By WALTER ANG
April 9, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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| Participants of Kilos Sining sa Paaralan with playwright-National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera. |
The program had three major components: Danas-Dula, where participants watched productions staged by participating schools and professional groups; Sanay-Danas-Dula, discussion sessions on how to evaluate/review the shows they'd seen; and Usapang Teatro sa Unibersidad at Kolehiyo, a symposium on theater-making processes.
The event was organized by Tanghalan ng Mag-aaral, a network of university and college-based theater groups; Guro sa Sining ng Bayan, a network of teachers advocating for theater as an education tool, and Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Pangkultura sa Kamaynilaan at Karatig Pook, a network of theater groups and artists.
"The aim of KSP was to give students and teachers a way to learn about theater-making through actual engagement, as in act/action, as in kilos," says Alyansa founding chair and KSP coordinator Glecy Atienza.
"The term 'kilos sining' was used by dramatist Severino Reyes to mean 'actors,' or 'doers of performances.' We evolved the meaning from 'one who moves art' to 'one who uses art to move people to action.'"
Subsidized tickets
The program subsidized tickets for approximately 300 students to watch from a selection of 30 productions. "One student shed tears of joy when she shared her excitement and appreciation in watching plays and meeting theater artists face to face," she said.
Aside from shows by school groups, participants watched professional productions like Philippine Educational Theater Association's "3 Stars & A Sun," puppet theater group Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas' "A Bread of Salt," and Tanghalang Pilipino's "Buwan at Baril sa Eb Major," a staged reading recital performance by TP's resident pool of actors, and "Mabining Mandirigma."
Interactions with cast and production staff were also held. "Actors shared their experiences in building characters, directors explained the process of staging plays. Participants heard from no less than playwright-historian Nicanor Tiongson after watching 'Mabining Mandirigma,' and from playwright-director Chris Millado after watching 'Buwan at Baril sa Eb Major.'"
Across the country
The program also featured the results of the Likha Dula-LakBayan project: a play devised by a collaboration of representatives from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao under the direction and supervision of Sipat Lawin Ensemble artistic director JK Anicoche and dramaturg Ness Roque-Lumbres.
The devised production is the output of this year's Tanghal National University, College and Community Theater Festival, organized annually by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts. It premiered in Bacolod (Visayas) and showed in Cagayan de Oro (Mindanao) before being performed in Manila (NCR). It was then performed in Los Baños (Luzon).
The resulting production featured vignettes of different scenes, the cast asking the audience what their wishes for the country were, and concluded with a rendition of the national anthem in different Filipino languages and dialects.
Symposium
The Usapang Teatro sa Paaralan symposium was held at Tanghalang Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Speakers who shared their experiences in creating theater included Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete of Teatrong Mulat; Romualdo "Raffy" Tejada of Harlequin Theater Guild, De La Salle University; Sir Anril Tiatco of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Jerry Respeto of Ateneo ENterteynment para sa Tao, Bayan, LAnsangan, at DiyOs (Entablado); Frederick Castro of University of the East Drama Company; Romualdo Protacio of Collective Arts of Students and Thespians, University of Makati; Alyson Gimenez of Sinagbayan, Polytechnic University of the Philippines; Kaila Ababao of Dulaang Pilipino, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; Anthony Cruz of Tanghalang Bagong Sibol, Malabon National High School; Gio Potes of University of the Philippines Repertory Company; Mari Joyce Laspuna of Kapit Productions; and Roberto "Bobet" Mendoza of Haraya Artists Ensemble, Manila Tytana Colleges (formerly Manila Doctors College).
For details, visit 2016 Kilos Sining sa Paaralan on Facebook.
Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/226432/40-plus-school-based-theater-groups-join-kilos-sining-festival