1996 – Noon po sa Amin

SENTRONG PANGKULTURA NG PILIPINAS

presents

THE RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP
NOON PO SA AMIN (Then In Our Place)
a historical travelogue of the Philippines
Ramon A. Obusan, Artistic Director
CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater)
July 26, 1996 9:30 4.m. July 27, 1996 8:00 p.m.

I. Prologue
Malakas at Maganda
Legend has it that Malakas and Maganda were our first parents,
and from them came forth all the Filipinos.
II. Pre-Colonial Philippines
Unang Tao
(Early Man) Archeological finds reveal that you and I go back a long, long way,
Over 55,000 years.

Apoy (Fire)
The knowledge of fire gave power to the wheels of progress.

Pangunahing pangangailangan (Basic Needs) Filipinos knew early in time the use of basic tools for hunting fishing and simple agriculture.

Sulat (Script) Along with the increase in skill came the knowledge of script.

Kalakalan at Komersyo (Trade and Commerce) Slavery was popular and considered the most substantial form of wealth.

Pananampalataya (Religion) Visitors may have brought trade and religion but before this, locals have their own version, 4 mixture of praying and healing.

Paraang Mag-anak (Family System) As the family grew, there was increase for needs and ability.

Gobyerno(Gwerment) Just as indigenous as the old beliefs is a form of government which
sfill operates at present in the Luzon highlands.

III. Age of Trade and Contact Mangangalakal na Intsik at Arabo (Chinese and Arab Traders)

Probably before the earliest account of Sulu as trading post, products may have entered the ports of Ching through Arab and Chinese traders. Barter of Panay Ten datus landed in Panay and exchanged the island for a gold hat and necklace from Marikudo, 4 Negrito chieftain.

Pagdating ng Islam (Coming of Islam) The Sulu Tarsilas refer to Makhdum Karim as the man who came
to Sulu in the 14th century to preach the faith.

V. Day of the Conquistador
Si Magellan Magellan’s Cross and Death) Spain would prove to be a major character in Philippine history. Magellan landed on our shores in March 1521 and claimed the land for Spain. He met his death in the hands of the powerful
Lapu-Lapu.

Legaspi, ang Adelantado (Legaspi the Adelantado)
Conquest was over for 50 years until Miguel Lopez de Legaspi came back to colonize the islands.

Pag-aalsang Tsino (Chinese Uprising) There were Chinese uprisings during the Spanish Philippines,
famous of which was led by Liu Feng or Limehong.

Koloniyang Hapon (The Chrysanthemum Colony) In 1570 twenty Japanese lived in Manila and 600 in Cagayan and Pangasinan. They escaped anarchic conditions from Japan ruled by the Asikaga shogunate.

Pagdating ng mga Misyonaryo (The Missions) Religious missions came to evangelize the islands in the
Catholic faith.

Katolisisimo a la Pilipino (Catholicism in folk frappings) A unique expression of universal religion which the Filipino endowed with emotional and ceremonial content.

Pulong Tubo (Untouched Groups) Indigenous groups wedged between mountains or shielded by thick
forest rains escaped the Onslaught of conquest and progress.

Kasuotang Pilipino (Filipino Costmes of the 16th and 17th Century) Various fashion silhouttes marked important eras of Spanish rule.

Diego at Gabriela Silang They led an liocano uprising in 1762.

Galleon Trade Manila-Acapulco was linked by galleons that made or broke lives.

IV. Period of Armed Struggle

Makabayang Awitin (Patriotic Songs) The Filipinos have no aims and ammunitions in their fight against Spain except for an ethest and desperate dream of freedom.

Katipunan 1892 Bonifacio’s Kataas-tagsang kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), a secret revolutionary organization.

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

Kalayaan ng 1898 (Philippine Independence) Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo emerged as the leader of the period. He proclaimed independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

V. American Intervention

Aguinaldo was ready to take Manila but the US troops persuaded him to postpone it. He agreed only to find out that the Americans took Manile for themselves. The allies had turned into 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 US arived on board
the transport ship “Thomas”.

VI. Firsts at the Tuth of the Century

Things began to happen in Manila and into the other cities.
American progressiveness dawned with the new century.

Carnival Queens In 1910, the first carnival queens were proclaimed, starting
long line of beauties extending until these days.

Commonwealth The Philippine’s struggle for independence, this time from the
Americans, shifted to the political arena.

VII. The Japanese Regime

Fires of War
In December 8, 1941, feast of Immaculada Concepcion,
the second world war started. The Japanese came to our shores with the dream of conquest. Bombs fell indiscriminately and the country would suffer greatly.

VIII. Rebuilding of the Nation

Liberation
General Douglas McArthur made frue his promise, and he did return. The country was liberated from the Japanese.

