Ballet Philippines opened its Sapphire Season with a ballet that is now considered a classic in Philippine dance history: La Revolucion Filipina. (Ballet Filipinas abrieron su temporada de zafiro con un ballet que ahora es considerado un clasico en la historia de la danza filipina: La Revolucion Filipina)
This is about the history of the Philippine during the Spanish and American occupation in the eyes of Apolinario Mabini, a learned cripple known for his mind during the said period. This was also in line with the 150th birth anniversary celebration of the said hero. (Esta es la historia de las Filipinas durante la ocupacion Espanola y Americana en los ojos de Apolinario Mabini, un lisiado docto conocido por su mente durante dicho periodo. Esto coincidia tambien con el 150 aniversario de nacimiento del heroe dijo.)
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| Agnes Locsin at the center with BP Artistic Director Paul Morales |
Named Outstanding Dance Production and winner of Outstanding Choreography for Agnes Locsin at the 2008 Gawad Buhay! Awards, La Revolucion Filipina features original music by Ryan Cayabyab and libretto by Dennis Marasigan.
Choreographer Agnes Locsin was a former artistic director and resident choreographer of Ballet Philippines. She was the Gawad CCP awardee for Dance in 2012.
This fourth restaging of the modern dance masterpiece is led by three members of La Revolucion Filipina’s original cast, Annette Cruz-Mariano, Judell de Guzman-Sicam, and Alden Lugnasin.
- From the press release kit of La Revolucion Filipina
This ballet piece speaks of loyalty and love for the Philippines, the challenges that we all face and the pain one feels when he is faced with situations that are out of his hands. Apolinario may be a cripple but he made use of his mind to call the Filipino people and make a stand on the things that were happening then.(Esta pieza de ballet habla de lealtad y amor por Las Filipinas, los desafios que enfrentamos todos y el dolor que uno siente cuando see enfrenta a situaciones que estan fuera de sus manos. Apolinario puede ser un lisiado, pero hizo uso de su mente para llamar al pueblo Filipino y adoptar una postura sobre las cosas que sucedian entonces.)
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| Apolinario Mabini (in grey) with Emilio Aguinaldo (in grey & black) |
As a former theater artist, seeing this piece re-staged is a delight. The joy of dance and theater stage is one combination that will trigger one's heart. Ballet is an art where words are replaced by movements, when the body is your main and only tool to express all that you wish to say to your audience. That joy of defying gravity with all the jumps and leaps that you get to execute. When you extend your self to the fullest and even beyond, to show what needs to be shown. When sweat and blood doesn't matter anymore just because of art expression and all would be worth it when you hear the audience says "bravo!" once the curtain and lights closes.
For me, this art medium is the best way to show the mind and challenges of the great hero Apolinario Mabini. He is a cripple and ballet is a wordless art, both lacking something but both was able to do what they can and must do. (Para mi, este medio de arte es la mejor manera de mostrar la mente y los desafios del grande heroe Apolinario Mabini. Es un lisiado y el ballet es un arte mudo, amba carencia de algo tanto excepto era capaz de hacer lo que pueden como deben hacer.)
The ballet is full of drama and symbolism that makes it rich and wonderful to watch. (El ballet esta lleno de drama y el symbolismoque hace rico y maravilloso para ver.)
