Folklore depicting Albay's origin on stage at CCP on February 8
By Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) -- Albay’s tourism gets another boost as one of its major theatrical fares is brought into the limelight with the staging of the “Daragang Magayon, an Istorya ni Mayon” on February 8 at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.
The mythical tale of “Daragang Magayon…” depicts the legendary origin of Albay as a province and that of Mayon Volcano, depicting a story of enduring love and sacrifice.
Previous artistic renditions of this legend involving various renowned writers, poets, theater artists and musicians had been onstage through the years, but the 2013 production is said to present never before witnessed scenes and colors and a refreshed outlook yet remains an enchanting version of the undying legend.
Daragang Magayon is a love story between the lass Magayon (beautiful) and Ulap (cloud).
The theatrical presentation fuses the talents of illustrious Philippine contemporary artists with National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario writing the lyrics and composer Ramon Pagayon Santos writing the music.
Almario lends the magic of his poetry to the lyrics, carefully threading in Rio Almaic verses through the tale that pricked supernatural emotions and led the gods to conspire in favor of an enduring love.
Santos, with his familiarity with the tale, smoothly carves out hidden emotions from new scenes on the subject.
Further enhancing the craft, multi-awarded Bikolano writer Abdon M. Balde Jr. who specializes in mythopoeia and the folk stories of Bikol, has contributed colorful rituals and new details to the story, the products of his research.
Gerald Mercado of the e-Dance Theater, in partnership with his lovely wife, Katrina Santos Mercado does the choreography and stage direction, while film-maker Chuck Escasa and animators Benjie Marasigan and Niko Salazar contribute their expertise to the film and visual arts aspect of the production.
The Albay provincial government has produced anew the “Daragang Magayon, an Istorya ni Mayon” as part of a revitalized tourism development program that would provide opportunities to take a fresher look into the province’s mesmerizing mythical past, its magic and mystery.
The theatrical fare has been added to Albay's recent projects who consistently patronized the arts, including year-round visual art exhibits at the Albay Atrium of the provincial capitol building, commissioning local sculptors for the statues of Albay’s historical figures and establishment of the Office of the Poet Laureate in Albay, among others.
The Magayon Festival 2012 also saw the first staging of the Dance of the Three Mountains (Sayaw nin Tulong Bulod), a play written in vernacular Bikol by Balde.
Albay’s rich cultural heritage is also contained in its year-round celebration of 18 festivals, presenting the varied faces of Albay’s gaiety and celebrations. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
By Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) -- Albay’s tourism gets another boost as one of its major theatrical fares is brought into the limelight with the staging of the “Daragang Magayon, an Istorya ni Mayon” on February 8 at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.
The mythical tale of “Daragang Magayon…” depicts the legendary origin of Albay as a province and that of Mayon Volcano, depicting a story of enduring love and sacrifice.
Previous artistic renditions of this legend involving various renowned writers, poets, theater artists and musicians had been onstage through the years, but the 2013 production is said to present never before witnessed scenes and colors and a refreshed outlook yet remains an enchanting version of the undying legend.
Daragang Magayon is a love story between the lass Magayon (beautiful) and Ulap (cloud).
The theatrical presentation fuses the talents of illustrious Philippine contemporary artists with National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario writing the lyrics and composer Ramon Pagayon Santos writing the music.
Almario lends the magic of his poetry to the lyrics, carefully threading in Rio Almaic verses through the tale that pricked supernatural emotions and led the gods to conspire in favor of an enduring love.
Santos, with his familiarity with the tale, smoothly carves out hidden emotions from new scenes on the subject.
Further enhancing the craft, multi-awarded Bikolano writer Abdon M. Balde Jr. who specializes in mythopoeia and the folk stories of Bikol, has contributed colorful rituals and new details to the story, the products of his research.
Gerald Mercado of the e-Dance Theater, in partnership with his lovely wife, Katrina Santos Mercado does the choreography and stage direction, while film-maker Chuck Escasa and animators Benjie Marasigan and Niko Salazar contribute their expertise to the film and visual arts aspect of the production.
The Albay provincial government has produced anew the “Daragang Magayon, an Istorya ni Mayon” as part of a revitalized tourism development program that would provide opportunities to take a fresher look into the province’s mesmerizing mythical past, its magic and mystery.
The theatrical fare has been added to Albay's recent projects who consistently patronized the arts, including year-round visual art exhibits at the Albay Atrium of the provincial capitol building, commissioning local sculptors for the statues of Albay’s historical figures and establishment of the Office of the Poet Laureate in Albay, among others.
The Magayon Festival 2012 also saw the first staging of the Dance of the Three Mountains (Sayaw nin Tulong Bulod), a play written in vernacular Bikol by Balde.
Albay’s rich cultural heritage is also contained in its year-round celebration of 18 festivals, presenting the varied faces of Albay’s gaiety and celebrations. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
No comments:
Post a Comment