Fiesta
As the country recovered from the ravages of war, Manila slowly crept back into her feet and moved towards the 20th cenfury, taking off from where she was before the war.

IX. Our Neighbors

United Nations
In 1945, the Philippines became one of the founding member countries of the United Nations – an alliance that fostered peace among nations.

Under ASEAN Skies
As the country moved towards progress, international relations became necessary for the economy and security of the nation. In August 9, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was founded.

X. Finale Philippine history before our eyes.

The RAMON OBUSAN FOLKLORIC GROUP
(1971-1996)

Founded in 1971, the ROFG started as a fledging folk dance company, composed of not more than thirty performers. Leaning on the vast amount of data and artifacts that he had accumulated while he was doing researches, Mr. Ramon Obusan thought of starting a dance company that will mitor the traditional culture of the Filipinos through dance and music.
For twenty-five years, the ROFG has created a niche in the world of dance as forerunner of Philippine dance performed closest to the original. Boasting of over a thousand performances in the Philippines and abroad, the ROFG became a resident folk dance company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1986.

Under the able leadership of its father and Artisitic Director/ Choreographer, Ramon A. Obusan, it has so far gone on three scuccessful European Tours in 1987, 1990 and 1993. In 1992, the group was the first Filipino perforing artists to receive resounding applause and standing ovations for all its performances in Japan under the auspices of Min-on. In 1994, the group had its first American Tour visiting 16 states capped with a proclamation of February 8 as ROFG Day in Cleveland, Ohio. In Asia, the group represented the Philippines in various dance festivals and conferences as cultrual ambassadors. Along with this, Mr. Obusan was chosen as Artistic Director of the first performing group composed of the various dance companies in the ASEAN region – the Joint ASEAN Performing Troupe. In 1994, ten of of its members were in the Asian Village in Sentosa, Singapore performing not only Philippine dances but also dances of other Asian countries.

In 1995, it helped raise HK1.5 M for Filipino OCW’s in Hongkong when they performed for 4 fund-raising event sponsored by the Hong Kong Bayanihan Trust. In April and May 1996 the group went to Paris, Turkey, Greece and Sweden for series of performances under the auspices of the Department of Tourism. Next year, the company will be prepraring for its fourth European Tour and second American Tour from July to September.

Though steep with international recognition, the ROFG has never forgotten the people who are the very source of its pride. For the past two decades it has documented and performed the rituals of more than 50 ethnolinguistic groups in the country. With about fifteen outstanding full-length Filipino dance works, among which are the memorable suites from the Cordillera, Bagobo, T ‘boli, Tausug Maranao, the Aetas, and the Talaandig among others, the ROFG has sewed to highlight the authenticity of the movements and costumes of these people.
Today, the ROFG humbly celebrates 25 years of fruitful existence and sevice to the Filipino people. To the ROFG there is no stopping in the pursuit of recording and staging of fast fading traditions.

Production Staff

Ramon A. Obusan Over-all concept, design, choreography script, & artistic direction
Orando Ocampo Musical Director
Sonny Perocho Lights Design & Technical Director
Raul Nepomuceno Jr. Asst. Lights Design & Technica Director
Raul Nepomuceno Jr. Dance Master
Cherry Ylanan Dance Master
Emelita Medina Costumes Mistress/Custodian
Sherwin Santos Props Master
Frank Depakakibo Production Manager
Dennis Tan Artistic Consultant
Cultural Promotions Video Coverage

Cast Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group

Cherry Ylanan
Rouvella Serrano
Gemmy Condalor
Marie Ruby Ocampo
Romylyn Frias
May Liwanag
Regina Munoz
Dinah Sario
Emelita Medina
Omega Venus
Raul Nepomuceno Jr.
Lyle Villahermosa
Angelito Santos
Felipe Simon Peralta
Ronnie Riparip
Jojo Abacial
Rolando Jorge J.
Marciano Viri
Sherwin_Cafe
Joseph Tiratira
Michael Bayani
Romeo Medina
Renato Castelo
Jesus Atencio
Dennis Singson
Vergel Saroso
Randy Guevara
Christopher Cervantes
Warren Munar
Randehl Quijote
Nerius Alinday
Juvan Bemmil

Mga Anak ng Inang Daigdig (Smokey Mountain)

Arlene del Rosario
Armando Estiandan
Venelyn Calupas
Andy Avelino
Rezza Doftedo
Benjie Bitoon
Monaliza Flores
Reynand Collado
Cristina Garcia
Louie Legaspi
Angelita Sulaybar
Rocky Duran
Neissa Beltran
Edmer Bags
Jennifer Briones
Antonio Macalalag
Joyce Lucena
Ronald Santiago
Lorehta Falilagot
Jovelyn Calupas
Gina Estino

Don Mariano Marcos High School

Charo Pangindian
Eliza Santos
Catherine Lim
Joan Patrick Usana