CULTURE

Rousing Patriotic Performances
Mark Ka Amado’s Birth Centennial

The night of cultural patriotism was the biggest event yet in the continuing year-long celebration of Ka Amado’s centenary spearheaded by grassroots cultural institute Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center (AVHRC). For that Saturday tour de force, AVHRC hooked up with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), grassroots ensemble Sinagbayan, the Manila Culture and Tourism Office, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in producing what may well be the most colorful cultural event of the year.

By Joel Garduce
Bulatlat.com  

More than 4,000 students, teachers, workers, activists and enthusiasts of National Artist Ka Amado V. Hernandez shared a rousing and intense night of patriotic verse, song and performances last Sept. 13 at the Folk Arts Theater (FAT) as a fitting send-up to the birth centennial of Philippine literature’s working-class hero.

The night of cultural patriotism was the biggest event yet in the continuing year-long celebration of Ka Amado’s centenary spearheaded by grassroots cultural institute Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center (AVHRC). For that Saturday tour de force, AVHRC hooked up with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), grassroots ensemble Sinagbayan, the Manila Culture and Tourism Office, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in producing what may well be the most colorful cultural event of the year.

Holding its own vis-a-via F4

Free to the public, the key Ka Amado commemorative activity held its own in a big way despite being staged simultaneously with the hoopla-soaked and unruly local concert of the Taiwanese pop sensation F4 at the Ultra in Pasig City that evening, as well as Lea Salonga’s second concert night at the PICC. It was a perfect nightcap event to attend for, among others, activists who had just taken part in the spate of anti-imperialist mass actions against the World Trade Organization (WTO) earlier that day.

The night got off to a rousing start with the Andres Bonifacio Choir (ABC) under the baton of Jerry Dadap singing “Lupang Hinirang” and “Tayo’y Magkaisa.” Theater thespian Shamaine Centenera then teamed up with Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo in a stirring interpretation of Ka Amado’s poem “Aklasan” (Uprising). Seasoned mainstream performer John Arcilla then did the first installment of his multi-punctuated performance, lending his voice to excerpts from relevant essays of Ka Amado for the evening’s production.

Actors Roy Alvarez and Leo Martinez would then alternate reading succinct verse from Ka Amado via “Tinapay” (Breadbun), “Ang Banyaga” (The foreigner), “Kabalintunaan” (Irony), and “Ang mga Palaka” (The Frogs).

Pinoy rockers Dong Abay and Onie Badiang of Pan served up once again their tuneful rendition of “Ang Uod” (The Caterpillar). Multi-awarded actor Ronnie Lazaro was next with “Makina” (Machine).

Alternative music’s prodigious Jess Santiago delivered “Ang Panday” in sing-talk fashion.

Mainstream actresses, Bayan Muna solons, young thespians and play excerpts

The ABC returned with “Awit ng Katipunan” (Song of the Katipunan) from the 1896 Revolution, seguing into Tambisan sa Sining’s powerful movement-enhanced recital of Ka Amado’s “Bonifacio.” Veteran thespian Angie Ferro provoked the audience with “Inang Wika” (Mother Language).

As the program turned to focus on Ka Amado’s relationship with fellow National Artist and wife Atang dela Rama, acclaimed actress Ma. Isabel Lopez followed ABC’s performance of “Jocelynang Baliuag” with her rueful reading of “Malungkot ang mga Bituin” (The Stars are Lonesome).  

Au Yumul would soon follow with a grief-stricken version of Ka Amado’s classic poem “Isang Dipang Langit” (An Armstretch of Sky), accompanied by Irein Cuasay’s lyrical movements. Satur Ocampo would return with fellow Bayan Muna Reps. Crispin Beltran and Liza Maza in a powerhouse presentation of “Ito ba ang Ating Demokrasya” (Is this our democracy?). Young thespians Carmina Aquino, and the Saturay brood of Imanwel, Hiyasmin, Ilena and Marikit then served up “Sa batang walang bagong damit” (To a toddler without new clothes).

As Ka Amado’s exhortations on art being wrapped up in politics as economics were highlighted, Shamaine Centenera reentered with a team-up with theater actor Nonie Buencamino in urging “Makibaka, huwag matakot!”(Fight, don’t be cowed!)” in an awesome interpretation of “Paghahatid sa Kadakilaan ni Enrique Sta. Brigida” (A Send-up to Enrique Sta. Brigida’s Greatness).

Excerpts from the upcoming dramatization of two of Ka Amado’s short stories, “Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas” (Fly in a Milkglass) and “Panata ng Isang Lider” (Pledge of a Leader) were then performed.  

Toward a mind-blowing finale

The best was yet to come though. KMU’s Raffy Baylosis and Kadamay’s Nanay Mameng Deunida wowed the crowd with their reading of “Bayani” (Hero). KMP’s Daning Ramos voiced the poor peasantry’s outcry with “Lupa” (Land). Grassroots cultural ensemble Sinagbayan melded movement and vocal reading with their take of “Panata sa Kalayaan.”

From out of nowhere, seasoned mainstream actor Joonee Gamboa stirred up the audience with a mind-blowing rendition of the first stanza of Ka Amado’s immortal classic “Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan” (When Your Tears Have Dried, O My Motherland), enjoining the rest of the cast and the thousands-strong viewers in a mass recital of the poem straight to the dramatic last stanza.

Pendong Aban and Lolita Carbon of the legendary folk group Asin raised the roof with a new super-charged musical version of “Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan.” John Arcilla would then cap the night and his night-long performance with an electrifying version of “Bayan Ko.”

Throughout, provocative music accompanying the readings was played by veteran session musicians led by Jesse Bartolome, Jon Corsiga, Neal Robles, and Alex Umali, along with a tasteful digital presentation prepared by graphic artist Joel Sayo. Channel 5 news reporter Heidi Santos lent her media savvy in providing a crystal-clear narration for the entire evening.

The production was superbly directed by TV and film director Soc Jose with able assistance from stage manager Mitchy Mallorca-Saturay and technical director Ed Manalo.

Kick-off for spate of centennial activities

The meaningful spectacle kicked off a spate of AVHRC-led activities for the year-long centennial commemoration. Already, the twinbill dramatization of “Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas/Panata ng Isang Lider”—excerpts of which were shown that Saturday night—had just begun its tour last Sept. 17 with its gala showing at St. Cecilia’s Hall of St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. More performances—all directed by award-winning playwright Bonifacio Ilagan--are slated:

  AVHRC is also mounting its annual grassroots literary contest named after Ka Amado as part of the centennial celebration this year. The institute is inviting workers, fellow toilers, students, youth, private and government employees to submit their poems, songs, short stories or local comics as entries to this prestigious alternative creative competition on or before Oct. 24, 2003. (Check out the Gawad Ka Amado 2003 guidelines for more information.

Elsewhere, Ka Amado’s 100^th birthday was celebrated last September 12 with municipal rites in his birthplace--Hagonoy, Bulacan—renaming a public school and major thoroughfare in his honor.  

All in all, a well-deserved tribute to a 20^th-century Filipino renaissance man whose immortal verses continue to inspire his compatriots to resistance, to claim long-sought freedom for our Inang Bayan. Bulatlat.com

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