Stories have always come in many forms. This time, The Alampat: Gabi ng Sining 2025 revisited a tale that has been explored and retold countless times with a new light. It was not merely a performance but a vivid telling of a Mindanao that is intensely diverse, artistic, and raw.
The performances held on the evening of August 11, 2025 showcased all the best that the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology’s (MSU-IIT) Resident Cultural Groups (RCG) have to offer.
The MSU-IIT Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG), Octava Choral Society, Orions Dance Group, MSU-IIT Integrated Developmental School (IDS) Ringkaran, Kalilang Traditional Music Ensemble, Kalimulan Cultural Dance Troupe, and the Echoes band joined forces with the university’s dance sports and arnis teams to create a production that is true to the night’s theme: Sundayag Mindanaw.
Each performance told different aspects found in the culture and everyday life within the island, and took inspiration from experiences spanning generations, mixing traditional pieces with modern artistry.
Octava performer and third-year Bachelor of Arts and English Language Studies (BAELS) student Rayyan Ishmael Mabini shared that the creation of the performances was not a walk in the park. Gabaqan (Gabaan), the piece staged by their choral society, in particular, had been rather difficult to materialize.
The heavy emotion and message presented by the piece required an equally large toll on the energy of the performers. Nevertheless, bringing it to life on stage had been a breathtaking feeling.
“The experience was exhilarating. It was a true test of the artistic spirit, finding ways to perform the same piece while fighting the environment, time and other RPG'S and whatever new change we had to adapt to without compromising our vision and identity,” he expressed, adding that despite the physical strain it caused him, he cannot wait to experience it all over again for the first time in the following year.
The Alampat: Gabi ng Sining 2025 was not only a homage to the resilience and skill needed in the performing arts, it was also a celebration of all the things that Mindanao stands for. It gave us a beautiful visualization of the colorful culture and traditions within the island, which, to this day, continue to persist and evolve. The spark of appreciation for our own ignited by the performances that evening continued to burn bright, even as the lights from the gymnasium dwindled and faded into the night.
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