By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Rarely
do we see young theater artists and directors gather to share each other’s
experiences in doing their craft. What more is expected when young directors
meet the veterans?
It is an explosion of ideas, concepts,
processes, artistry, and aesthetics that filled in the vacuum between the
veteran theater practitioners and the neophytes. A revelation coming from the
heavens that touches the ground with complete humility, an exposition that
unravels what is at the heart of the veteran theater practitioners.
Trade secrets are rarely exposed and shared.
But at Angat Mindulani event, the unraveling was inspiring.
Who would not be inspired of Fr. Rudolf
“Dong” M. Galenzoga’s love story with theater and the world, when at the time
of Martial Law, used theater to spread love, peace and spirituality through his
Maranatha play? Who would not be
amazed at the philosophical view of Dr. Steven Patrick “Tibo” Fernandez of the
Integrated Performing Arts Guild of the Mindanao State University-Iligan
Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City, who believes that there is
order in chaos and that artists must continue to challenge the order of things
in order for new knowledge to come in and a more meaningful and harmonious
existence to thrive?
Who would not be in love with the works of
Director Warlito Nestor Horfilla? His experiences with cultural minorities,
their life and struggles generate knowledge for aesthetic expression. For him,
the artist must consider the dynamics of the culture. He believes that theater
generates knowledge; therefore, it must be greatly well managed and researched.
Who would not be overjoyed with the achievement
of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi’s Sining
Kambayoka whose minimalist approached to storytelling that combines music,
chants, and movements? Master Sunnie Noel led us to the world of Kambayoka artistic creation process
through a workshop.
They are the icons of Mindanao theater that
selected young directors all over Mindanao had the opportunity to a dialogue
during a conference recently in General Santos City for the Mindanao Theater
Conference dubbed as “Angat Mindulani:
preparing the next generation.”
This encounter seldom happens, thanks to the
MSU-General Santos City and the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA)
for making the event possible.
The dialogue and artistic encounter of young
and veteran directors brought a new spark among young theater practitioners as
each takes turns asking questions and learning from the gurus. They came out
alive, renewed, and full of aspirations as they create vision for the future
engagements in Mindanao Theater.
This cultural event was conceptualized with
the need to hand down to the next generation of Mindanao theater directors the
school of thoughts espoused by several Mindanao icons who have been in the
cultural field for a long time.
The dialogue between the icons and the second
liners has established a cognitive and aesthetic bridge between the icons and
the young directors in terms of concepts, principles, theories and world views.
It has also probe deeper into the icon’s social psyche and make all these more
accessible to the young directors.
“Mindulani”
is a coined word from three Filipino words: Mindanao, dula (play/theater), and ani
(fruits/yields), and “angat” means
rise. Hence, Angat Mindulani
literally means “raise the yields of Mindanao Theater.” Mindulani has also
become an organization of theater practitioners and cultural workers in
Mindanao and has been initiating training, seminars, and conferences in the
past. During the dialogue, young directors have decided to continue with the
engagement of Mindulani.
The bridge has been established as Mindanao icons
mentor Mindanao’s future. The young directors have acquired the wisdom of the
masters and it is up to them now how Mindanao Theater would thrive ahead. (PIA9)
