PR: “ PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL” ALL SET TO OPEN ON NOVEMBER 12

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Technical Theater Program Batch 112 proudly presents “ PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL ” --- a sarswela written and directed by Palanca winner George de Jesus III and music by Jeffrey Hernandez.

            Paglayang Minamahal is a three-act sarswela about the love between a young barrio lass and a rich ilustrado set during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. Exploring the many levels and facets of love and freedom, the play inverts the traditional sarsuela by protecting the relationship of Alodia and Mauricio from any satanic inclination, promises forever to each other in the middle of endeavor of the nation for their freedom.

            Paglayang Minamahal was written during the fever of the Philippine centennial celebrations in 1998 and won 2^nd Prize in the sarswela category of the Centennial Literary Competition.

            “It was first staged by Tanghalang Pilipino at the CCP in 2000 directed by Chris Millado with music by Jesse Lucas. The collaborative process of that production resulted in an edit of the original script creating a sung-through musicale that somehow diminished the sarswela form. This production, although edited to run for less than 2 hours, brings back a number of scenes and dialogues from the original winning draft of the play,” George de Jesus III remarks.

            PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL is set to open on NOVEMBER 12 and shall continue to run on November 13, 14 and 15  (1:00 pm and 7:00 pm) at the 5/F SDA Theater, School of Design and Arts Campus, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. 

            

            The cast of PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL is composed of the following:

                      NATASHA CABRERA  shall play the role of Alodia, a 21-year old modest

          and strong young lady Indio ( poor commoner, a name given to Filipinos by

          the Spanish colonizers. She works as a housemaid at her aunt Dona

          Maura’s household.

            JOJO RIGUERRA plays the role of Mauricio, a 26-year old Ilustrado (Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonization) who grew up in Europe and returned to Bulakan where their hacienda is located, bearing knowledge from all his voyages. He is the son of the owner of their hacienda, Dona Maura. This senorito (young master), is Alodia’s lover. 

                     KL DIZON shall essay the role of Carmela, a 19-year old Criollo

         (Spanish born / race). She is a reverent and beautiful young lady

         and Don Felipe’s one and only daughter.

                     KEVIN POSADAS will play the role of Joselito, a 25 year-old Indio.

         He was a friend of Mauricio and Alodia since they were little, and is

         very protective of Alodia. He was a member of the secret movement

         Katipunan.

                     BRYLLE MONDEJAR plays the role of Pascual, a 32-year old Indio who

         is one of the workers in the Aragon residence and is Francisca’s husband.

                     RONAH ROSTATA and RUTH ALFREZ shall alternate for the

         role of Francisca, a 29-year old Indio who is the faithful wife of Pascual. A strong     and determined person, she is also one of the workers who served in the Aragon       residence. She joined the Katipunan to fight for their right against the Kastilas.

                     DENISE NAYVE and BEA RAMOS alternate for the role of Lucia, a 14-year      old muchacha (maid) of criollo Carmela. She may be annoying at times,            especially when she’s with Timoteo.

                     RON BIÑAS and JOSHUA TAYCO shall alternately play the role of         Timoteo, the 13-year old younger brother of Alodia. He is fearless, brave and a     manly young teenage boy.

                     MIA REONAL-BOLAÑOS essays the role of Dona Maura, the 48-year old         matriarch who is in full control of everything at their hacienda together with her     civilized son, senorito Mauricio, and the aunt of the siblings Alodia and Timoteo.    She is a strict person when it comes to her workers, but protective of her son.

                     JOEL SARACHO plays the role of Don Felipe, a 54-year old Kastila. He is        the father of the beautiful criollo Carmela.

                     PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL will transport the audiences to the era of the          Philippine Revolution of 1896 with stylized sets and a newly-written music          inspired by the Filipino traditional form of the sarswela.

