Agnes Locsin's dance-work 'Moriones', 1991.

The boys of Teatro Balangaw group created in 2009, "Moryonan" a dance-drama interpretation of the local Moriones tradition that depicts the legend of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus on the Cross. They were village boys from barangays Bognuyan, Poblacion and Bacong-Bacong in Gasan, Marinduque. The dance, an offshoot of an earlier 2002 Teatro work directed by this blogger with selected students of Bangbang National High School and Marinduque Midwest College, was part of the Viva Marinduque-Philippine Arts Festival Project (above photo).

But there's a 1991 choreographic work by Agnes Locsin of Ballet Philippines.

Agnes Locsin, one of the most progressive dance choreographers in the country, used the Moriones of Marinduque as inspiration for her choreographic work, "Moriones" that earned for her the silver medal and the Prince Takamado Award in the 1991 International Choreographer's Concourse in Tokyo. Locsin's Moriones was described as a piece "where the male dancers turned, whirled and jumped on each other’s backs to a very rhythm-contagious soundtrack, leaving the viewer pleasantly exhausted at the end". I have mentioned her work in an earlier article about a similar work by Katilau in 2010.

I have never seen Locsin's work until today when I came across this newly posted YouTube video, "Moriones. Ballet Philippines", and am glad that through the Internet, Locsin has now shared her famous work with the rest of the world.

Inspired by the Moriones Festival of Marinduque, Locsin's Moriones was choreographed for Ballet Philippines 2's participation at the Recontres Festival Du Danse in La Baule, France. It was also a study for movement for the Guardias Civil dance for Encantada. 

World Premier: July 1991, Manila
Music by Philip Glass
Choreography by Agnes Locsin
Lighting Design by Katsch Catoy
Costume and Mask Design by Conrad Dy-Liaco

MARINDUQUE CULTURAL SHOW IN INTRAMUROS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 8.

The Department of Tourism in cooperation with CALABARZON and MIMAROPA regions will be showcasing these two regions as primary travel destinations. The event, dubbed “Intramuros: History Town Philippines” will be held from July 27 to August 10, 2009 at Clamshell, Intramuros, Manila. Exhibit booths and cultural showcases from the regions will be featured nightly. For Marinduque, a Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa tourist booth will be set up.

At the same venue on Saturday, August 8, at 6:00 pm a “Marinduque Special Night” organized by the provincial tourism office will be featuring MSC Sambayang Sining Lahi under the artistic direction of Prof. Rex Asuncion of Marinduque State College and a capitol group of the colorful ‘Moriones’. Sambayang Sining Lahi has performed in the six towns of Marinduque as part of the ‘Viva Marinduque’ cultural showcase. The group will present researched folk songs and interpretive movements and the ‘putong’ ritual.

The Marinduque Community in Metro Manila is cordially invited to visit Intramuros and watch the Marinduque show!

VIVA MARINDUQUE ON YOU TUBE: BULONG EXCERPT 2

Another excerpt from "Bulong". Cast were mostly students from Bognuyan National High School and out-of-school boys from the same area who joined our rehearsals as they had much time to spare.

VIVA MARINDUQUE ON YOU TUBE: BULONG EXCERPT 1

Excerpt of "Bulong" by Teatro Balangaw. Part of "Viva Marinduque!" performance series.

VIVA MARINDUQUE ON YOU TUBE: MORYONAN

Excerpts from "Moryonan" by Teatro Balangaw. Presented as part of "Viva Marinduque!" series of performances for Araw ng Marinduque-Phil Intl. Arts Festival '09.

VIVA MARINDUQUE ON YOU TUBE: INTRO

The "Viva Marinduque!" video has been shown on local cable-TV stations in Marinduque (Marinduque CATV and Lucky-7 Cable). This is the intro of that video.

VIVA MARINDUQUE SLIDESHOW

Unpublished shots of the "Viva Marinduque" performance series together with behind-the-scene lighter moments. This slideshow also contains photos with our dear choreographer, Bhong Macunat, whom we still miss after passing away at 22 one month after this project. "Leron-Leron Sinta" background music played by Pangkat Kalutang.

VIVA MARINDUQUE 2009 REPORT

The VIVA MARINDUQUE (Ani ng Sining 2009) report was recently turned over to the National Commission for Culture & the Arts and may be browsed through the following link: www.geocities.com/teatro_balangaw/viva09.html

Next year's project may see the involvement of national mainstream artists who have recently undertaken research work on Marinduque culture as part of a forthcoming Philippine participation in a cultural exposition in South Korea.

"VIVA MARINDUQUE!"

Earth spirit in "Bulong"

Scene from "Bulong".

