I.

Philippine Theater

Philippine theater is the sum total of mimetic performances developed and presented
through history on occasions and for purposes determined by social purpose and need.
a) Indigenous Theatre
The rituals, dances, and customs which are still performed with urgency and
vitality by the different cultural communities that comprise about 5% of the
country’s population are held or performed, together or separately, on the
various occasions a person’s birth, baptism, circumcision, initial menstruation,
death or for the celebration of tribal activities like hunting, fishing and
harvesting.

b) The Spanish Colonial Period

Lasted from 1965, when Legaspi arrived in Cebu, to 1898 when Aguinaldo
declared Philippine Independence in kawiti Cavite. During this 333- year reign,
the Spanish government introduced into the islands the Catholic religion and the
Spanish wayo f life, which gradually merged with the indigenous culture to
form the “Lowland Folk Culture” shared by the major ethnololinguistics groups,
like Ibanag, Pangasinan, Ilongo and Cuyunan.
c) The American Colonial
Short as it was, the American Colonial regime from 1901 to 1946 had a profound
effect on the 20th century Philippine Theater,first in form and latter in philosophy.
This influence is seen in the Philippine bodabil, the western plays presented in
English or in Filipino and the original modern plays written by contemporary play
wrights.

d) Contemporary Period
Most of the original plays of today were written for literary contests or evolved
through workshops or created for semiprofessional companies, student drama
organizations, and numerous community theater groups all over the country.
Outstanding directors who have contributed to the development of modern Philippine
theater are Lamberto V. Avellana, Henry Lee Irwin SJ, Severino Montano, Wilfrido
Ma.Guerrero, Onofre Pagsanghan, Rolando S. Tinio, Zeneida Amador, Antonio
Mabesa, Behn Cervantes, Nonon Padilla, Anton Juan Jr., Lutgardo Labad, Soxy
Topacio, Joel Lamangan, and Tony Espejo, all Manilabased; and Leo Rimando,
Joonee Gamboa, Nestor Horfilla, Steven Patrick Fernandez, Frank Rivera, Rodulfo
Galenzoga, Karl Gaspar, Edward Defensor, and Orlando Magno, who are based in the
regions.
a) Forms and Types of Contemporary Theater
1. Children’s theater- may refer to plays with children as actors; or plays performed
by adults for children
2. Dramatic Monologue - a kind of modern play which features one actor speaking
and acting out his of her innermost thoughts and emotions as the main character of
the play.
3. Dula- Tula- literally “play- poem,” refers to a minimalist form of theater
developed in the early 1970s by UP Repertory.
4. Huling Hapunan- actual supper held to commemorate Christ’s last supper.
5. Flores - refer to the whole flower festival celebrated in the month of May in honor
of the Virgin Mary.
6. Hudas - refers to the ritual burning of effigy of Judas held on Black Saturday.
7. Komedya - is a play which dramatizes actual events, the lives about Christians and
Moorish Royalty.
8. Musical Theater- - refer to plays which music is an integral part.
9. Paghuhugas ng Paa- dramatizes the episode in New Testament where Christ after the
Last Supper, washes the feet of His 12 Apostles.
10. Pangangaluluwa- refer to the custom that is performed late in the night of All Saint’s
Day where male and female carolers go from house to house impersonating ghosts.
11. Panunuluyan- - dramatizes the search for an inn by Mary and Joseph on Christmas eve
in Bethlehem
12. Salubong- dramatizes the meeting of the grieving Mary and Christ
13. Sinakulo- dramatizes the history of Salvation
14. Political Theater- to change or improve existing systems of Government