Malindig peak

How it looks like at the peak of Marinduque's Mt. Malindig. Malindig was derived from the word "malindug" which means steep and elegant. It was the inspiration for Teatro Balangaw's first dance-drama, "Mara Unduk" presented at the Boac Covered Court in 1992, on the occasion of the Boac Town Fiesta. The dance-drama was a re-interpretation of Marinduque's folk history.

GINTONG BINHI, golden seed

“GINTONG BINHI”, the 1st MIMAROPA Arts and Culture Summit, part of the NCCA Institutional Promotion in the Regions was conducted on February this year as part of the Philippine International Arts Festival 2010 and 90th Anniversary of "Araw ng Marinduque". Venue was at the Provincial Training Center in Tamayo, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

The project was an offshoot of the 1st Luzon Arts and Culture Summit held in September last year in Malolos, Bulacan, and participated in by representatives from Marinduque led by this blogger. The Marinduque project was designed to promote the NCCA programs in the region; refresh the skills of Arts Councils & Organizations in Program Development, Project Management, & Proposal Making; establish NCCA desks in LGUs, schools, & cultural institutions; reinforce the LGU-NCCA partnership in arts & cultural promotion; and organize an adhoc of Regional Arts & Culture Network in the region.

Above are the participants to the forum who came from Occidental Mindoro, Romblon and the six Marinduque municipalities.

Walang Sugat in Marinduque

"Walang Sugat", the well-loved sarswela masterpiece by Filipino librettist Severino Reyes was presented in Marinduque in February 18 & 19, 2010, only the second time it was seen on the island after more than a century. This zarzuela was first presented here in 1902 on the occasion of the Boac town fiesta with no less than then Fiscal of Tayabas and future Philipine president, Manuel L. Quezon as guest of honor.

That original production was mounted by Gran Compania de Zarzuela Tagala of Manila and was brought to Marinduque in the same year it was premiered to the world.

The 2010 production was staged by Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. (BKFI), recipient of CCP's Gawad para sa Sining as best theater group in the Philippines.

The project highlighted the 90th Anniversary of "Araw ng Marinduque" and Philippine International Arts Festival 2010 celebration on this island, spearheaded by the provincial government of Marinduque in cooperation with National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), CCP, BKFI and the island-province's six municipalities.

The occasion also served as an avenue to promote NCCA programs and partnership with LGUs in the MIMAROPA Region with the holding of the "Gintong Binhi" the 1st Mimaropa Arts & Culture Forum

VIVA MARINDUQUE! Ani ng Sining in Marinduque 2009

The project was conceptualized in response to an invitation from the NCCA to propose a project in line with the celebration of the Philippine Arts Festival in 2008, where the province of Marinduque was involved.

A grant of PHP 100,000.00 was given by the Commission to the Provincial Government of Marinduque, and quick response from all sectors to support the project was likewise accorded.

In 2008 Ani ng Sining in Marinduque was undertaken via a cultural showcase that included the various art forms from February 6-26, 2008. A series of shows was presented in all the six (6) municipalities of Marinduque that involved 100-120 artistic and production staff.

All the municipalities contributed their own showcases/numbers through songs, dances or plays, making it a truly unifying project. It might have been the longest Philippine Arts Festival held in a particular locality.

Critical acclaim to the project by those who were able to watch it was strengthened by two separate resolutions – one from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque which praised the project for having “exuded the province’s unique culture, customs and traditions which were hailed by most of those who witnessed the various activities and presentations relative to the same”

and “ despite the limited time and budget of the provincial government and the six municipalities, it did not constrain them from organizing a committee that made the event a success and even strengthened a collaborative effort with the national government offices/agencies and other organizations that led to such an achievement”.

The second resolution was adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan ng Gasan which stated that “those who were able to watch the presentation of this theatrical production can not help but admire the depth of its message, the beauty of its choreography, and the craftiness of its adaptation of light and sound effects and musical scoring”,

that “Viva Marinduque is truly reflective of the richness of Marinduque’s beliefs, customs and traditions, and can also be an effective vehicle in the preservation of these cultures”;

further stating that the participation of Gasan youths “in this theatrical production have elevated them to a new dimension of skills, confidence and discipline” and that Viva Marinduque “is worthy of watching again and again and again”.