"BULONG" by Teatro Balangaw

The elemental spirits abduct Salve in "Bulong" a journey into Marinduque's folk history, beliefs and mysticism. Presented by Teatro Balangaw and directed by Eli J. Obligacion. Re-staged as part of "Ani ng Sining '09" sponsored by NCCA.

"VIVA MARINDUQUE" PICS

Curtain call for MSC's Sambayang Sining Lahi

MSC Sambayan's "Isang Buong Dayap"

Boghai DanceTroupe's "Sungkayaw"

Teatro Balangaw's "Moryonan"

Teatro Balangaw's "Bulong"

Some photos taken during the performances in Gasan Muinicipal Court Feb. 13.

'VIVA MARINDUQUE!" PERFORMANCES.

Ol' Tagalog beliefs, practices, folk stories and struggles are revisited in "BULONG". BULUSUKAN FALLS in Bagtingon, Marinduque's biggest natural habitat of butterflies has inspired a scene in the dance-drama.

Tonight "VIVA MARINDUQUE" (ANI NG SINING -09), performs in the town of Mogpog featuring the Marinduque State College's Sambayang Sining Lahi with a production of lesser known Marinduque folk songs and melodies set into dance such as "ISANG BUONG DAYAP", "LAHAT NG BAGAY", "SULONG AKING TANDANG", ALAMAT NG DALAWANG PUTING GANSA" and a new song-and-dance composition, "BILA-BILA" by Rex Asuncion. A dance troupe under the MSC Culture and Arts Department is also set to present "PATEADO" a local dance said to have come from Brgy. Balimbing in Boac.

Boghai Dance Troupe of Gasan will also present "SUNGKAYAW", "PAHASIK" and "BULINGAN" based on the original work of Randy Sales. Teatro Balangaw will present "MORYONAN", choreographed by Bhong Macunat and "BULONG", a dance drama on Marinduque's folk history and ancient beliefs directed by Eli J. Obligacion.

Performances in the municipalities of Buenavista and Torrijos will also feature a re-interpretation of "ALAMAT NG MARINDUQUE" by MSC-based Teatro Marinduqueno, and "KALUTANG", "HARANA" and a "PUTONG" re-invented.

Municipal governments in cooperation with cultural groups in the communities will also contribute production numbers.

THE 7:00PM PERFORMANCES ARE SCHEDULED AS FOLLOWS: FEB 13 (GASAN MUNICIPAL COURT), FEB. 17 (MOGPOG COVERED COURT), FEB. 21 (MSC, TANZA), FEB. 23 (BOAC COVERED COURT), FEB. 24 (BUENAVISTAN PARK), FEB. 25 (TORRIJOS COVERED COURT), FEB. 26 (STA. CRUZ PLAZA).

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has recognized the true worth of "VIVA MARINDUQUE" project initiated by the administration of Governor BONG CARRION as contributory to the development of Philippine culture and the arts, and has seen it fit, proper and convenient to adopt the same for its purposes.

Pursuant to RA 7356, NCCA is mandated to encourage the continuing and balanced development of a PLURALISTIC CULTURE by the peole, conserve and promote cultural heritage and ensure the widest dissemination of artistic and cultural products and preserve and integrate traditional culture and its various creative expressions as a dynamic part of the national cultural mainstream.

SA VIVA MARINDUQUE:
TROPANG MSC UMANI NG PAPURI

Umani ng matinding paghanga at papuri ang mga grupong pangkultura ng Marinduque State College sa kanilang ipinamalas na kakayahan sa entablado para sa “Viva Marinduque” project. Bilang pagpupugay sa magkakambal na selebrasyon ng “Araw ng Marinduque” at Philippine International Arts Festival, ang kontribusyon ng MSC sa naturang proyekto para sa pagpapalaganap ng kulturang Marinduque sa bansa ay inaasahang higit na makapagpapadali sa hangaring ito.

Sa pamamagitan ng mga nasaliksik na mga katutubong awiting naisagawa sa ilalim ng grupong Sambayang Sining Lahi ng kolehiyo, higit na nagkaroon ng pagkakataong maiangat ang kamalayan ng balana sa pagkakataong ito tungkol sa yaman ng panlalawigang kultura. Ang masusing pag-aaral at pagsasanay ng grupo ay nagbunga ng mga katutubong sayaw tulad ng “Isang Buong Dayap”, “Lahat ng Bagay”, ”Sulong Aking Tandang”, “Alamat ng Dalawang Puting Gansa” at “Bila-Bila” na maitatala bilang karagdagang yamang-sining ng Marinduque.

