This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 13, May 7-13, 2006
Tambisan sa Sining
The
workers’ cultural group seeks to develop the abilities of workers through
theater arts as well as bring to public attention the problems of Filipino
workers. They perform during rallies, in the picket lines, and if they
necessary, in marketplaces. BY
GUIA ABAD It’s not all work for the
members of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement). They also
engage in cultural work through its cultural group Tambisan sa Sining.
Consisting of
worker-artists, Tambisan puts together production numbers to help open the eyes
of Filipino workers to the truth that they deserve much more than what they are
getting. It also reaches out to factory owners, explaining the plight of their
workers in a creative way. In the beginning A group of artists who saw
the plight of the Filipino workers formed Tambisan in 1979. Jun Resurreccion,
Tambisan chairperson and one of the remaining original members, said they
started by showing the people the hardships of a minimum wage worker by putting
them on canvass. It began because of their
passion for the arts and the greater good. Then their eyes were opened by their
integration with workers. Soon, they were not only performing in rallies but
also in picketlines and, if necessary, even in marketplaces. When KMU was formed in May
1980, Tambisan decided to work with KMU to bring enlightenment to the workers.
One of its projects during the martial law years was the Harana ng Bayan
(people’s serenade) which also helped the group to raise funds for protest
actions. Expansion Tambisan started with a
handful of members but now has 145 members. It reaches out to workers in
different factories and urban poor communities where most of the residents are
from the working class. Tambisan seeks to develop
the abilities of workers through theater arts. It helps labor unions to
establish their own theater groups so that workers will have an outlet for their
talents. Tambisan also aims to bring
to the public’s awareness the problems of Filipino workers and other issues that
affect them, such graft and corruption in government and peace and order. Tambisan members are active
especially during rallies. They do not limit themselves in formal theaters but
also perform in the streets, in the picket line and if they could, even in the
marketplace. They also perform during factory gatherings where the owners are
present. Resurreccion said Tambisan
does not perform for mere entertainment but to pave way for change in the
Filipino workers’ condition. Daily rehearsals Tambisan holds workshops
and rehearsals everyday. With the majority of its members being workers who run
a tight shift, they divided the rehearsals into two sessions: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for
dance practice and 4-8 p.m. for the chorale. Mariza Sabater, who has
been a Tambisan member since 1986, talked about her experience with Bulatlat. Sabater was a student when
she joined the group and worked at the same time. She had always been interested
in theater and joined when Tambisan held a workshop in her factory. During the day, she was a
student and a worker. But evenings found her at the Tambisan office for
rehearsals. A few months later, she decided to work full time with the group. Her story is shared by most
of the members of the group – workers by day, artists by night. Tambisan sa Sining
thus consists of artists who wish to
bring to the public the injustice they experienced. What makes them different
from the ordinary protester is they present their ideas and bring them to the
people’s consciousness through art. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Promoting Social Awareness of and for Workers through Arts
Bulatlat