Papet at Maskara: Celebrating Women and Puppetry

QUEZON CITY, Feb. 6 -- The UP Center for International Studies takes pride in marrying the theatrical traditions of Philippines and Japan.

From February 10-17, 2013, UPCIS takes the center stage for the week-long Papet at Maskara: Celebrating 40 Years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation through Intercultural Collaboration as Dialogue.

Papet: the face of intercultural dialogue

Recognized as both a tangible and intangible heritage, the Naoshima Onna Bunraku is the only all-female puppetry tradition of its kind after conquering what used to be an all-male theatre. This February, the troupe interacts with the homegrown UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble and other puppet groups for a workshop, public lecture, demonstration and performance of several Bunraku pieces which include Dango Uri (The Dumpling Peddlers), Keisei Awa no Naruto Junreika no Dan (The Song of a Pilgrim scene from The Courtesan at Awa) and Ebisu Mai (The Dance of Ebisu).

Maskara: a new face for Sisa

Notable for its deliberate and disciplined movements, Noh was designated by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” Staying true to these words, the UPCIS Noh Theatre Ensemble re-stages Professor Emeritus Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio’s prize-winning play Ang Paglalakbay ni Sisa, Isang Noh sa Laguna, as a shinsaku (newly-created) Noh. This reinterpretation showcases the redemption of Jose Rizal’s Sisa. Here, she confronts Padre Salvi, gets to reunite with her two sons Crispin and Basilio, and eventually regains her sanity and peace of mind.

Tease your theatrical taste buds and enjoy Japanese theatre with an all-Filipino storyline in Papet at Maskara performances on Feb. 10, 1pm in Aldaba Hall, UP Diliman, Feb. 12, 3pm at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Feb. 15, 3 and 6pm in UP Los Baños, and Feb. 17, 3 and 7pm at the UP Diliman Theater.

For tickets, contact UPCIS at 426-7573 or through upcis.aseanjapan2013@gmail.com. (UPCIS)