            For further information, check PAGLAYANG MINAMAHAL and Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/PaglayaBENILDE

            Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PaglayaBENILDE

            Talk about us with the hashtag #paglayangminamahalBenilde

            For ticket inquiries, please contact:

SHEMA LAMIAO at 0905 452 2858 or FRANCO RAMOS at 0917 502 5909

 SYNOPSIS:

Paglayang Minamahal is a three-act sarsuela about the love between a young barrio lass and a rich ilustrado set during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. Exploring the many levels and facets of love and freedom, the play inverts the traditional sarsuela by protecting the relationship of Alodia and Mauricio from any satanic inclination, promises forever to each other in the middle of endeavor of the nation for their freedom.

ACT 1

          At the Hacienda Aragon, everyone is busy preparing for the arrival of Señorito Mauricio from Europe after years of studying abroad. Alodia, Mauricio’s childhood sweetheart and a maidservant at the hacienda is at the cemetery, their former trysting place, worried that Mauricio has already forgotten her. Preparations for the banquet in Mauricio’s honor continue as Alodia returns from the cemetery and works with the other busy servants. The señorito arrives. He catches sight of Alodia and with just a look, all of Alodia’s fears are eased. The other maidservants tease Alodia. The guests arrive and greet Mauricio a warm welcome. He sneaks out of the party and meets Alodia at the cemetery. Alodia reveals her fears of their permanent separation knowing that Doña Maura, Mauricio’s mother, has made plans of wedding her son to Carmela. Mauricio promises his fidelity as they go back to the party. At the party everyone is talking of impending changes in society. The Frayle casts suspicions regarding Mauricio’s loyalties. Meanwhile at the backyard Joselito reveals his jealousy and longing for Alodia. Carmela, alone inside the toilet reveals her worries regarding her future husband. She asks Lucia, her maidservant to look for Mauricio. Mauricio and Alodia arrive at the backyard. Workers at the Hacienda, greet Mauricio. Joselito, his best friend and rival for Alodia’s affection is hostile to his greetings.  

Joselito questions Mauricio’s love for the country. Mauricio reveals his plan to use what he has learned to help his countrymen. The party continues. Lucia, looking for Mauricio meets Timoteo, Alodia’s sister at the backyard. They tease one another regarding each one’s youth. At the party, Maurico is dancing with Carmela. Alodia watches with Joselito. Joselito begins convincing Alodia that fate has dictated that each one should love within one’s class. Carmela is likewise persuading Mauricio of the same thing. The dance ends and Doña Maura announces the engagement of Mauricio and Carmela. Hurt, Alodia runs away but bumps into the Frayle. The Frayle humiliates her in front of everyone. Joselito comes to her rescue. They leave the house. At the backyard, the workers led by Joselito and Pascual promises that the end is near for those in power.

          Several days later, Mauricio is trying to woo Alodia and apologize for what has happened. Before they can reconcile, civil guards come in and arrest Mauricio. Most of the men in the Hacienda are arrested including Pascual. The Katipunan has been discovered and arrests are being made left and right. The women cry out their fears. Francisca, Pascual’s wife together with Alodia, joins the Katipunan and gets ready for the revolution.

ACT 2

          Mauricio is in jail. Don Felipe, Carmela’s father, talks to the Tinyente in behalf of his future father-in-law. They proceed to profess their loyalty to Spain while Doña Maura is lamenting her son’s situation. Carmela tries to comfort her. The Tinyente reveals that Mauricio is to be executed. Doña Maura meets her son and despairs upon seeing him battered and tortured. Carmela assists Doña Maura out as Mauricio tasks Lucia to find Alodia. He hands her a necklace, which he tells Lucia to give to Alodia.  

          At the Hacienda Aragon, Timoteo is alone guarding the house and is bitterly lamenting his desire to join the revolution. Lucia arrives and they argue about true courage. Francisca and Alodia coming from the war front arrives and learns of the impending deaths of their loved ones. Meanwhile at the war front, Joselito is amongst the Katipuneros. As they are preparing for battle they speak of summoning their courage in order to be ready in facing the enemy.

