Hiraya's new play

Hiraya Theater Company premieres its new play at the closing ceremony of Karay-a Arts Festival 3 at the EBJ Freedom Park on Sunday, 25 October at 7:00 PM.

The play "Ang pagtaban ni Tumaka kay Maria Katsila" is based on a Pandanon legend about an Ati tribal chief in Mt. Mab-o who outwits the Spanish governor by running away with the taxes collected from Ibajay and the governor's wife Maria. The play follows a series of zany encounters as the the Spaniard tries to get back with his wife, until he succumbs to heart attack and public humiliation. I used folk and traditional music to enhance the mood, starting with a komposo to introduce the central character. Period music in Spanish from Guillermo Gomez Rivera's CD "Nostalgia Filipina" proved especially useful to connect the scenes. "Flor Filipina" (track 8) was interpreted in the love scene/dance number between Tumaka and Maria, while "Mariposa Bella" (track 9), the predecessor of "Paru-parong Bukid" was interpreted with Ati dances and shouts at the finale, while the Ati scenes were identified with "Abaw tiyo Andoy, inum tuba laloy."

The play stars Mclaurence Saligumba as Tumaka, Jean Matias as Maria, and Richard Salameda as Governor Puentes, supported by the Hiraya ensemble.

KAF 3

Despite low budget and all, the Karay-a Arts Festival 3 will finally push through on October 23-25.. This year's edition looks like a theater festival with student theater groups participating. Teatro San Antonio of St. Anthony's College is staging my "Pagtimalus ni Kapinangan" with Cyruss Matencio directing; Maskara Theater Ensemble of University of St. La Salle has Dennis Teodosio's "Pobreng Alindanaw"; and Kanlaon Theater Guild has Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero's classic "Away Basketbol" (Basketball Fight). Meanwhile, Hiraya Theater Company will open the festival with the komedya "Ang Kapid" on October 23rd, and closes it with it's new production "Ang pagtaban ni Tumaka kay Maria Katsila on October 25th.

Hiraya's new production is so much fun to do despite lack of actors. I get to act too, as a parrot, and my costume is exciting.

Also joining the festival are Polytechnic State College of Antique's Teatro Antiqueño and PSCA Chorale, Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero, and the indigenous peoples organizations of Antique.