February is not only a month to celebrate love, but also to provide a spotlight for one of the best expressions of human imagination and creativity: arts. Presidential Proclamation 683 of 1991 declares the month of February as the National Arts Month. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual celebration of the Mindanao State University- General Santos Senior High School, the Pagtambungaw sa Sining: 34th Season and Festival of Dramatic Arts has returned on stage held at University Gymnasium of MSU-Gensan last February 6 to 11. This soulful and gleaming festival weaved together the artistic potential of Filipino theater.
Spearheaded by the playwright and director Norman Ralph Isla, the event was presented by the Senior High School Department of MSU-GSC, in partnership with the Supreme Student Council, Cultural Affairs Office, Basic Institute for Dramatic Arts (BIDA) General Santos, and the Sining Kabpapagariya Ensemble of MSU-GSC.
In a span of 6 days, the spotlight beamed upon the students of the SHS Department revealing their various talents and skills in the form of three theatrical plays that reflect the cultures in the Philippines, particularly those of Moro, T’boli, and Christians. With the MSU population being a melting pot of cultural and religious backgrounds, these plays commemorate and give tribute, in the form of arts, to those groups as they continue to ingrain the university’s image as the National Peace University.
The first that was featured on stage was Norman Ralph Isla’s “May Anghel Tuwing Umuulan,” a two-part musical directed by Ralph Valdueza, Godwin Palapar, and Athea Guinares. The play was presented in the participation of STEM Reimann and Descartes, remarkably featuring the famous songs of Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. It raised the ambient soul of the audience to a broad shared smile, reminding them that at moments we are drowning in challenges, an angel will throw a rope and anchor us back to life.
The floor was also given to Jaydee Paid’s “Ang Pag-ibig ng Ikapitong Busay,” a new chapter after the play “Ang Busao.” In the direction of Johann Andaya and Sophia Revil, along with STEM Euler and Euclid, the play stimulated emotions that stir the soul, leaving spectators to contemplate about the qualities of love and how tolerance and sacrifice pave way to achieving a peaceful tomorrow.
On the third day, lights were illuminated upon the adaptation of Norman Ralph Isla’s “Ang Paglalayag ni Ihsan,” under the creative direction of Monlouie Sorzano and with its student directors Aliyah Espino, Maxine Saplor, and Adrian Merzon. The play was demonstrated by a collaboration of sections, namely STEM Gauss, Wiles, and Leibniz, which brought the audience into Ihsan’s magical world and his story of destiny, love, and courage without leaving their seats.
“The festival gave the students an avenue to showcase their talents and skills. It also promoted the value of the arts (dramatic arts specifically) in the Philippines due to the fact that some of the plays involve cultural aspects. As one of the student-directors, I say that it gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, helped me establish my legacy, and gave me a chance to showcase my talent and skills in the field of dramatic arts. Because of that, there are some offers and organizations that are inviting me to join them. I am very thankful to the school and to the teachers and professors that guide me. I would like to extend my gratitude to my teams, STEM- Riemann and Descartes,” shared by student-director Godwin Palapar, in an interview.
As the curtains fell signaling the end of each performance, the crowd clasped their hands together in applause, filling the place with cheers. At its resolution, praises and reactions from the audience were seen and heard thus signifying another entertaining and impressive season and festival of dramatic arts.
Truly, art is channeled through the heart and takes a life of its own. Through the return of theater on stage, stories become a living, breathing work of art before the eyes of the public!