The project encompassed popularly known Marinduque rituals and traditions such as “Putong” and “Moriones”, as well as pre-colonial beliefs and practices, its native language (Marinduque Tagalog), considered, according to a study, as the root or among the roots from which modern national forms of speech have sprung,

mysticism, native dances, and recently discovered old Marinduque songs and music, original contemporary songs and other artistic expressions (festivities, theatre, traditional crafts, native musical instruments, morion masks and other masks, visual arts and showcase of live butterflies).

Production numbers organized by the various municipalities during the performances in said municipalities shall be part of this project.

In line with NCCA’s stated objectives for the arts festival celebration the project’ objectives were:

1. To celebrate the fruits of the creative efforts of the past year’s artistic creations.

2. To promote the Filipino creativity, specifically of local and indigenous talents, through various forms of artistic expressions.

3. To provide a venue for broader participation in creative activities.

4. To drumbeat “Araw ng Marinduque” as a new avenue for cultural-tourism promotion and development in the province.

The project also aimed to raise the level of cultural awareness among local artists and the community, in general.

It was expected to pave the way for the honing of local talents, as well as strengthening their network among other artists, cultural workers and arts enthusiasts within and beyond the island-province.

The project was, likewise, seen as a rare opportunity to raise the level of local and national awareness on Marinduque’s rich cultural heritage.

Specifically, the following were re-staged:

1. “MORYONAN” – a dance-drama on Marinduque’s famous Lenten tradition). Twelve (12) actors shall perform this new dance that depicting the initial preparation of ‘moriones’ practitioners up to the mock chaseing, capture and beheading of Longhino. Other Holy week rituals shall be incorporated in the re-mounted production.

2. “BULONG” (pronounced Boo’-long) – a dance-drama on teleportation, a belief that old folks and the young in far-flung areas still cling to. The travel into another dimension in time and space is used as a device to present different folk beliefs and episodes in Marinduque’s cultural evolution, i.e. pre-colonial Marinduque, local customs and traditions, belief in anito (Pastores), underworld characters (aswang, enkanto, white lady, duwende, etc; introduction of Christianity, clashes with pirates, etc.

3. “AWIT SA PULANG LUPA” – a dance-drama with original song by Eli Obligacion on the battle of Pulang Lupa, where Filipinos staged a major victory over the Americans. The brief drama shows how the community was disrupted by the arrival of American troops who engaged the local revolutionaries in a battle that exploded at Pulang Lupa; the defeat of the foreign invaders and eventual surrender.

4. “KALUTANG” (Wooden musical instruments) – to be performed by the only known group of young boys and old men who have mastered Kalutang playing.

5. “HARANA” – local songs of courtship

6. “PUTONG” – the local welcome or thanksgiving song-and-dance ritual given to honorees that involves crowning them with flowers, showering of petals and leaves, tossing of coins and fun.

7. LOCAL FOLK DANCES & FOLK SONGS – provided by the Marinduque State College, through its cultural group, "Sambayang Sining Lahi".

BULONG PART 1

Excerpt from "Bulong" dance-drama on Marinduque's folk beliefs and culture. Presented by Teatro Balangaw as part of Araw ng Marinduque-Ani ng Sining in February 2009 in the six towns of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos.

BULONG PART 2 (Excerpt)

Excerpt from Teatro Balangaw's "Bulong" dance-drama, Marinduque, Philippines, Feb 2009. This dance-drama was first staged in Gasan in 2002 as part of the Araw ng Gasan celebration started that year, original cast composed of students from Bangbang National High School. The following year it was mounted in Buenavista with students from Marinduque Victorians College. In 2006 students from Buenavista National High School and Marinduque Victorians College joined in the staging of "Bulong" for the town fiesta celebration. In 2007 it was re-staged as part of the first official celebration of "Araw ng Marinduque" with students from Marinduque Midwest College and presented in all of Marinduque's six municipalities, (VIVA MARINDUQUE! project), the first such performance-tour conducted in the island province. In 2008 the provincial tour was repeated with students of Bognuyan National High School and selected out-of-school youths from Gasan (shown in this video).

