1991 – Noon po sa Amin

THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES
PRESENTS THE RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP IN
Noon Po Sa Amin
A Historical Travelogue of the Philippines

I – Pre-Colonial Period
Il – Age of Trade and Contract
III – Spanish Colonization
IV – Period of Armed Struggle
V – American Occupation
VI – Firsts
VII – Japanese Regime Rebuilding of the Nation

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
May 31 – 8:00 PM
June 1 – 3:00 PM

THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES
Pahatid

BINABATI NG SENTRONG PANGKULTURA NG PILIPINAS (CCP) ANG RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP SA KANILANG IKA-4 NA TAONG PAGTATANGHAL BILANG CCP RESIDENT FOLK DANCE COMPANY.

KAHANGA-HANGA ANG MGA BINUBUONG PROGRAMA NG PANGKAT DAHIL BUNGA IYON NG MARAMING ORAS NA MASUSING PANANALIKSIK, PANGANGALAP NG MATERYALES, MASIDHING PAGHAHANDA AT MALIKHAING PAGBUO NG PRODUKSYON.

NAMUMUKOD-TANGI ANG NOON PO SA AMIN DAHIL BINABALIK-TANAW NG PROGRAMA, SA PAMAMAGITAN NG MASINING NA SAYAW-KATUTUBO, ANG MAKULAY NA KASAYSAYAN NG PILIPINAS MAGMULA NOONG BAGO SUMAPIT ANG MGA PUWERSANG KOLONYAL SA ATING MGA PULO.

MA. TERESA E. ROXAS
President

NICANOR TIONGSON
Vice-President/ Artistic Director

The RAMON A. OBUSAN Folkloric Group
Pahatid

WALANG IBANG PARAANG MAKAHIHIGIT SA PAGPAPAUNAWA SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN NG ATING MAGITING NA KASAYSAYAN KUNDI SA PAMAMAGITAN NG DRAMA, SAYAW, MUSIKA AT MAHABANG ORAS NG PANANALIKSIK AT MATIYAGANG PAG-AYOS NG MGA PANGYAYARI UPANG MAPASAENTABLADO ANG ATING KASAYSAYAN

HANDOG KO AT NG ROFG ANG “NOON PO SA AMIN” SA LAHAT NG NAGMAMAHAL AT NAGMAMALASAKIT SA ATING BAYAN. TAYO NA KAYONG LAHAT AT MULT NATING LINGUNIN AT BALIKAN ANG MGA PANGYAYARINOON PO SA AMIN.”

RAMON A. OBUSAN

THE RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP

The Philippine dance scene first received Ramon A. Obusan in its ranks in 1964 as a member of the Bayanihan Dance Company. He continued with the group while completing a degree in anthropology at the University of the Philippines, balancing a career of performance with a real desire to learn, and later teach, the tradition behind his craft. Not only was he then a dancer with the company, he was its researcher as well, taking many trips around the archipelago recording songs, dances, poetry, and collecting tribal costumes and musical instruments. In 1971, leaning on the vast amount of data and artifacts that he had accumulated, he formed his own group aimed at preserving and developing traditional Philippine music and dance. The company’s main drive was authenticity while keeping a flair for good theater, the same things that govern today, seventeen years after its birth. The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group has since performed in japan, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Canada, the United States, and has just completed its European tour of 21 countries. It is on its way to Seoul, Germany and Greece before and after the “Noon Po Sa Amin” performance. It is also in constant demand at home, doing performances, lectures and workshops. The group does not limit itself to satisfying the theater going public, instead, it goes to the man on the street to show him the beauty of the culture around him that he would otherwise miss. ROFG has done this in the Philippines by means of its lectures and outreach programs. Its international tours have also spread the word beyond local shores. The world, for its part, has not failed to notice the excellence in the ROFG endeavor. Locally, the group has received numerous awards and citations for its work, but deserving more attention are the ones given it by people from outside the country, people “alien” to the group’s repertoire. In the 8th Hong Kong Festival of the Arts, critics showered the ROFG with praise, describing it as “the stuff an Art Festival should be made of.” In Canada, three years later, 21 shows for Expo ’86 ended in 21 standing ovations. Thus far, the company has remained faithful to the primary objective. Under the able leadership of its founder, it continues to strive even harder for the future of Philippine culture. For the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, the work goes on. There are still things to learn and people to teach. For Ramon Obusan, a dream remains that of becoming a National Artist one day, recognition befitting his contributions to Philippine folk traditions.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Over-all Concept, Production Design, Script, Choreography
Artistic and Over-all Direction RAMON A. OBUSAN
Music Director ORLANDO OCAMPO
Technical Director DENNIS MARASIGAN
Dance Masters NESTOR CORTEZ
ROWELITO FERMIN
Costumes Custodian EMELITA MEDINA
Propsmen ROMEO MEDINA
SERGIO ANLOCOTAN, JR.
Production/Stage Manager ARNI MONTINOLA
Band Masters HERMIE RANERA
PEPING RANERA
Cast Master NESTOR CORTEZ
Secretariat ROMEO MEDINA
Transportation SERGIO ANLOCOTAN, JR.
Souvenir Porgram RAMON A. OBUSAN
DINAH SARIO
Video Coverage CCP DOCUMENTATION DEPT.
Photo Coverage RENE MEJIA
Stills and Slides OGIE ALCANTARA
DAVE PERICO

