Ibalong the Musical: Bicol’s epic battle to come alive onstage starting today

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 8 (PIA) -- Ibalong, Bicol’s epic battle between humans and monsters portrayed in action during Legazpi City’s Ibalong Festival, will come alive onstage starting today, February 8, to March 3 at Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ibalong the Musical will show all the exciting battle scenes, artistically designed set and costumes including that of the mighty Handyong and alluring Oryol, haunting ethnic music and distinct Bicolano culture.

The production is done in coordination with the city of Legazpi and the Cultural Center of the Philipppines.

The stage adaptation, based on the only remaining 60-stanza fragment, is written by playwright Rody Vera and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio.

Rutaquio is a professor at the Department of Communication Arts in Miriam College and artistic director of several successful theater presentations.


The Cast 
The heroes and monsters portrayed by versatile actors and actresses will showcase the creativity of Leeroy New as shown by the lavish costumes and backdrops.

Jenine Desiderio, the former Miss Saigon actress, will play the complex role of Oryol who took the challenge of acting and moving with the wild instinct of a monster serpent and from time to time, turn into a sweet, young lady to seduce and destroy Handyong.

Oryol is a seductive and deceitful snake woman who transforms her image and uses her enchanting voice to destroy her enemies.

However she was eventually outwitted by Handyong played by Myke Salomon and Remus Villanueva and made her fall in love with him instead.

Also part of the major characters are Gugurang the god of heavens (May Bayot), Aswang the god of the underworld and father of Oryol (Jonathan Tadioan), Rabot (Marco Viaña) the half man and monster and Opon (Red Nuestro).


Exciting Stunts and Choreography 
The portrayal of the love story between a warrior and a monster in the midst of a raging war is one of the scenes and twists to watch out for.

The plot of the story will also explore one’s capacity for good and evil set on Bicol’s history with all its progress and destruction.

Alden Lugnasin, Ballet Philippines resident choreographer, made the live action performances more exciting and intense through stunts and martial arts.

The play’s director admitted that the cast had difficulty with the complicated stunts and choreography but it was successfully carried out.


Fusion of Ethnic, Contemporary Music 
Another challenge said Desiderio is the music which is not within her usual genre.

Truly noteworthy in the Ibalong music is the distinct fusion of neo-ethno music with modern rock by musical director and composer Carol Bello.

Encantada band, an all-women music group, played the live music accompaniments. Used for the music are bamboo percussion instruments, gongs, T’boli bells, gangsa, tungatongs and other indigenous instruments together with electric guitars and keyboards.

The merging of contemporary, ethnic chants infused with youth and energy complemented the modern theater production of the epic.

The ethnic chants enmeshed into the merging of old and modern accompaniments complemented the modern production of the epic.

With the strong and lingering rhythms of the instruments highlighting the energy and excitement of live action performance and lavish costumes and set design, Ibalong the Musical can definitely give its audience a rarely seen real-life theater experience showcasing Filipino beauty and artistry.


Scheduled Presentation 
Ibalong the Musical will be staged on the following schedules:

Friday – February 8, 15, 22, March 1 at  8PM
Saturday – February 9, 16, 23, March 2 at 3PM and 8PM
Sunday – February 10, 17, 24, March 3 at 3PM

Regular ticket prize is P800.00, P400.00 for students and P640.00 for senior citizens. For the gala premiere on February 8, tickets are at P1000, P500, and P800 respectively. Students are given 50% discount and senior citizens, 20% discount.

Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets.

For more information and updates, add them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tanghalangpilipino or call 832-9999 or 832-3704. (SAA-PIA5/Albay)