MORYONAN, THE DANCE-DRAMA

Bhong Macunat's last work. He organized some out-of-school boys from barangays Bognuyan and Bacong-Bacong in Gasan to perform this dance drama. They also served as our production crew in all the seven Viva shows throughout this island-province(two shows in Boac and one each in the other five towns).

ANI NG SINING IN MARINDUQUE

This is the introduction of the Ani ng Sining-Viva Marinduque video with remarks by Governor Bong Carrion. Selected sequences of that video will be posted on this blogsite.

Slideshow of Viva Marinduque. Background music performed by Pangkat Kalutang of Bangbang.

"BILA-BILA" BUTTERFLY

MSC Sambayang Sining Lahi dances "Bila-Bila", composed by Prof. Rex Emmanuel Asuncion as part of "Viva Marinduque '09".

TORMEA CHOIR

"TORMEA Choir" of Torrijos. The best singers of the Torrijos Municipal Employees Association under the baton of the multi-talented Jess Briones.

"MARINDUQUE AKIN KA"

"Reunited Choir" of Boac.

"Marinduque Akin Ka"

Titik at Musika: Eli J. Obligacion

Isang paraiso sa gitna ng dagat

Ay muling nabuhay

Sa aking pangarap ngayon

Kahapo'y di mawaglit sa aking isip

Ngayo'y buhay ka't di na panaginip.

Marinduque akin ka

Puso mo'y puso ko

Awit mo'y awit ko di ba

At ngayo'y magkayakap

ang ating damdami'y iisa.

Isang paraiso'ng ilaw sa karimlan

Batis ng pag-asa

Bayan ma'y sadlak sa dusa

Kahapon mo'y may pait, luha at sakit

Ngayo'y nagising diwa'y nagupiling.

Marinduque gising na/akin ka

Puso mo'y puso ko

Awit mo'y awit ko di ba/di baga

At ngayo'y magkayakap

Ang ating damdami'y iisa.

(Repeat Koro)

Ang ating damdami'y iisa

Marinduque akin ka.

"HAPIT HIMIGAN"

"Hapit-Himigan" was a choral competition, one of many activities, held in connection with this year's "Araw ng Marinduque" celebration at the Boac Covered Court. "Marinduque Akin Ka", a song I wrote way back in 1992, as the theme song of "Mara Unduk" was chairman, Fe Corazon Recalde's choice as the contest piece.

For many years now, the said song has been sung by the Provincial Capitol Choir as part of their repertoire when performing for official guests and for out of town performances.

Participating groups were Gasan's "IFI Choral Ensemble" of the Parish of St. Joseph, "Reunited Choir" of Marinduque National High School and Boac North District, "Live Echoes Choir" of St. Mary's College of Marinduque, "Mogpog Municipal Chorale", and "TORMEA" Choir of Torrijos.

Judges were Prof. Norma Soldevilla of Gasan who also notated the contest piece, Dr. Roberto Montellano of Boac, Prof. Anacleto Mendoza of Sta. Cruz, Dindo Asuncion and myself. The "IFI Chorale Ensemble" (shown in photo), garnered the championship trophy, TORMEA choir was 1st runner-up and "Reunited Choir", 2nd runner up. Thanks to Ms. Recalde's efforts, there was a huge audience turn-out with municipal choir fans providing moral support to their entries.

OLIVER "BHONG" MACUNAT, 22

Bhong Macunat (to the right) and me.

Bhong first joined our community theater group last year (2008).He was in charge of designing and making the special hand props and in supervising the stage preparations for our performance tour in the six towns of Marinduque. For this year's "Viva" project, however, he focused on creating additional dance movements for "Moryonan".