THE CAST

RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC PERFORMING GROUP
Evelyn Teves Grechen Siya Joseph Tiratira Reynaldo Avendaño
Dinah Sario Cherry Ylanan Rowelito Fermin Julian Pinzon
Cecil Tiratira Regina Muñoz Allan Villocino Antonio Ballestamon
Emelita Medina Wency Villocino Sergio Anlocotan, Jr. Orlando Ocampo
Ma. Lourdes Alejo Sharon Gustilo Angelito Santos Romeo Medina
May Liwanag Ma. Ruby Alejo Ronald Bustos Ricardo Perocho, Jr.
Penelope Sedano Nestor Cortez Randy Guevarra Michael Bayani

RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP TRAINEES
Sharifa Ahaddas Maurice Alden Serrano Allan Rivera Ronald Gundran
Adelaida Ahaddas Darrel Dane Serrano James Sison Dennis Sanchez
Belinda Beter Monica Senedrin Rhods Bautista Kristopher Lopino
Rosalie Obusan Juvy Garingo Manny Lopezon Roberto Buñan
Amor Mendoza Lorena Padual Ferdie Belda
Arny De Pedro Yanel Marabe Rey Clares

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY GROUP
Susan Lozada Michael Jimenez

SELECTED TEACHERS
Lorna Arada Menchie Atienza Marlyn Erasmo Antonio Feliciano

RIZAL HIGH SCHOOL
Ruby Ruth Cruz Demosthenes Soriano Catherine Muncal Jo-an Camson
Cecil Dumapit Jaquelyn Cruz Delia Buenaventura Reygene Muños
Celeste Vasquez Rommel Jimenez Decisa Patagas

SAN JUAN NEPOMUCENO BAND

Peping Ranera – Bandmaster
Hermie Ranera – Bandmaster

PROLOGUE
“NOON PO SA AMIN” – a detail-accurate, well-researched vignettes of Philippine history set to stage by Anthropologist turned artistic director-choreographer Ramon A. Obusan commencing from the precolonial period up to the time the Philippines joined the United Nations. Years in the making, “Noon Po…” promises to open new windows to historians, teachers, students, theatre enthusiasts and the public in general in the way history could be handled effectively on stage without losing fervor nor fire lent by great historical characters and events.

PROGRAMME
PART 1
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

UNANG TAO (Early Man) – archeological finds reveal that you and I go back a long long way, over 55,000 years.

SIMPLENG KAGAMITAN (Basic Needs) – Filipinos knew early in time the use of basic tools for hunting, fishing, and simple agriculture.

APOY (Fire) – most useful knowledge learned was the use of fire, first used probably by the Negritos.

SISTEMANG PAMILYA (Family System) – As the family grew, there was increase for needs and ability.

SULAT (Script) – Along with the increase in skill came the knowledge of writing.

KALAKALAN AT KOMERSYO (Trade and Commerce) – Slavery was popular and considered the most substantial form of wealth. The products of this trade were sold throughout the country.

PANANAMPALATAYA (Religion) – Visitors may have brought trade, influence and religion but before these the locals had already developed their own version of religion mixed with praying and healing.

PAMAHALAAN (Government) – Just as indigenous as the old beliefs is a form of government which still operates at present in the Luzon highland, solving tribal problems in a peace-pact or bodong. II.

AGE OF TRADE AND CONTACT ANG PAGDATING NG ISLAM (The Coming of Islam) – The Sulu Tarsilas refer to Makdum Karim as the man who came to Sulu in the 14th century to preach the faith. (Pagaper, a Maranao fan dance of old).

PAGAPER – A Maranao fan dance of old.

PAGBILI NG PANAY (Barter of Panay) – 10 Bornean Datus led by Datu Puti landed in Panay and exchanged the island for a gold hat and necklace from Marikudo, a Negrito chieftain.

PENDET – an Indoneisan welcome dance.

MGA MANGANGALAKAL NA TSINO AT ARABO (Chinese and Arab Traders) – As all these happened trade went on Chinese, Arabs and other merchants came to exchange or barter their products with local items.

III. ARAW NG MGA KONKESTADORES (Day of the Conquestadores)

ANG KRUS AT KAMATAYAN NI MAGELLAN (Magellan’s Cross and Death – Spain would prove to be a major character in Philippine history. Ferdinand Magellan landed and said the 1st mass on March 31, 1521 in a small Visayan island. He met his death in the hands of a powerful datu, Lapulapu.

