SEDITIOUS

and
LIBELOUS
STAGE PLAYS & LITERARY
PIECES

BSN 3A GROUP B
 Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas
by Aurelio Tolentino

It talks about Filipino oppressors from yesterday (the

Chinese), today (the Spanish) and tomorrow (the
Americans). Inangbayan (the Philippines) and her son
Tagailog (the Filipino) conquer all of them. It showed his
disapproval of the expansion of power led by a country
within and focusing the victory of the Motherland against
those who undermined it. The scene then proceeds with the
taking down of the American flag and stepping on it,
causing another riot between the white and brown men.

Aurelio Tolentino strongly believed that although the

American colonizers were stronger and were strongly
armed, Filipinos should still exhibit the spirit of
independence and that this should still remain amidst all.
Foreseeing that he would be arrested if his writings were
too outspoken and transparent, he made use of symbols to
pertain to the characters described in the play. The play
was performed May 14, 1903. Everyone in the theater was
convicted and the author, Tolentino was arrested of sedition
charged with a fine of $2000 and 2 years of imprisonment.
 Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas
by Aurelio Tolentino

The play was forcefully objected and Tolentino was held

captivated because a former Spanish officer, Enriquez Calderon,
pointed out that certain lines in the script specifically ''Not To
Be Used" were included in the production. The play not only
included some lines that are not in favor of the Americans, it
also included some acts like the characters wearing clothes of
certain colors that when combined, forms the Philippine flag.
This symbolizes protest and the aim of the Filipinos for freedom
and independence. The prospect of captivity did not frighten his
brave, patriotic nature instead Tolentino continued his
nationalistic efforts even after his release.

Due to the anti-poor policies being created by politicians, many

of whom were trained in other countries particularly in the US
that the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer
and even up until now we can still witness how people's
fundamental rights continue to be restricted. The message of
Aurelio Tolentino's play were openly critical of the countries who
stole the basic rights of the Filipinos or to the United States that
time, when the audience shouted "Long live freedom! Long live
the Mother-land!”, it basically express their dissent to imperialist
power.
 Walang Sugat
by Severino Reyes
On the year 1898, “Walang
Sugat” was produced by
Severino Reyes. "Walang
Sugat" is considered one of
the "seditious plays" of the
early American colonization,
when Reyes and other
playwrights would disguise
anti-Spanish and anti-
American imperialism
sentiments through their
works.

Walang Sugat is an original

sarswela which interweaves
the personal with the
national. This is a story that
awakens the viewer’s sense
of heroism and patriotism
while simultaneously
drawing them into the love
story of Julia (played by Cris
Villonco) and Tenyong
(played by Noel Rayos).
 Walang Sugat
by Severino Reyes
The highlighted excerpt from the play “Walang Sugat” by
Severino Reyes shows the cruelty and brutality of the
Spanish people during their regime. It was also shown on
the script that the Spanish people showed no mercy to the
imprisoned, which caused them to die. In addition, it was
very evident that during those times (Spanish Colonization),
Spanish rulers have used their powers to control the
Filipinos and abuse them.
 Tanikalang Guinto
by Juan Abad

Tanikalang Guinto, or the Golden Chain, influenced by Moro-

Moro dramas, is indeed a seditious play for it has hidden
symbolism against the Americans in its time. It is a dula or
play written by Juan Abad during the Philippine-American
War that depicts the search for freedom for love, but with a
deeper meaning, the situation of the Philippines when it was
under American colonial control is symbolically conveyed
through each character, object, and occurrence in the story.
The play was about the intended marriage (symbol of
freedom) of K'ulayaw (symbol of the revolutionary, Filipino
hero) and Liwanag (symbol of love of the country/ spirit of
independence), which Maimbot (symbol of the American
government) tried to block using the "Golden Chain," which is
a symbol of the promise of the United States that they will
give freedom and independence to the Philippines. It is one
of the most well-known seditious plays written in the country
during the American Period.

In an attempt to break the couple, the woman’s father bribes

his daughter with a golden chain. The woman accepts the
chain but did not see this as a bribe. A last attempt to break
the marriage, the father resulted to great evils that lead to
the tragic death of the man who courted his daughter. The
chain symbolized the freedom and independence promised by
 Tanikalang Guinto
by Juan Abad

the Americans. This story is similarly patterned after out

history with the Americans promising us freedom and
independence but taking it away.

Despite the dilemma Liwanag faced, she chooses K'ulayaw as

the line stated: "Tinangkang saktan ni Maimbot at Nagtapon
si Liwanag ngunit tila may malakas na hiwaga na pwersa na
nagpakita kay Maimbot at Nagtapon, nagpakita ang
demonyo sa harap ni Nagtapon at kamatayan naman kay
Maimbot, natakot ang dalawa kaya agad namang umalis
ang mga ito at iniwan lamang si liwang habang nakatali sa
puno”. which represents as libelous. During the early years of
American rule, the utilization of common social events paired
with ideological themes was incredibly effective in capturing
the interest of widely dispersed audiences and instilling a
desire to attain the ideals of national freedom.

The seditious play that was staged in the Philippines at the

turn of the century essentially had a single objective and it is
to topple the American military dictatorship and reinstate the
dominance of the nation's revolutionary forces. The art form
that was used to represent this was of foreign origin but had
been acculturated to the Philippine culture.
 Tanikalang Guinto
by Juan Abad

The storylines, which were a truthful reflection of both the

positive and terrible aspects of the local culture, attracted
local audiences towards the performance. Additionally, the
play effectively employed explicit or implicit techniques to
convey the citizenry's desire for liberation from the new
colonial authority. The underlying story plot, which either
reflected their real-life circumstances or the situations that
were widely idealized, on the one hand, and the intrinsic
nationalistic appeals, on the other, are how this foreign
theater form that had been adapted to the Philippine culture
and the needs of the time spoke to the people.

The defendant was convicted in the Court of First Instance of

the Province of Batangas of the violation of section 8 of Act
No. 292, the law defining and punishing treason and sedition.
He is the author of the Tagalog drama "Tanikalang Guinto"
(The Chain of Gold). This drama he produced in a theater at
Batangas on the 10th day of May 1903. The Government
claimed and the court below held that the drama was
seditious Abad received a two-year prison term and a $2,000
fine.