I first spotted Bhong when he was still a member of a modern dance group that joined local contests. They performed during the Buenavista Fiesta in January 2008, and there, he simply stood out among the dancers. I offered him the "Katalona" role in "Bulong" but was not interested, preferring to join us only as a member of the production staff.

During Viva rehearsals he supervised the warm-up exercises. He had an ability to command the attention of everybody with his smile and presence.

Because of his good looks and pleasant disposition, Bhong was extremely popular especially among the girls. They had fun imitating his antics and sensual gyrations when he did the exercises. He'd often say: "Hindi ko hinihingi na maging magaling kayo! Hinihingi ko lang na sundin ninyo ang pinapagawa ko!" (I'm not asking you to do it well! I'm just asking you to follow what I ask you to do!)
.
I practically begged him, again, to do the "Katalona" role this year. Bhong didn't have to be directed. I knew he'd come up with the most unforgettable Katalona performance ever. But he didn't budge, and I could only be sad about it. He was bent, as before, on working only behind the scenes.

During the cast party at my Bahaghari house, Bhong asked for the tarpaulin streamer for "Viva Marinduque" as a souvenir, and I was only too happy to hand it over to him.

A month after the Viva project, in March, he texted to say he's back in town and had a new cellphone number. He was back to Marinduque after spending a few weeks in Manila. By this time we, the Teatro Balangaw group from Buenavista, Gasan and Boac were busy with rehearsals for "Ang Kristo: Pasyondula", passion play.

Asked Bhong if he could please help us with the rehearsals. We only had a couple of weeks to mount it.

I never got to see him, again.

A couple of days later, he figured in a motorcycle accident in Bognuyan, Gasan where we used to hold rehearsals for "Moryonan" and "Bulong". The accident turned fatal.

Oliver 'Bhong' Macunat.

So young, so full of life and talent and promise.
Our dear Bhong said 'goodbye' at 22.

VIVA CAST 09

The VIVA MARINDUQUE 09 cast arriving in Santa Cruz town for the last performance.

BUENAVISTA COASTAL PARK

We chose the newly constructed coastal park in Buenavista as venue for our theater presentation as the stage at the town' covered court was too small to hold over a hundred performers.

This open space allowed freer movement for the performers and even for the huge audience expected to watch.

"BULONG" MURAL

Installing the "Bulong" backdrop mural painted by artist Raymond Go as his personal contribution to Teatro Balangaw.

Pls also visit http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com for current updates on Teatro Balagaw activities.

After "Viva Marinduque" Teatro Balangaw mounted "ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA" in the municipality of Gasan with top-caliber stage and movie actor JOHN ARCILLA portraying "Kristo". The three-hour play received a standing ovation from the critical Gasan audience.

Days before the showing flyers were distributed by not exactly unknown entities questioning the use of a professional actor! Ay sus!

The municipal government now wants "ANG KRISTO" presented annually every HOLY THURSDAY at the town's Guingona Park. It must be noted, however, that the Passion Play could not have been mounted without the participation of the former actors from Buenavista who joined the 1996 premiere presentation in said town. We had intended to make it an annual Buenavista Balangaw project but, but... I would say the play sana should be viewed in Buenavista yearly (J.E. SISON, the actor was with the original cast). We'll see.

I have started posting videos of some of our projects at http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/ before I lose everything. At the height of "Ang Kristo" rehearsals, I lost my handycam and all the pictures of our projects from January to March mysterously disappeared from my laptop. The few photos I posted on this blog are what remains now, although the footages of the 6 performances in the municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Torrijos and Sta. Cruz remain intact on mini-VDs. It will take time to get them on the pc. Life goes on...

(Above photo: Was in Bagtingon one day in January. That's one of the few places in Marinduque which still mirrors life on this island about fifty years ago. That's Pastores hill in the background, where the only catalogued Tagalog anito was found by Frenchman Alfred Marche in 1881, in a cave there keeping watch over the pre-colonial dead. I thought finding a rainbow between me and the cave at 4:00 pm was some sign... whatever.)