IPAG's latest production, the 'Hapoy daw Wahig,' is a transcreation of the Monobo epic, Ulahingan. As stylised in the performance for contemporary times, the epic's tale underscored the struggles of indigenous people fighting for their rights, especially in an overlapping space with another tribe. Kuyasu, a Monobo child, has ignited the seeds of conflict between their tribe against the Maguindanaoan's Sultan. This then cascaded into events of demise, disorder, and discord between the Manobos and the Muslims. Lastly, the performance presented how these troubles between tribes can shift for beginnings anew and redeem peace in the end.
As far as it can be determined, the show highlighted powerful emotions that arrested the audience's consciousness and beating hearts. Capitalising on the relatively miniature theatre, the production team elected to have the sounds louder, and the consequential effects were there to dramatise further and animate the scene making it more immersive as if it were jumping from one ceiling to the next, from one heart to another—it was reverberating. When dialogues are thrown, they would abruptly stop and start dancing again to the beat of the drums and gong.
Watching the performance closely and intently, one may feel confused about the story and wonder what is currently happening and where the story is going.
Only one thing is sure; the performance encapsulated the struggles of the indigenous peoples in fighting for their own as they live in an overlapping space with another. The story's setting in the performance may be from the old times, but the struggle to create boundaries and live in an overlapping space with people from different cultures is timely. That is what theatre artists do—from the archives to the stage!
Consequently, performances should not necessarily be categorized as an event from the past but should be thought of as something happening in the present. Where a timely issue is being discussed—an important message is being conveyed vis-a-vis the issue being faced today. As Dr. Steven P.C. Fernandez, the Founding Director of IPAG, answered during the Public Engagement, "Ang epics, hindi nagiging static 'yan— it is a performance of the present."
As a novice in understanding and analysing the world of theatre, I must admit that I initially struggled to keep up with the rapid transitions between the dialogues and dances and the sudden changes in the lighting and howls. During the performance I attended, a fellow audience member dared to ask about the significance of a girl singing on the centre stage, and she revealed that she was the Babaylan. This moment left many of us in shock.
While I do not intend to discount the production team in any way because the performance was unequivocally powerful, I cannot help myself from thinking that the limitation of this performance is its format itself. Unlike other formats like film, it transcends the limitations of live performances by thawing each character out through special cuts, zoom-ins, voice narrations, and some special effects; live theatrical performances have to rely on the audience's cognitive prowess to tie things together.
However, IPAG does away with this limitation by giving the audience some closure in Public Engagements (or a Closure Session is what I prefer to call it). They allowed the audience to launch their questions to the production team and would give out the information the audience lacked. As far as I am concerned, this is better than any Director's note in films because we would have the chance to talk with the Artistic geniuses behind the production.
Likewise, a counterpoint to that limitation thesis is that it is its greatest asset. Paradoxical, I suppose, albeit looking into the silver lining of the limitation, it (the format) provides us an avenue for critical thinking. Theatre artists do this; they do not necessarily spoon-feed the audience, nor do they dictate the right analysis and the wrong analysis. Art is not something that ought to be so easily operationalised. Art is a feeling. Art is an emotion. Art is an expression so byzantine that it transcends the “simplicity of bureaucracy.”
During the Public Engagement at the end of the performance, Dr. Fernandez was asked about what the message is with this play. The Artistic Director declined to respond, as it would be a disservice to oneself. “Dahil ang tama—kayo. In fact, dapat mas malalim pa ang nakikita ninyo kaysa sa ginawa ko. Kasi ang pag-intindi niyo dito ay galing ngayon sa inyong culture [or context],” said the Founding Director of IPAG.
Historically, theatrical plays were reserved for the elites, but IPAG offers a venue for consuming and appreciating theatrical art from the roots to the tips. In a world of Youtube and Netflix, theatre is not dead, and IPAG provides an avenue for creativity and collective humanistic expression.
About the Authors
Reggy H. Bartido
Reggy H. Bartido is a Senior BA (Sociology) undergraduate student at the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). Currently, Mr. Bartido is the Editor-in-Chief of CASSayuran - the Official Student Publication of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of MSU-IIT. Mr. Bartido's undergraduate thesis centres around Environmental Sociology studies and Sustainable Development. Additionally, he is keenly interested in Youth Studies and Political Sociology, where he continues exploring new insights and perspectives. Likewise, Mr. Bartido was a participant of the Ateneo School of Government and participate PH sponsored training on Campus Media: Media Ethics and Democracy in Action held at Ateneo De Manila University, last November 2022. The training was attended by 30 campus journalists over the country. Mr. Bartido was also given a participant status at the SAPA Mindanao Workshop for Journalism last February 2023 during the FEMSUSCO Meet.
Raiza Jill Genalo
Raiza Jill Genalo, a news writer from CASSayuran, is a first year BA Literary and Cultural Studies student at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology. In high school, she was a sports writer. She has written research papers that won in a few competitions. And also joined and won a few literary contests. She aspires to pursue a career in the medical field, while also exploring and nurturing her love for crafting literature.
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