Gantimpala Theater, in cooperation with the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), celebrates the one-hundred-eleventh year of Philippine independence with a special production of Charley dela Paz's Silang Magigiting. It will be staged for free this Thursday, June 11, Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, in Rizal Park, Manila.
Silang Magigiting is a play about the story of Victor and Lito, two brothers who was brought back to time by a magical history book. The book brought them to the time when the country was struggling to fight for its freedom. In their time travel, they will get to the meet the many national heroes that were instrumental to the quest for the country's for independence.
Performing
lead roles in the play are John Rhoderey Dizon as Lito, Kristian Chua
as Victor, Hermie Concepcion as Tandang Sora, Roeder Camañag as Andres Bonifacio, Pamela Hundana as Gregoria de Jesus, Billy Parjan
as Apolinario Mabini, Paul Sy as Temyong, Joey David Lucio,
Niesty Lopera as Dodong and Abel Napuran as Teniente Lacalle.
Gantimpala Theater is a thirty two-year old dramatic arts company widely known for producing the Four Classics Florante at Laura, Kanser (Noli Me Tanagere), Ibong Adarna, and El Filibusterismo.
These plays are based on subjects that are being studied by high-school
students. Aside from these, the company also produces English classics,
revivals of contemporary dramas, and children's musicals..
Playing the lead role as Victor is Kristian Chua, one of the young members of the Gantimpala Actors' Company.
‘This
is my first time to play a major role. As a young actor, I know have a
very good place to start—from scratch," says Chua. "I've been part of
stage plays as an ensemble for about three years and had always dreamt
of playing lead someday. But now that I am doing it, I got to realize
that it's not that easy as it looks."
Annually,
Gantimpala Theater aims to bring out the nationalistic spirit of
audiences through its Independence Day productions. Silang Magigiting
stands out from the previous presentations of the company because of
its touch of modernity brought by the characters of Victor and Lito.
Director/production
designer and choreographer Roobak Valle says, "As students study
history, all they see are pictures of our national heroes, but in this
play, they will see them as three dimensional figures. They will
witness the way they think, speak and even their simple nuisances. So I
think that this will be a wonderful way to learn and appreciate
history."
Gantimpala
Theater and NPDC are partners in the propagation and appreciation of
Philippine dramatic arts by presenting free plays in the Open Air
Auditorium in Luneta. Aside from Independence Day shows, GT also stages
majority of its season plays at the park.
"It
has been the objective of Gantimpala Theater to bring theater closer to
the masses," explains artistic director Tony Espejo. "Through
productions such as Silang Magigiting, we hope that we fulfill this
objective of ours. You'll see in this play the valuable contribution of
our national heroes during the Philippine revolution. It highlights
their greatness, goodness and love for our country. What better way to
learn and understand history but through this play."
The
rest of the artistic team are Andy Villareal (lights design), Raymond
Talavera (production manager) and Glendel Dacumos (stage manager).
Silang Magigiting will be shown on June 11, Thursday, Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, in Rizal Park, Manila. The performance starts at 7 pm.
Free admission.