Culture

It’s F4 vs. Ka Amado

On Sept. 13, friends and supporters of nationalist and literary icon Amado V. Hernandez will celebrate his 100^th birthday by holding a poetry night featuring his works at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila. On the same day, the famous Taiwanese boy band F4 will be having their concert in the country.  Doubtless, the latter, despite the exorbitant ticket prices, will get more attendance and bigger media mileage than the more meaningful Hernandez affair.

BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Bulatlat.com

Nanding Josef, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) vice president and artistic director and Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) president, was saddened when only a small number of media reporters attended the press conference for the centennial birth of national artist Amado “Ka Amado” V. Hernandez held Aug. 29 at the Silangan Hall of the CCP.

This, Josef said, only shows what kind of orientation Philippine media has ľ lacking in appreciation of Ka Amado, and of Philippine literature. This will result in generations uncritical to their society, he said.

But even with the four reporters from Today, Manila Standard, Manila Tribune and Bulatlat.com, Josef still expressed hope that Ka Amado’s legacy will reach the big chunk of uninformed audience.

Josef added that it is a great loss for the Filipinos who did not read Ka Amado’s works.  

Ka Amado's birth centenary poster designed by Boy Dominguez

A night of poetry

Aside from the poetry night, there will also be “roving theaters” where the shows are free. These “roving theaters” aim to reach the lower class audience, who were actually the subject of Ka Amado‘s literary pieces.

CAP secretary general Juli Po explained that popularizing these works entails hard work.  Big publishers do not publish the writings of Ka Amado because these contradict their own interests, Po said.

Po, however, inspired by Ka Amado, believes that they should succeed in the struggle to popularize outstanding works in Philippine literature including that of Ka Amado’s.

Adversities

In the same press conference, playwright and director Bonifacio Ilagan shared the surveillance and harassment the production cast experienced.

On Aug. 1, Ilagan was on his way home from a rehearsal at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) when he noticed that a taxi that has no other passenger than the driver was following him. Again on Aug. 22 in Pasay, he noticed two men following him. He played hide-and-seek with them until they lost track of him.

The next day, the chairperson of the cultural group Sinagbayan was harassed by an unidentified man. He was asked what his group was doing at the NCCP.

Meanwhile, a member of the Solidarity of the Cavite Workers was charged with carnapping and detained by the local police. The group helps in the production of Ka Amado’s plays in the province. The workers give up two to three days of work weekly to rehearse, even if it means salary deduction.

Jimmy, one of the Cavite workers who will perform in the province’s production, stressed that it will be an eye-opener not only for the workers, but to the residents as well, on the rampant harassments that occur primarily in the province.

Ilagan fears that these incidents will restrict them not only from performing the plays but also from enjoying their right to free speech.

Despite lack of funds

Despite the limited funds, Jennifer Padilla, executive director of the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center (AVHRC), is proud of the high-powered cast of readers for the commemorative activity on Sept. 13.

They include veteran actors Ronnie Lazaro, Roy Alvarez, Josef, the folk group Asin, the Andres Bonifacio choir and musician Jerry Dadap, and the Pinoy rock-band Pan.

The poetry night also features Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and urban poor leader Carmen “Mameng” Deunida.

Ilagan stressed that cast members who actually belong to the lower class play the most effective part since the roles they perform are the same ones they do in real life.

Moreover, Ilagan asserted that the plays are not only historical but are about actual political, economic and cultural issues that remain relevant today.

In finding resources, Ilagan said, he, with other organizers, pleaded for help from the first lady of Manila. Although Mrs. Atienza (the mayor’s wife) expressed her interest in the beginning, they did not get any support from her.

Ilagan lamented that the Cultural Affairs Office of Manila preferred to prioritize the beauty pageant in Chinatown.

Padilla, however, thanked CCP, National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), CAP, Manila Cultural and Tourism Office, and Sinagbayan for their support.

Recognition

Congressman Ocampo, who also attended the media affair, also discussed the Bayan Muna-sponsored House Resolution that expresses recognition for Ka Amado’s outstanding legacy and lifework as a national artist and as an “internationally-reknowned giant of the Philippine Letters.” The resolution also seeks to call the attention of government agencies and state universities and schools to “mark his centenary by propagating his outstanding literary works through multifarious prominent cultural activities and productions across the country.”

The Party-list representative said the resolution will be followed through by a proposed bill making Sept. 13 as Amado V. Hernandez Day. Bulatlat.com

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