Nasa likod ng tagumpay ng Sambayan si Prof. Rex Asuncion bilang tagapamahala ng isa sa apat na seksiyon sa ilalim ng MSC Culture & Arts Department na pinamamahalaan ni Prof. Rosalinda Castro. Ani Asuncion, ang mga sayaw na ito ay maihahanay sa klasipikasyon ng ‘extension dance’ dahilan sa pag-gamit ng mga ‘interpretative movements’ kayat hindi ganap na lumilihis sa elemento ng mga katutubong sayaw. Ipinaliwanag din ni Asuncion na sa kanyang pagsusuri ay higit na mapapahalagahan ng balana ang mga nalimot nang mga awit at musika kung lalapatan ito ng mga galaw na kahali-halina sa mga manonood.

Ayon naman kay Dr. Romulo H. Malvar, pangulo ng MSC patuloy ang pagsuporta ng kolehiyo sa mga layuning naaayon sa pagkiling nito sa mga gawaing nakakatulong sa tuloy-tuloy na paghahanda at pagpapalaganap ng kamalayang ‘global’ sa kanilang mga guro at mga mag-aaral.

Ang iba pang bahagi ng naunang nabanggit na pangkulturang departamento ng MSC ay kasalukuyan ding nakatutok sa pagsasanay sa pagtugtog-rondalla, pagsasanay sa sining ng teatro at mga tradisyonal na sayaw. Hinggil sa huli ay isang bersiyon ng “Pateado” ang kasama sa naipakitang MSC ‘showcase’.

Para sa Viva project ay nakahanda ring itanghal ng pang-kolehiyong “Teatro Marinduqueno” sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ni Castro ang isang bersiyon ng “Alamat ng Marinduque” sa pangunguna ng mga artistang mag-aaral galing sa iba’t-ibang sangay nito.

Ang “Viva Marinduque (Ani ng Sining 2009)” project ay sinimulan noong nakaraang taon ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque sa ilalim ni Gobernador Jose Antonio N. Carrion bilang bahagi ng “Araw ng Marinduque”. Ang kahalagahan ng proyekto ay nahirang ng National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) na nakakatulong sa pagpapalaganap ng sining at kulturang Pilipino. Dahilan dito ay nagpasya ang naturang ahensya na karapat-dapat itong ampunin para sa mga layunin nito.

Nakahanda na ring suportahan ng sa ilalim ng programa ng nabanggit na ahensya ang morion mask-making sa pangunguna ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at pagpapalaganap sa pagtugtog ng kalutang sa ilalim ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Gasan.

Kasama sa pagtatanghal ng Viva ang “Moryonan” at “Bulong” ng Teatro Balangaw. “Sungkasayaw”, “Pahasik” at “Bulingan” ng Boghai Dance Troupe ng Bognuyan National High School “Kalutang” at isang panibagong bersiyon ng “Putong” na isasagawa rin ng Sambayang Sining Lahi.

Ang pagtatanghal ng Viva ay nakatakda sa mga sumusunod na petsa: Feb. 13 (Gasan Municipal Court), Feb. 17 (Mogpog Covered Court), Feb. 21 (MSC Tanza), Feb. 23 (Boac Covered Court), Feb. 24 (Buenavista Park), Feb. 25 (Torrijos Covered Court), Feb. 26 (Sta. Cruz Plaza). Bahagi ito ng layunin ng pamahalaang panlalawigan na “patibayin at suportahan ang pag-andar ng isang maliksing turismo at pagpapalaganap pang-ekonomiya at panlipunan dito sa Marinduque”, ani Carrion.

IT'S BACK!

NEW NCCA GRANT FOR MARINDUQUE

After the success of last February's "Viva Marinduque" cultural showcase tour on the island-province, the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA) has decided to provide a new grant to the provincial government of Marinduque for the re-mounting of the presentation in celebration of Philipine International Arts Festival (PIAF)2009.

It will be recalled that since the inception of the said festival there has been no known effort from the side of local government units in Marinduque, nor national line agencies offices or cultural organizations to celebrate it with appropriate programs and activities. The provincial government thus took up the challenge in December last year by spearheading the "Viva" move. This was quickly responded to by the municipal LGUs and the private sector.

The Marinduque celebration of the Philippine Arts Festival 2008, (Ani ng Sining in Marinduque), through a cultural showcase that included the various art forms was conducted from February 6-26, 2008. This was done through a series of shows presented in all the six (6) municipalities of Marinduque that saw the participation of some 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. This has also probably made it the longest Philippine Arts Festival held in a particular locality.

Critical acclaim to the project was strengthened by two separate resolutions – one from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque that 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 stressed 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”.

Cultural presentations of this nature also play significantly in continuously unifying the people. "Viva" organizers hope that the 2009 presentations could also be presented in far-flung areas on the island.