DRAMA

Oriental Drama
 Dramas from Asian countries, like the Japanese, the
Chinese, and the Filipino drama.
 It will help us appreciate Asian heritage, culture, and
civilization more. This is a culture or civilization not far
from those established by Rome, Greece, or other
countries.
 Like Western drama, the drama of Asia originated as an
elaboration of liturgical practices. It is based on the
concept of sangita9or sammita0, the threefold art of
music, dance, and poetry, fused into single artistic
entity.
 The emphasis is on performance rather than on the
intellectual significance of the subject matter. Asian
actors long ago rejected realistic presentation in favor
of abstraction and symbolism
 Philippine Drama

Early forms of the Philippine Drama :

 Duplo – was a poetical debate held by trained men

and women in the ninth night, the last night of the
mourning period for the dead. The male
participants, bellacos , are the heads of the game.

 Karagatan – was also a poetical debate like duplo,

but its participants were amateurs.

 Both held in the homes and the theme was all

about a ring that fell into the sea.
Three Plays and Two Street Dramas that became
popular during Spanish era :

 Cenakulo
 It is a very heavy drama shown in relation to the life
sacrifices and death of Jesus Christ.
 It is like a passion play presented and celebrated
during the month of March or April, depending upon
the exact date of the Holy Week.
 They are two kinds of presenting Cenakulo

1. Ablada – oral
2. Kantada - song
 Moro-Moro

 It is a cloak-and-dagger play depicting the wars

between the Christians and the Muslims, with the
Christians always on the winning side.

 The first Moro-Moro was written by Fr. Jeronimo

Perez and was staged in manila in 1637, to
commemorate Governor General Consueras’
victory over the Muslims of Mindanao.

 Since then, it has become the favorite play of the

people, especially during the town festivals.
Zarzuela

 It is a melodrama with songs and dances

what have three-in-one act play.
 It is intended to make the mass feeling
towards love, grief, sorrow and fear or any
emotional reactions sublime.
 the musical part of zarzuela has given much
opportunity fro creativity and appreciation of
the audience until the revolt in Cavite in 1872.
Zarzuela

 The zarzuela is a musical comedy.

 Rizal wrote a zarzuela entitled Junto Al Pasig
(beside the Pasig).
Moriones

 the Morion Festival is a Lenten ritual that is

colorful as it is unique. It is celebrated every
Holy week in Marinduque
 Morion means mask or visor which is the top
of the medieval roman armor covering the
face.
 It is the mask carved from dapdap wood that
is the local point of the Mariones celebration
Ati-atihan

 A pagan ritual which has become an annual

affair that the natives look forward with great
expectation.
 It is the most extravagant fiesta in the
Philippines celebrated in Kalibo, Aklan, every
third Sunday of January in honor of the infant
Jesus.
Ati-atihan

 People of Aklan celebrate the Ati-atihan

dressed in out-landish costumes and get-ups.
 This native Mardi Gras finds the participants
dressed in improvised attires of feathers,
coconut shells, and palm fronds, as they
imitate in their own way the garnish tribal
costumes of the Atis.
Modern Philippine Drama

 Was rejuvenated upon the establishment of

the Repertory Philippines in June of 1967
which founded by Zeneida “Bibot” Amador
and Baby Barredo.
 In its years of existence, Repertory Philippines
has become the county’s leading theater
company, keeping abreast of new materials
and demanding outstanding performance
from its extra ordinary talents.