UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

EDSA CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COUNCIL

Name: Monasterial, Hazel May A. Date: Aug. 23, 2019

Course: BSE-ENG 2A

Written Report

I. Objectives
 To identify the cultural traditions and historical influences that helped build and develop
the theatrical factors, which contributed to the emergence of the Filipino drama.
 To develop an appreciation of and respect for the dramatic forms that flourished and
continue to flourish among the different lives of every Filipino.

II. Subject Matter

A. Topic
History and Development of Speech and Theatre Arts in the Philippines
- Indigenous Theatre/Drama
- Spanish Colonial Tradition
- American Colonial and Contemporary Tradition

B. References
Fernandez, D.G. (1993) Zarzuela to Sarswela: Indigenization and Transformation. Ateneo de
Manila University Philippine Studies vol. 41, no. 3 (1993): 320–343
Fernandez, D.G. (1981) Historical Notes on the Jesuits and Early Philippine Theatre. Ateneo de
Manila University Philippine Studies vol. 29, no. 3 & 4 (1981): 375–393
Hernandez, T. (1976) The Emergence of Modern Drama in the Philippines (1898-1912). Philippine
studies working paper no. 1. Reproduced by Philippine Studies, Asian Studies Program. University
of Hawaii.
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
EDSA CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COUNCIL

Solaire Resort & Casino (2019) The Evolution of Philippine Theatre. Retrieved August 19, 2019
from https://www.solaireresort.com/article/the-evolution-of-philippine-theatre
Tiatco, A. (2014) The Philippine Komedya and the Recuperation of the Cosmopolitan: From
Colonial Legacy to Cross-Cultural Encounter. Modern Drama, Volume 57, Number 1, Published
by University of Toronto Press. DOI: 10.1353/mdr.2014.0000

Websites:
Gantimpala Theatre Foundation - https://afptheatre.com
Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) - https://petatheatre.com/
Tanghalang Pilipino - https://tanghalangpilipino.com

C. Materials
 Laptop
 Smartphone

III. Content
History and Development of Speech and Theatre Arts in the Philippines
- Indigenous Theatre/Drama
 Mainly Malay in character, which is seen in rituals, mimetic dances, and mimetic customs.
 Rituals, dances, and customs are held or performed, together or separately on the occasions
of a person's birth, baptism, circumcision, initial menstruation, courtship, wedding,
sickness, and death or for the celebration of tribal activities like hunting, fishing, rice
planting and harvesting, and going to war.
 In most rituals, a native priest/priestess, variously called mandadawak, catalonan (priests),
bayok or babalyan (priestess) goes into a trance, as the spirit he/she is calling upon
possesses him/her.

- Spanish Colonial Tradition

 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
EDSA CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COUNCIL

 The major dramatic and theatrical genre of the pre-modern period in Filipino drama, began
with the Spanish occupation and Christianization of the Philippines in 1565.
 By 1898, modern Filipino drama had been born, and by 1912, it was established
 Kumedya or moro-moror is a vernacular play in verse, which dramatized the conflict
between Christians and Muslims, which, as the kumedya's theatrical highlight, was
expressed in choreographed stage battles. Around this conflict revolved a romantic plot,
which featured exotic characters entangled in fantastic situations.
 Zarzwela is a Spanish theater, defined as a type of Spanish musical theater, both spoken
and sung.
 The zarzuela, combining verse and prose, song, dance and dialogue with the new element
of contemporary subject matter, very promptly found a place in the native repertoire, and
became the Filipino sarswela.
 Senakulo is the staged version of the pasyon (the Passion chanted during Holy week) which
is done in singing (pasyon) and recitation.
 It is a lenten play that is a dramatic presentation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, his trial,
suffering and death that lasts for eight weeks.
- American Colonial and Contemporary Tradition
 In 1898, the first bodabil was produced by the Manila Dramatic Guild.
 The bodabil is not a straight-up play. It is a mix of songs, dances, comedy skits, and even
magical performances.
 In the 1930s, the country was introduced to Broadway theatre or stage plays through the
westernized education that was provided in most private schools for privileged children.
It is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue, and dance.
-Theatre Groups in the Philippines
 Tanghalang Pilipino, founded in 1987 as the resident theatre company of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), aims to promote Philippine Theatre that is rooted in
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
EDSA CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COUNCIL

centuries-old Filipino culture and history while being responsive to evolving contemporary
society.
 GANTIMPALA Theatre Foundation’s history began at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP) in 1978. Founding President and Artistic Director, Tony S. Espejo
introduced the concept of Black Box Theatre in the country by establishing Bulwagang
Gantimpala. It gave the young opportunities to exercise artistry in the different fields of
theatre discipline.
 PETA is known for being outspoken. It has had a heart for social change, founded in 1967
by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez for that very purpose. PETA is among the recipients of the
prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards. Among its most popular shows are Bayaning
Huwad in 1967 that is their first play, Pilipinas Circa 1907 in 1982, Batang Rizal in 2007,
and Rak of Aegis in 2014.

IV. Quiz
Modified TRUE or FALSE: Right T if the statement is true and if false, identify and change
the incorrect word to make the whole statement true.
1. The evolution of the kumedya or moro-moro, the major dramatic and theatrical genre of
the pre-modern period in Filipino drama, began with the Spanish occupation and
Christianization of the Philippines in 1565.
2. The bodabil is not a straight-up play.
3. In Indigenous Theatre, a catalonan is a priest, while a babalyan is a priestess.
4. Tanghalang Pilipino founded in 1987 as the resident theatre company of the Cultural Center
of the Philippines (CCP).
5. Sinakulo is the staged version of the pasyon (the Passion chanted during Holy week, which
consists of seven nights).

Answer: T, T, T, T, *seven - eight

 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
EDSA CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COUNCIL

V. Evaluation
Self-assessment Peer assessment Prof. assessment
Mastery of the lesson – 30%
Delivery – 30%
Organization – 20%
Written Report – 20%
Total =