It’s the Father of Filipino Sarswela, Severino Reyes’ unforgettable masterpiece. First and last performed in Marinduque on December 8, 1902, on the occasion of the Boac Town Fiesta celebration, wtih the future president of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon, then Fiscal of Tayabas, as special guest. (The sarswela has since been made into a movie twice and presented live in big halls in the metro including the CCP and UP theaters).That singular performance came only when peace reigned at last in Marinduque after continued armed conflict with the Spanish casadores and, and after the infamous Philippine-American war episode in the island that Phil. Commissioner William H. Taft, (also future U.S. president), described as one where severe treatment of inhabitants occured and one that “would not look well if a complete history of it were written out”.
The “Walang Sugat” libretto was first published in 1898, instantly gaining fame when the sarswela company, “Gran Compania de Manila” mounted it amid controversy. It was the same group that performed in Boac before a capacity crowd.
The play documents the untold suffering of Filipinos against an oppressive and unjust regime of Spanish elite, underlying the abuses committed by the friars. Change came not without extreme sacrifices; glimmers of hope came only after the people rose up in arms.
108 years later today, the same patriotic material is being brought to the shores of Marinduque at a time when a similar opportunity for political change is unfolding. The same question’s being asked: will we rise to the occasion and do our part to effect the change we’ve always wanted?
"Walang Sugat," revolves around the lives of young lovers Tenyong and Julia amid the cruelty of Spanish friars. Set in the final leg of the Philippine Revolution, Tenyong must leave behind his childhood sweetheart Julia to join the Katipunan. With no word from Tenyong, Julia is pressured by her mother to marry the wealthy Miguel, an episode interrupted by the return of a fatally wounded Tenyong, who conveys a dying wish.
This sarswela was the vehicle for the song “Bayan Ko”, made more popular during the 1986 People Power Revolution, the anniversary of which we mark on Monday, Feb. 22nd.The Marinduque performances will be brought unto life by Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Awardee, Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 pm at the Boac Moriones Arena and on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 pm at the Gasan Municipal Court.The Barasoain Kalinangan is known for utilizing traditional art forms in its works such as awit, sayaw, balagtasan, moro-moro, senakulo, kundiman and sarswelang Tagalog.
“Walang Sugat” stars Rey Clement Maaliao as Tenyong, Karren Uaje as Julia, Ron Mariano as Miguel with Maria Ireen Crisostomo, Rowel Escalante, Crystal Mendonza, James Dimagiba, Joseph Rejoso, Melandro Pascual, Wilfredo Alberto, Christopher Adriano, Lemuel Galman, Egie Boy Galman, Ryan Managbanag and a rousing 12-member koro.
Spearheaded by Gov. Jose Antonio Carrion, the "Walang Sugat" performance is the third annual Philippine International Arts Festival and "Araw ng Marinduque" project undertaken by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA).
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