MODULE 4: IN THE OCEAN OF EMOTIONS – PHILIPPINE DRAMA

The Philippine Theater began just like any other genre of literature-with precolonial
indigenous drama. These constitute rituals, verbal jousts or games, and songs and
dances praising their respective gods. Eventually, when the Spaniard came, these
indigenous dramas were discarded and were change into mainly two categories: the
comedy or komedya and the zarzuela or sarsuela. These dramas were used to capture
the imaginations and hearts of the Filipinos, whom the Spaniards have just colonized.

Before the stage plays began though, there were also predramatic forms present in
Philippine theater before. There were loas, declamaciones, and oraciones (or
declamations and orations) that usually involved only one person and were not as
dramatical as a stage play.

The komedya was developed into different kinds. One of the most popular ones is the
moro-moro, which are plays that depicts the lives, loves, and wars of Moors and
Christians. Two more kinds, indigenized by the Filipinos, are the comedia de capa y
espada or secular comedy and the comedia de santo or religious comedies. Some of
these comedies are still found in the country, namely, Parañaque City and Illigan City.

The Zarzuela is a type of theater that is musical in nature- it is both spoken and sung.
The first zarzuela in the Philippines was staged in 1878 or 1879 and was written by
Francisco Asojo Barbieri in 1855, entitled Jugar Con Fuego (play with fire) even Jose
Rizal wrote his own zarzuela, entitled “Junto Al Pasig” and was staged in 1880. In 1893,
because of its poularity, the Teatro Zorilla was inaugurated as the home of zarzuelas. Of
course, Filipinos also indigenized the zarzuela and called it sarsuela. It became a mix or
music, prose, dance, dialogue, and a discussion of contemporary subjects.

Philippine theater has evolved in many ways in the face of modernization, but it
always goes back to what Filipinos want: fun, music, dance, and contemporary
issues that we all can relate to.
A “Timed Reading” is when you perform the characters in a play per group out loud
through dramatic reading.

Common mistakes in Dramatic Reading:

1. Reads the wrong word or wrongly reads a word;
2. Does not perform with the right voice (a boy’s voice for boy character and a girl’s
voice for a girl character) or emotions;
3. Stalls or take time before starting; and
4. Does not pronounce a word properly.

Another play that deals with contemporary social issue The World is an Apple By: Alberto
Florentino. Characters: Gloria, Mario, Pablo
 Creativity is an important part of anyone’s personality. When you role play or
perform in a stage play, you exercise your creativity and put yourself in situations
that you otherwise will probably not experience in your own life.

A poem is meant to be recited out loud, play is meant to be staged and performed.
Despite staging an amateur play, there are still processes to it that you must follow for
your play to be successful.

Here are steps that you can follow in staging an amateur play.
1. Find a play
2. Find a group who you want to work with.
3. Assign specific tasks to each of your group mates.
4. Make a timeline of what you want to accomplish
5. Stick to your plan.
6. Finally, enjoy the presentations.