofilena. I am drowned but proud because he showed us how rich our culture is. In that house, I grabbed a part of my conscious mind to complete me as a Filipino. A million thanks…

Church of St. Joseph the worker, Victorias city- It doesn’t matter whether is noted by some as the “Angry Christ” or not. For me, what matters most is the holiness that it connects to those who are visiting it. Amazingly, the one that beckons the attention of the visitors are the mural paintings about Christ and some holy figures of our Catholic faith. At the back, there is a painting depicting the Last Supper. As I am looking at Jesus’ sacred heart, my heart leaps praising his name. I love my faith and I will live by it until the end.

Chapel of the Cartwheels- “standing and rolling the test of time”that is the thing that I can say about the chapel. This is another holy place which my soul can soar around and up on top of the cross. The long benches inside, the altar, the cartwheels serving as the surrounding wall, the cone-shaped structure, the whole of it is truly a work of art. It is a peaceful place to dwell if you are looking for a retreat.

The Ruins: “Picking-up its pieces.”- I am rebuilding the skeleton structure in my thoughts as I am recomposing myself. Standing in front of the magnificent ruins and touching its foundation make me realize how strong Filipinos are.Moreover, taking a look at some point, the mansion was built for Don Mariano’s wife Maria Braga. I can compare it to the Taj Mahal in India where it was built for Mumtaz Mahal the wife of the mughal emperor Sha Jahan. In relation to the purpose of building it, I can boldly say: “ It is a love Mansion.” The Ruins by the name but a nest of love in a deeper sense.

I will be leaving Negros Occidental soon but the spirit of it will fly high with me. Truly I am inspired…inspired to cultivate more of our local culture as Quezonians.

Goodbye Sweet Negros…

Welcome back, Quezon, for cultural cultivation.