11 college theater groups meet at BSU, tackle social issues

By JennelynTabangcura

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Eleven college, university and community based theater groups gathered for the 6th Tanghal held here Feb. 9-11 which presented social issues regarding oil price hikes, activism, abuse of natural resources, suicide, among others.

This, through partnership of the National Center for Culture and the Arts, BSU-Center for Culture and the Arts, Luzon Arts and Culture Network, Inc., Datu Lubay Center Inc., Dap-Ayan Ti Kultura iti Kordilyera, UP-Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio and Tanghalang SLU.

Tanghal is an annual festival of national university/college and community-based theaters by the NCCA-National Committee on Dramatic Arts launched in 2007.

The 6th Tanghal was held as part of the activities for the National Arts Month 2012 with the theme “Tradisyon at Inobasyon”.

The plays were categorized into entablado which lasts up to 45 minutes and sulyap which lasts up to 15 minutes.

Different themes were symbolized in the 11 plays shown in the festival.

Values and lessons from the lives of cultural gods were portrayed in Tanghalang SLU’s Ang Kagila-gilalas na Buhay ni Lam-ang, BSU Dramatic Club’s Ang Alamat ni Apo Anno and Cordillera Theater Group’s Lumawig. Obon di Malayad of Mt. Province gave way to the recently organized Cordillera Theater Group based in BSU.

Social issues regarding oil price hikes, activism, abuse of natural resources and suicide were presented in Banggerahan by the Colegio de San Juan De Letran-Department of Culture and Arts of Calamba, Laguna, Apaw by the Teatro Dingal of RMTU, Iba, Zambales, Gayon by the Sorsogon Community-based Theater Group Inc. Signos sa Karimlan by the Dulaang Sanghaya of Laguna State Polytechnic College, Alayb pa si Lolo by the Korido Theater Ensemble and Tatlong Libong Bayaning Ibalong by the Sining Banwa Albay Performance Inc. of Taysan, Legazpi City.

These plays combined provoking monologues, dances and songs. The Korido Theater Ensemble for their part encouraged audience participation.

Candid struggles of being a student was portrayed in AngPakikipagsapalaranni Juan Dela Cruz by the the Tanghalang Bayan ngKabataansa Baguio of UP-Baguio and Isko, Iska, BakitBa?by the Umalohokan, Inc. of UP Los Baños, Laguna.

While Charles Canuto of the La Trinidad LGU sees theater as one way of supporting culture, the TeatroDingal of RMTU from Iba, Zambales said they don’t only entertain but they also aim to inspire everyone to make a difference. For Colegio de San Juan De Letran-Department of Culture and Arts, its members are one in stating that the purpose of what they do is to advocate and raise the awareness of their audiences.

Aside from the plays, the three-day activity also included workshops on technical theater, heritage-based pedagogy, indigenous based theater, scriptwriting and stage management and a colorful parade from the BSU-CCA Historical Museum to the ATI-CAR.