Walang Sugat
Walang Sugat(literally, "no wound" or "unwounded" )[1]is an 1898Tagalog-languagezarzuela(a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that includes music, singing, and poetry) written byFilipinoplaywrightSeverino Reyes.The music for the original version of the play was written by Filipino composer Fulgencio Tolentino.[2]Walang Sugatwas written when the zarzuela became a "potent means" of expressingFilipino nationalismduring theSpanish Occupationof thePhilippinesthat followedthree centuries of Spanish rule.[3]
Description
[edit]Set in thePhilippine Revolutionof 1896,Walang batas sa Sugatwas first published in 1898, and first performed in 1902 at theTeatro Libertad.[3]The play is about the injustices Filipinos suffered under Spanish colonial rule,[2]including the oppression of Filipino prisoners by Spanish friars[4]for expressing their patriotism.[1]
AlthoughWalang Sugator walang batas sa sugat is one of the major and more popular zarzuelas in the Philippines,[1]it was one of the plays considered "too subversive" by the American colonial authorities, and its author Reyes was imprisoned.[3]A typical and traditional Filipinosarsuwelas[2]orsarswela,[4]it portrays the dilemmas of domestic life through dialogue, song, and dance. In addition, thesarsuwelais laden with romance, humour, and conflict.[2]Reyes, also known as the "Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela" and under thepen name"Lola Basyang",wroteWalang Sugatas his "statement againstimperialism."[1]
During the2nd World War,theNational Library of the Philippines,which houses the original manuscripts for the music andlibretto,was destroyed by bombing during theLiberation of Manila.As a result, the original music did not survive the war, as it was never published unlike Reyes's libretto. The music was later reconstructed by a team led by Dr. Herminio Velarde Jr. in 1971 by conducting interviews from people who saw the original productions.[5][6]
Plot
[edit]Apart from the political themes,Walang Sugatis also a love story.[4]Towards the end of the Philippine Revolution, Tenyong leaves Julia to become a member of theKatipunan.In his absence, Julia is continuously pressured by Miguel who is portrayed as an American; she succumbs when she stopped receiving news from Tenyong. As Julia and Miguel are being wed, Tenyong arrives to interrupt the service, and is dying of injuries sustained in combat. Tenyong mentions his dying wish to Julia, but the play[2]features an "unexpected twist" that shows how Tenyong is able to outwit the persons separating him from Julia, the love of his life.[1]
Modern productions
[edit]1971
[edit]This is the first stage performance of the work after the 2nd World War. This revival production was staged at the Main Theater of theCultural Center of the Philippinesin 1971. As the original music didn't survive, Dr. Herminio Velarde Jr. made a team to research and reconstruct Tolentino's original music by conducting field research, interviewing people who saw the original productions of the sarsuwela. Composers Mike Velarde Jr., and Constancio de Guzman were commissioned to write newly original music as well. The resulting music made from this production was subsequently published and is the music played by subsequent productions today.[5][6]
1991
[edit]The work was staged in 1991 by theTanghalang Pilipinodirected by Dennis Faustino with music played by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Josefino "Chino" Toledo. The performance was subsequently released in DVD as part of theCultural Center of the Philippines'CCP Sarswela Series.[7][8]
2009
[edit]Walang Sugatwas staged by the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. (BKFI) – a theater group that received a GAWAD CCP para sa Sining (CCP Arts Award) from the Cultural Center of the Philippines – from 11–13 February 2009 at theUniversity of the Philippines' University Theater. It was presented by BKFI during the UP Sarsuwela Festival 2009 nationwide celebration.[9]
2010
[edit]TheTanghalangAteneo (Ateneo Theatre) company of Ateneo de Manila University also produced a staging ofWalang Sugatin 2010. Tanghalang Ateneo's version ofWalang Sugatwas the university's first major zarzuela production, and was part of the university's three-year-longSesquicentennialCelebrations. Ateneo's production ofWalang Sugatwas directed by Dr. Ricardo Abad, while the music for the play was directed by Josefino "Chino" Toledo. The set and the costumes were designed byNational Artistand professor,Salvador Bernal.[10]
2012
[edit]Tanghalang Pilipino opened its 26th season with Walang Sugat at CCP's Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino. It was directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna which also makes this his stage directorial debut.[11]
Film adaptations
[edit]Walang Sugathad been adapted into film twice, first in 1939 then in 1957.[12][13]
The 1939 film version was produced by Filippine Productions, and was directed by Enrique Herrera-Dávila, and starred Filipino actorsRosa del RosarioandLeopoldo Salcedo.[12]
The 1957 version was produced byLVN Pictures,under the direction ofLamberto V. Avellana.Among the Filipino actors who participated in the 1957 film adaptation includedRosa Aguirre,Miguel Anzures, Tony Dantes, Joseph de Cordova, Oscar Keesee,Mario Montenegro,Charito Solis,and José Vergara.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdeAsis, Raul."Walang Sugat to be staged, Feb 11–13".Philippine Entertainment Portal.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^abcde"'Walang Wound' at the Ateneo de Manila University (Irwin Theater) ".Filipino Writer.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^abc"Drama (section)".visitphilippines.org.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^abcJulao Jr., Edmundo V."Sarswelang 'Walang Sugat' itinanghal (Zarzuela 'Walang Sugat' shown)".The Mentor’s Journal.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^abLapeña-Bonifacio, Amelia (1972)."Seditious" Tagalog playwrights: early American occupation.Manila: Zarzuela Foundation of the Philippines.
- ^abLauterwald, Helen Samson- (2016).Music in the zarzuelas of Severino Reyes ( "Lola Basyang" ).Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.ISBN978-971-542-800-2.
- ^"Walang Sugat".CCP Library and Archives Online Public Access Catalog.
- ^CCP Sarswela Series: Walang Sugat Program Notes.Cultural Center of the Philippines. 1991.
- ^Asis, Raul."'Walang Sugat' to be staged, Feb 11–13 ".Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^"Tanghalang Ateneo's 'Walang Sugat'".Click the City.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^Oliveros, Oliver (16 August 2012)."Tanghalang Pilipino's WALANG SUGAT Opens Tonight, 8/16".broadway world.Retrieved20 February2020.
- ^ab"Walang Sugat (1939)".IMDb.Retrieved27 June2011.
- ^ab"Walang Sugat (1957)".A Lot of FILMS.Retrieved27 June2011.