The masses -- led by Andres Bonifacio (Pete Ramos)
and Gregoria de Jesus (Rose Ramelb) in center front,
make a bid for Philippines independence in
"Katipunan," set in 1896.
Drama celebrates
By John Berger
working-class heroes
Special to the Star-BulletinAMERICAN accounts of the Spanish-American War rarely mention that the Filipinos had declared their independence from Spain two years before American forces landed in the Philippines. The Spanish still held Manila in 1898, but the war was almost won when the Americans arrived and introduced themselves as friends of the Filipinos. It was only after the last Spanish positions surrendered that the Americans informed their "little brown brothers" that the Philippines now belonged to the United States. It took the Americans five brutal years to crush the Republic of the Philippines.
Bonifacio Ilagan's prize-winning play, "Katipunan: Sigaw ng Bayan," is a prequel to the American invasion. Director Boots Y. Pascual's ambitious production brings it to the U.S. for the first time. It is challenging, but refreshing, theater.
Theater of this type was last seen here in University of Hawaii at Manoa's impressive 1994 production of the classic Chinese Communist agitprop piece, "Shajiabang: Spark Amid the Reeds." The working class heroes are heroic. The villains, essentially caricatures. Ilagan wrote "Katipunan" in the mid-'70s; it doesn't require much imagination to view his Spanish villains as representing the Marcos regime as well.
Ilagan illustrates the evolution of the mass-based revolutionary organization, the role of women in the struggle, and the internal conflicts that weakened it. He does this with an immense cast of 144 characters woven through an almost countless number of short scenes and narratives. Cast members shout in unison and strike heroic poster poses to emphasize important political points.
The story is written around the short life and turbulent times of working class revolutionary Andres Bonifacio (Pete Ramos Jr.) and his wife, Gregoria "Oryang" de Jesus (Rose Marie Ramelb). A cavalcade of other revolutionary leaders also appears. Anyone unfamiliar with Philippine history will find most of them soon blurring together. However, the thrust of the story is easily understood.
Dwight Ovitt and Matthew J. Daly stand out in portraying an assortment of villainous Spaniards. Erwin Corpuz drives one of the most demanding scenes as a man who betrays the revolutionaries almost by accident.
But it isn't all agitprop. Ramos and Ramelb mesh smoothly as physical comedians in scenes portraying the Bonifacios' married life. Pascual's translation left some of Ilagan's Tagalog slang intact; the phrases generated ripples of laughter from Tagalog speakers in the audience last weekend.
Ilagan wrote for a sophisticated Filipino audience aware of Bonifacio's place in Philippine history. Pascual has added material that will help audiences here better understand the historical and cultural milieu. Additional information is provided in the program notes.
Katipunan:
The Cry for FreedomWhat: Bonifacio Ilagan's play directed by Boots Pascual