          Francisca watches as Pascual gets executed. The couple promises their love will live in the baby Francisca is carrying in her womb. Seeing how death separated Francisca and Pascual, Alodia decides to save Mauricio. She seeks out Joselito and asks for his help offering her body in exchange. Joselito, surprised at this gesture refuses to help Alodia.            Alodia vows to save Mauricio no matter what even if she ahs to give her life to save her love.

          Mauricio, still in jail is grappling with his tortured mind as he awaits death. He reveals his betrayal when he confessed while being tortured. Alodia arrives and calls to Mauricio. She is prepared to save him. The revolution rages on as the Katipuneros bravely fights. The upper classes are lamenting the cruelty of war, Carmela among them, cries out her fears. Alodia carries Mauricio outside the prison. Francisca is about to give birth. A shot is heard. Alodia gives Mauricio the necklace he gave. Alodia falls. Mauricio walks away in a daze. The revolution rages on and blood is shed.

ACT 3

          Several months have passed. Mauricio is recuperating. His memory of Alodia saving him tortures his mind. Doña Maura comforts him and insists to forget Alodia and to try loving Carmela to whom a marriage has been arranged. Joselito arrives with news about Alodia. Doña Maura accuses him of ingratitude hurling invectives on Joselito. Mauricio intervenes. Mauricio and Joselito talk of the revolution and that life is no longer a game that they used to play. Mauricio asks about Alodia. Joselito tells him she’s dead. Joselito leaves. Mauricio left alone could not believe the news. He feels her alive and vows to search for her wherever she may be.

          Meanwhile, the Katipuneros are celebrating their impending victory. In Cavite, a meeting erupts into violence and a split in the Katipunan. The women question if this is the victory they have fought for, a country disunited. Amidst the turmoil, Alodia appears and asks Joselito if he has delivered the news to Mauricio. Joselito says yes and turns away.

          At the Hacienda Aragon, Doña Maura reminds Mauricio of her agreement with Don Felipe: the arranged wedding of their son and daughter. Carmela arrives with Lucia to visit Mauricio. Doña Maura and Lucia leave Carmela and Mauricio alone. Carmela reveals her fears and how she was brought up. She tries to convince Mauricio to learn to love her. Doña Maura and Lucia return. Before Carmela and Lucia leave, Mauricio asks Lucia to ask around about Alodia.

          In a street, Timoteo and Lucia meet. They hatch a plabn how to make Alodia and Mauricio meet. They will tell Alodia and Mauricio that their love is dead and that they must go to the cemetery where they are buried at a chosen time.

          The wedding day of Mauricio and Carmela arrives. At the church, people are wondering how the arranged marriage will turn out. Before reaching the altar, Mauricio apologizes to Carmela and with Lucia in tow hurries to the cemetery to say goodbye to Alodia in her “grave”. Carmela, Doña Maura, Don Felipe and the wedding guests follow Mauricio to the cemetery.

          At the cemetery, Mauricio bids farewell to Alodia, thinking her dead and buried. Alodia arrives with Timoteo, Francisca, and Joselito. Alodia and Mauricio sees each other and they embrace. Carmela runs off. She trips and Joselito assists her.

          The lovers, reunited, promise forever to each other. And as everyone sings of fidelity and loving the freedom they have won for the country, a new enemy arrives.

About the Technical Theater Batch 112

The Technical Theater Batch 112 is comprised of the Bachelor of Arts Major in Technical Theater students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

The AB-Technical Theater program is a three-year and one-term course offered by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts that trains students to become professional Production Managers, Stage Managers, Lighting Designers and Technical Directors.

About the DLS-CSB School of Design and Arts

Benilde is a learning environment that nurtures students to develop their interests and passions, and trains them to become professionally competent in established industries and emerging fields of specialization.

The School of Design and Arts (SDA) offers a wide scope of degree programs in specialized creative disciplines that meet the demands of today’s information-driven world. The SDA Campus, a 14-storey academic complex, is one big sand box for creative minds and a venue that stimulates students to think out of the box, shift perspectives, and innovate ideas