PETA’s ‘Stage of the Nation’ Presents Honest Performances That Tackle Today’s Issues
Sep 27, 2018 • Kyzia Maramara
‘Stage of the Nation’ brings together two things the Philippine Educational Theater Association is passionate about and does really well – teaching and performing. After its golden anniversary, PETA welcomes its 51st theater season with a treat for everyone.
Running from September 2018-June 2019, ‘Stage of the Nation’ is a creative campaign that hopes to utilize the arts and engage artists to contribute to conversations that concern our nation. Since PETA strongly believes that art can tell stories and can be a platform for meaningful conversations, the chosen productions will talk about social and political issues that plague the country.
The following are 8 performances we can expect from ‘Stage of the Nation.’
‘Ang Buhay ni Galileo’
Performances from September 28, 2018 – October 7, 2018
PETA brings back one of its most iconic and critically acclaimed productions which serves as a clear and powerful interrogation of truth and power. The story revolves around the life of 16th century scientist Galileo Galilei portrayed by Joel Lamangan and embodies the arguments of religion and science, and the conflict of wills, motives, and passions.
‘A Game of Trolls’
Performances from October 13-14, 20-21, 2018
Millennials will surely find themselves enjoying A Game of Trolls, a musical piece tackling fake news, martial law, and EJK. The two-weekend run of this show is especially for the youth so they will learn to treasure their freedom that’s fought with blood and tears by their elders.
‘Arts Education Matters: A Theater Program on Creativity and Innovation’
PETA A Game of Trolls
Running from November 9-15, 2018
Arts Ed is a program that taps 6-8 universities nationwide to help develop their respective theater groups. They are trained to produce original productions that are relevant to young people. This program aims to develop the youth’s creativity towards innovative thinking and problem solving and to help engage them in important social concerns and ultimately become pro-active citizens.
‘Tagu-Taguan, Nasaan ang Buwan?’
Performances from November 14-19, 2018
PETA brings back Tagu-taguan, Nasaan ang Buwan?, an enchanting musical for young audiences that illustrates how storytelling can enrich a child’s understanding of the world. It tells of a young boy who embarks on a magical adventure and along the way discovers the power of creation and imagination, and understand the meaning of love, friendship and courage.
‘Buklod Album Launch’
Buklod – ‘Pagbabagong Nagbabago’
Buklod – Noel Cabangon, Rom Dongeto, and Rene Boncocan –performs ‘Pagbabagong Nagbabago,’ a song that could be considered an ode to the current administration.
Kanina lang umaga
Nadaanan ko ang pila
Mga lumang sasakyan
Hinuhuli sa daan
E, biglang tumigil ang tren
Nasira na naman
Bulok na nga ang sasakyan
Bulok pa ang patakaranTumambay dun sa kanto
Nasilip ko sa diyaryo
Ang ating teritoryo
Ibinigay na sa Tsino
Ang sabi ng Palasyo
Utang ng loob ito
Wag tayong magreklamo
Para sa ‘ting pag-asensoOh pagbabago
Oh nagbabago
Ano’ng klaseng pagbabago
Ito ba ang gusto mo?Ang presyo ng bilihin
Maya’t maya tumataas
Ano’ng silbi ng TRAIN
Kung sweldo’y walang gain
Tatlong buwan ang pangako
Korupsiyon ay hihinto
Yung droga at ang Endo
Ano ba ang totoo?Ang gusto ng Pangulo
At mayorya sa Kongreso
Baguhin ang gobyerno
Federalismo na tayo
Ngunit ano ang dahilan
Ng gulo at kahirapan
Porma ba ng pamahalaan
O namumunong kawatan?Ginugulat ang mga tao
Wag kang malilito
Lahat pinatatahimik
Ang Martial Law ay ibinalik
Tayo ay hinati-hati
Tinatkot, ginagalit
Ang totoo ay sinusupil
Ang wasto’y minamaliWag kang magalinlangan
Kakampi mo ang kasaysayan
Kung yuyurakan ang karapatan
Karapatan din ang lumaban
Noon ay nagka-EDSA
Bumagsak ang diktadura
Lahat ay kayang-kaya
Kung tayo ay iisaWatch their full Live Jam performance on http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/live-jam/207606-buklod-music-sessions-july-18-2018?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Inhouse_video&utm_campaign=entertainment
Posted by Rappler on Thursday, July 19, 2018
Launching on November 17, 2018
Noel Cabangon, Romeo Dongeto and Rene Boncocan are back together as Buklod, one of the most popular protest music groups in the 1980s and the early 1990s. Buklod is launching 10-song album called “3 Dekada: Ang Muling Pag-awit,” with three originals from each of the members plus a refreshed version of “Tatsulok,” the carrier single of the second album released in 1991, a commentary on society that is as relevant then as it is today.
‘Rehearsing Democracy and Resiliency: Human Rights Education and Advocacy in the Arts’
Jon Santos and Third World Improv
Performances from January 2018-June 2019
In this program, PETA will be working with some of the most vulnerable communities affected by the War on Drugs focusing on the urban poor. This program will enable arts to be used as a means of psychosocial processing and will be sure to assist the families and communities that have been left behind.
‘Charot’
Tagu-taguan, Nasaan Ang Buwan?
Performances from Feb 1-March 17, 2019
PETA premiers a new production with Charot, a Filipino colloquial term which means “just kidding.” Charot will present Philippine current events for the freak show that it is, imagining a future under the new charter and its consequences. It will showcase how ridiculous we have allowed our country to be, and how more hilarious it will become.
‘Other Special Performances’
Running from October 2018 – June 2019
PETA is also set to host special performances and events such as Trumperte, an original satirical live show by Jon Santos that is the ultimate political spoof mash-up. There’s also a Human Rights Film Festival that will showcase a series of film screenings featuring the works of Chito Rono, Chuch Escasa, and more.
Third World Improv presents the Manila Improv Festival 2019 that will feature performances by improvisers from all over the globe. For their 5th anniversary, popular spoken word group Words Anonymous veers from their romance-themed poetry to tackle a variety of themes that shed light on important issues. And lastly, Dulaang UP’s The Kundiman Party is set in the present and shows how resistance takes on creative and powerful forms.
Have an art-filled and eye opening time at PETA!
Photos courtesy of the Philippine Educational Theater Association
Which performance are you most excited about? Share it with us below!
