Act One: 1992-1993
Prologue
Life was boring in Marinduque in those days. No entertaiment, no nothing except morion come Semana Santa and the familiar putong. But I have decided to live here after years in Manila that by October in1992, TEATRO BALANGAW was founded by Eli Obligacion (yours truly) and a small group of colleagues from Boac, Marinduque who supported the idea that a community theater could be a good venue to promote interest in local culture, showcase the untapped talents of young people and present issues affecting the community.
Two months later, its initial project was presented at the Boac Covered Court for the town fiesta celebration. The home of Obligacion in ‘Bahaghari’, Amoingon beach served as Balangaw’s permanent headquarters, rain or shine or any sort of delubyo.
Act One: 1992-1993
OBLIGACION AS COMPANY DIRECTOR/PLAYWRIGHT;
MANDIA AND MONTENEGRO AS ARTISTIC DIRECTORS.
The first production was a ‘double presentation’ basically sponsored by Benjie Montenegro of Lupac who owned BM Talent Pool, a promotions company based in Manila. BM came in full force with his talents for “PISTAHAN NG SAYAW AT MUSIKA” a dance revue featuring jazz, modern dance, and cabaret with solo numbers performed by notable artists from Manila. Montenegro handled the over-all concept, design and direction of “Pistahan”.
Obligacion’s “MARA UNDUK” (A Dance-Drama), was presented as the ‘local’ project with 52 students of Marinduque National High School. Danilo Mandia of Boton was its director. Improvisational movements were utilized for the play that lasted for 1 ½ hours with non-stop ethnic music (from Muslim to Igorot) as background. Shouts of “hoy, tama na ‘yan!” from the audience, audible even on the video copy is probably its most realistic critique.
Act One: 1992-1993
OBLIGACION AS COMPANY DIRECTOR/PLAYWRIGHT;
MANDIA AND MONTENEGRO AS ARTISTIC DIRECTORS.
The first production was a ‘double presentation’ basically sponsored by Benjie Montenegro of Lupac who owned BM Talent Pool, a promotions company based in Manila. BM came in full force with his talents for “PISTAHAN NG SAYAW AT MUSIKA” a dance revue featuring jazz, modern dance, and cabaret with solo numbers performed by notable artists from Manila. Montenegro handled the over-all concept, design and direction of “Pistahan”.
Obligacion’s “MARA UNDUK” (A Dance-Drama), was presented as the ‘local’ project with 52 students of Marinduque National High School. Danilo Mandia of Boton was its director. Improvisational movements were utilized for the play that lasted for 1 ½ hours with non-stop ethnic music (from Muslim to Igorot) as background. Shouts of “hoy, tama na ‘yan!” from the audience, audible even on the video copy is probably its most realistic critique.
But in reality they just wanted to see the Manila show of fabulous costumes with dancers having agood time in the Land of the Rising Sun.The audience also apparently had a hard time understanding what was going on onstage with Mara Unduk which was shown first.
“Wagi! Wagi ako!”, were the words of Mandia of theara Unduk play, “Nailabas!.. "
“Wagi! Wagi ako!”, were the words of Mandia of theara Unduk play, “Nailabas!.. "
(“It isn’t art, but I have their attention.” – The Chorus).
My very first musical composition was sung as the play's theme song (by Ian Venida who later ended up among the cast of Miss Saigon on Broadway)
But the old, historical Boac Plaza was filled to capacity alright with folks from all over Boac and never mind the monsoon rain that was expected anyway.
(to be continued)
