Stories about Mindanao take center stage at the 10th Tanghal University Theater Festival, which Xavier University (XU)-Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City is hosting this weekend, Nov. 25-26.
The festival features three main performances from XU’s The Xavier Stage, Mindanao State University Marawi’s Sining Kambayoka Ensemble and La Salle University Ozamiz’s Teatro Guindegan, and two fringe presentations from Xavier’s Dulaang Atenista and Pasundayag Community Arts of Cagayan de Oro City.
Through the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ National Committee on Dramatic Arts, the 10th installment of Tanghal forms part of the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2016.
The festival’s theme is “Yuta” (Earth), to signify Mindanao as the “Land of Promise and Peace”; the chosen plays focus on the region’s ethnicity, hopes and origins.
The Xavier Stage, a resident repertory theater company of XU, is presenting a twin bill of Art Casanova’s “Nang Lumuha ang mga Tala sa Gitna ng Lawa” and Romeo Narvaez’s “Dula Ta.”
This production—called “Singanin,” a Maranao term for “aspiration”—is directed by Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts artistic director Hobart Savior.
“Singanin” depicts the struggles of Moro people who are victims of conflict in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Teatro Guindegan of La Salle Ozamiz presents “Ang Tawo,” directed by Felimon Blanco, about the death of Tawo, an allegorical figure of humanity.
Completing the three major offerings of the festival is Sining Kambayoka Ensemble’s critically acclaimed “Sa Ilalim sa mga Nag-ulang Tingga” (Under the Rain of Bullets), directed by Pepito Sumayan of Mindanao State University Marawi and written by Marili Fernandez-Ilagan and Sunnie Noel.
Tanghal will also offer fringe, improv and documentary-demonstration performances, as well as audience Q&As. All shows are open to the public. Performances will be held at XU Little Theater.