Pasundayag sa mga Talento

Denise L. Bocado
March 17, 2024

BOOM! BANG! THUD! The lights glimmered. The students’ pitter-patter can be heard
across the coliseum. Actors and propsmen are preparing for show time. The Panagtipon
Festival beams with excitement as the play starts.

Held at the Cebu Coliseum from March 14 to 16, the first week kicks off with four ground-
breaking Cebuano theatre plays namely: “Miss Mutya Sa Saging Minantikaan”, “Lumay Sa
Pagbati”, “Ang Sapa Sa Kalagasan”, and “Ang Pito Ka Bulan Ug Ang Bakunawa,” which
was performed together with the Bachelor of Performing Arts students at the University of
Cebu.

Panagtipon Festival is an annual event that seeks to highlight and preserve Cebuano theatre,
with its establishment dating back to 2019. These plays are created to captivate the audience
and help Cebuanos reminisce about their vivid culture.

The first play, entitled “Ang Miss Mutya sa Saging nga Minantikaan” by Pablito Baguio, is a
romantic slash comedy that tells the story of broken promises and how a person turns over a
new leaf in life. Nanay Bibang (Mother of Bibo), a beloved character in the play, exudes a
bright aura while portraying the role of a loving mother. “Nanay Bibang has a vital part. It
demonstrates how a mother’s love is so pure and limitless that no amount of money can ever
replace it. Nanay Bibang conveys to the audience that a mother’s love is immeasurable and
that a mother’s love will go to any length for her children. Always cherish your mother or
someone who has served as your mother while they are still alive,” states Maryelle Annika,
the actor who portrayed Nanay Bibang.

Love…love…love? The next play, “Lumay Sa Pagbati,” is a fiction-romance performed by

Arts and Design Grade 12 students and shows a tale about a duwende called Ismelia ignoring
societal norms to be with Javier, the chronicler and cartographer of the voyagers. “I think it’s
a great way of depicting Cebuano culture with a hint of fantasy in it,” Ken Joseph, a grade 12
STEM student from the University of Cebu Main Campus, said.
The third play, “Ang Sapa Sa Kalagasan” by Rasheed Veloso, is a symbolic portrayal of the
“Legend of Maria Cacao.” It entails the story of three mischievous siblings who defied their
grandmother’s advice to take care of the Calagasan River. In an interview with Rasheed
Veloso, he mentioned that “the three young characters from the play came from a true
incident. Way back in 2014, three students from Calagasan NHS of Argao, namely: Richelle
Pasaje, 15; Earl Kyle Sarbido, 13; and Caroline Marson, 15, were swept away by the
floodwaters of the river Brgy. Calagasan from school.”

“ I wanted these people to be remembered. At the same time, allow people to know our local
stories and culture, which are the Maria Cacao and Mang-aw stories,” Veloso, the playwright,
stated. “I wanted the audience to remember their roots, the identity of our culture, and to give
value to the people who were once part of our lives,” he added.

At last, “Ang Pito Ka Bulan Ug Ang Bakunawa” by Arts and Design Grade 12 students
concluded the festival, depicting the tale about Bathala, Lidagat, and their battle stemming
from envy, resulting in Lidagat taking up a new form, the bakunawa. “Pinaka nindot na play
so far; a great way to end the first week,” a grade 12 STEM student said.

The performing arts have played a significant role in Cebu’s culture, as they offer a glimpse
into the city’s vibrant and creative culture. Our mother tongue has also made an impression in
the theatre industry, proving Bisaya is a diverse and cultural language. These theatre
performances presented by University of Cebu students seek to build and foster Cebuano’s
love for their own culture, especially with the younger generation, through showcasing our
traditions and beliefs.

THUNK…WOOSH…CLAP. The lights dimmed. The students applauded and rejoiced. The
actors are bowing and leaving the stage with elated faces. The first week of the panagtipon
festival was a triumph, marking a significant milestone in Cebu’s theatre culture. Pero ayaw
ug kaguol kay wa pa nahuman ang lingaw!