Harold Glenn Miciano has joined his father, Melo, in heaven.
Yes, I do remember how proud his father was of his Harold, especially, and his brother Hajun, particularly of his sons’ artistic contribution to our humble Teatro Balangaw in the late 90’s.
After all, Mara Unduk, that
dance-drama where the brothers were lead players had performances then in several
Marinduque towns and some barangays in Boac. Not to mention the group’s
performances at the Rajah Sulaiman Theater then at Fort Bonifacio, Nayong
Pilipino and at Museong Pambata in Roxas Boulevard.
The brothers also took part in a Teatro Balangaw-PETA play
way back in 1997, "Putik sa Karamihan, Ginto sa Iilan" in
Boac. That’s about the Marcopper disaster that transpired a year before and how
it affected the lives of the people.
That particular project was filmed by Oceanic Films for European television and
titled "Swapping Stories". There was a segment in it that included an
interview with Tatay Melo,, Hajun and Harold while fishing along the coast of
Laylay. There, the old man was heard complaineing about their dwindling catch
after the mine spill.
Then a book was later published, Community Theater: Global Perspectives by
renowned expert of community theater, Eugene van Erven who came with
his crew. The book that featured Teatro Balangaw’s work and the Miciano’s was
released with the said unique video record of van Erven's journey in Marinduque.
On page 49 of the book, van Erven wrote:
After the show, Ernie
(Cloma) takes the microphone to tell the audience that the play they have seen
is the result of a five-day workshop with members of Teatro Balangaw and
artist-teachers from PETA and that they dedicate the performance to the people
of Marinduque. Melo Miciano, Harold's and Hajun's father, tells me he
is proud of his sons and expresses the hope that they will perform the play in
other Marinduque communities as well. Several unidentified local
environmental activists comment that they equally enjoyed it and that they
noticed that a lot of the factual information in the play was new to the
audience:
Many people from Boac town have never been up
to the barrio. They know about it, generally, but don't seem to care. Looking
around me I also noticed how people tuned in to the entertainment elements in
the show, but turned off during the more serious parts. But this kind of
theater is good; it will draw people's attention, like fish to a bait.