LEGASPI, ANG ADELANTADO (Legaspi the Adelantado) – Conquest was over for 50 years until Miguel Lopez de Legaspi came back to colonize the islands. He earlier had a blood compact with Sikatuna of Bohol, before he proceeded and found Manila.

MGA PAG-AALSANG TSINO (Chinese Uprisings) – There were many Chinese rebellions that dotted Spanish Philippines but each rebellion was repressed, famous of which was led by Leu Feng or Limahong who disappeared from the history of China and the Philippines.

MGA KOLONIYANG HAPON (Japanese Colonies) — In 1570 twenty Japanese lived in Manila and 600 in Cagayan and Pangasinan. They escaped from the anarchic conditions of Japan then ruled by the Asikaga Shogunate.

ANG PAGDATING NG MGA MISYONERONG PARI (Arrival of the Mission) – From 1575 to 1578 religious mission groups came to the island to evangelize, do hospital works and spread education.

“KATOLISISMO” ALA PILIPINO (Catholicism in folk trappings) – A unique expression of a universal religion which the Filipinos endowed with emotional and ceremonial content.

LA ESTUDIANTINA – The pious life of convent-bred girls and the watchful eyes of the friars – in dance.

MGA “PULONG” TRIBO (Untouched Groups) – indigenous groups wedged between high mountains or shielded by thick rain forests escaped the onslaught of conquest and progress. Pure in form some still display ‘purity’ up to this day.

PAGTATALA NG MGA PANGALAN NG TAO (Documentation of the People) – There must be a way to control the place. The people had to be given names and documented, each town’s family name starts with the same letter.

PANANAKOP NG INGLES (British Occupation) – Two years of British occupation, 1762-64 brought havoc to the Philippine scene. They left when paid 2 million pesos.

DIEGO SILANG – and wife Gabriela led the Ilocano uprising of 1762.

LORENZO RUIZ – The first Filipino saint martyred in Japan while on mission work. Hunt Tante

GALLEON TRADE – Manila-Acapulco was linked by galleons that made or broke lives. To better the breed of the “ugly” Filipino, Mexican brides were imported to the Philippines.

PART 1

IV. PERIOD OF ARMED STRUGGLE MGA MAKABAYANG AWITIN (2 Patriotic Songs) – Sariling Bayan, and Bayan Ko opens the 2nd half.

JOSE P. RIZAL – He made the ultimate sacrifice, shot as a traitor, he showed his fellow countrymen how to live, and how to die.

KATIPUNAN – The rest of the Filipinos who could not identify with Rizal joined Bonifacio’s Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) a secret organization against the Spaniards.

KALAYAAN NG 1898 (Philippine Independence) – Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo emerged as the leader of the period. He proclaimed independence on June 12, 1898. People danced in the streets of Cavite that glorious day.

PAKIKIALAM NG MGA KANO (American Intervention) – Aguinaldo was ready to take Manila from the Spaniards. The US troops persuaded him to postpone it so that the allies might take it together. Aguinaldo agreed only to find out that the Americans took Manila for themselves. The allies turned enemies.

THOMASITES – A step in the plans of conquest includes the re-education of the Filipinos in the ways of their American friends. On June 23, 1901, the first batch of teachers from the USA arrived on board the transport ship “THOMAS”.

LA JOTA – Sayaw na patungkol sa Kalayaan.

V. MGA UNANG PANGYAYARI (Firsts) Things began to happen in Manila and the rest of the country. American progressiveness dawned with the new century. 1855-1887 – The first sewing machine, La Opinion, the 1st political paper, General Electric’s iron. 1889 – The first hotel, Hotel de Oriente, first demonstration against Spanish friars 1890-1891 – First Marikina shoes, “Maria Clara” in this year’s fashion; victoriala, telephone.

1890’s – Movies, bicycle.

ANG MGA REYNA NG KARNABAL (Carnival Queen) – In 1910, the first carnival queens, starting a long line of beauties extending to these days. A grand ball was always the highlight.

VI. ANG PANANAKOP NG HAPON (Japanese Occupation) The Japanese came to our shores with the dream of conquest and the gun for whosoever would not collaborate. Bombs fell indescriminately and the country would suffer greatly. Bataan and Corregidor fell, side by side Filipino and American forces featured in the infamous death march. To Prof. Felipe de Leon’s “Tindig Aking Inang Bayan” guerillera’s marched and fought.

LIBERATION – Gen. Douglas McArthur made true his promise, and he did return. The country was liberated. It was time to rebuild the nation.

ANG PILIPINAS AT ANG BANSANG NAGKAKAISA (The Philippines and the United Nations) – In the first years of the 50’s the Philippines joined the family of nations.

PAMAMAALAM (In retrospect) – History before your eyes.