Two outstanding novels Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891) written by our National Hero Jose Rizal once more are proven to be timeless and appropriate up to these days. The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) proudly brings their audiences to another level of discourse tackling the social, political and economic conditions of our fellow ‘kababayans’ and our beloved country today.
Nicanor Tiongson adapts the novels into two-act dramatic text without forgetting some of the most memorable characters popularized by its authenticity in Philippine culture and identity – Act I: Ibarra Marasigan (Crisostomo Ibarra); Governor Santiago Santos (Kapitan Tiyago); Salvador Salvatierra (Salvi); Damaso Villareal (Damaso); Kumander Elias (Elias) and Act II: Kumander Simon (Simoun); Kumander Sally (Salome); Juli (Juli); Basilio (Basilio) to name a few. Members of the audience can easily identify the characters made by Rizal to that of Tiongson.
PETA’s version parallels and presents socio-realistic viewpoints about the ongoing national issue on deforestation and its continuing illegal practices of loggers from various provincial towns like in Tara Illenberger’s Brutus, a Mindoro tale in the lives of illegal loggers and one of the winning entries in Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008.
Specifically cited in the program notes is the town of Infanta, Quezon where in 2004, hundreds of families and thousands of people suffered from heavy floods and mudflows due to the evident loss of trees. While in the play, Tiongson cites Maypajo town in the province of San Lorenzo in Southern Tagalog with Sierra Madre mountains as the most affected area.
PETA’s resident theater director Soxy Topacio synthesizes Tiongson’s newer interpretation to his provocative staging about power, leadership, betrayal and love for the country. Impressive theater elements depicted on the staging are Gino Gonzales’ elegant yet ominous set design, accurate lighting provided by Jonjon Villareal and Dodjie Fernandez in creating an engaging music and sound together with Noel Cabangon.
Lead actor Lex Marcos heads an effective ensemble cast of veteran theater artists Robert Sena, Bembol Roco alternates with Bodjie Pascua, Jack Yabut, Raffy Tejada, Ernie Cloma, Jess Evadone and Upeng Galang-Fernandez. Marcos makes his acting debut on PETA stage something to look forward to especially with his death as Kumander Simon in Act II.
In the epilogue, it stirred those Rizal fanatics in embroidering hope and continues effort to change the absurdities and helpless conditions of Filipinos in the twenty-first century’s ever increasing oil crisis, rice and other basic commodities. Does this sound too cliché for the numbing resolutions of Philippine governance? To quote in their program: “The slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow.” Change should start from within oneself or society’s cancer will definitely spread all over like a virus. Thus, change is a wake-up call for all of us regardless of social status and faith.
Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 is PETA’s 41st Theater Season opener. It will run until August 24, 2008 at PhinMa Theater, PETA Center. For ticket inquiries, call PETA office at (02)4100821.
Nicanor Tiongson adapts the novels into two-act dramatic text without forgetting some of the most memorable characters popularized by its authenticity in Philippine culture and identity – Act I: Ibarra Marasigan (Crisostomo Ibarra); Governor Santiago Santos (Kapitan Tiyago); Salvador Salvatierra (Salvi); Damaso Villareal (Damaso); Kumander Elias (Elias) and Act II: Kumander Simon (Simoun); Kumander Sally (Salome); Juli (Juli); Basilio (Basilio) to name a few. Members of the audience can easily identify the characters made by Rizal to that of Tiongson.
PETA’s version parallels and presents socio-realistic viewpoints about the ongoing national issue on deforestation and its continuing illegal practices of loggers from various provincial towns like in Tara Illenberger’s Brutus, a Mindoro tale in the lives of illegal loggers and one of the winning entries in Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008.
Specifically cited in the program notes is the town of Infanta, Quezon where in 2004, hundreds of families and thousands of people suffered from heavy floods and mudflows due to the evident loss of trees. While in the play, Tiongson cites Maypajo town in the province of San Lorenzo in Southern Tagalog with Sierra Madre mountains as the most affected area.
PETA’s resident theater director Soxy Topacio synthesizes Tiongson’s newer interpretation to his provocative staging about power, leadership, betrayal and love for the country. Impressive theater elements depicted on the staging are Gino Gonzales’ elegant yet ominous set design, accurate lighting provided by Jonjon Villareal and Dodjie Fernandez in creating an engaging music and sound together with Noel Cabangon.
Lead actor Lex Marcos heads an effective ensemble cast of veteran theater artists Robert Sena, Bembol Roco alternates with Bodjie Pascua, Jack Yabut, Raffy Tejada, Ernie Cloma, Jess Evadone and Upeng Galang-Fernandez. Marcos makes his acting debut on PETA stage something to look forward to especially with his death as Kumander Simon in Act II.
In the epilogue, it stirred those Rizal fanatics in embroidering hope and continues effort to change the absurdities and helpless conditions of Filipinos in the twenty-first century’s ever increasing oil crisis, rice and other basic commodities. Does this sound too cliché for the numbing resolutions of Philippine governance? To quote in their program: “The slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow.” Change should start from within oneself or society’s cancer will definitely spread all over like a virus. Thus, change is a wake-up call for all of us regardless of social status and faith.
Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 is PETA’s 41st Theater Season opener. It will run until August 24, 2008 at PhinMa Theater, PETA Center. For ticket inquiries, call PETA office at (02)4100821.
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