TOPIC:

Philippine
Musical Theater
 LEARNING COMPETENCY
Describe how specific idea or
story is communicated through
music in a particular Philippine
Musical
Theater. (MU7FT-IVe-h-6)
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, learners will
be able to:
1. To describe how specific idea or
story is communicated through music
in a particular Philippine Musical
Theater.
 LET US TRY
Watch the following
videos and answer the
following questions.
1. KOMEDYA DE BALER (MORO MORO) - BALER
FIESTA 2012: GABI NG KULTURA.
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=F79RBOJDJQC
2. WATCH THE VIDEO OF “WALANG SUGAT PART 1” BY
TANGHALANG ATENEO.
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=1CM_AWB73LC
 Guide Questions:
1. Among the recorded sample of theater
performances, which of the following videos
did you like most? Explain your reason of
liking the video.
2. Based on the video clip Moro-moro on
Komedya de Baler (Moro-moro),
what is Moro-moro?
 LET US STUDY
Timeline of Philippine Musical Theater
1. Pre-colonial time – consisted of three elements – myths, mimesis, and spectacle. These
mimetic performances mostly dramatized primitive rituals and epic poetry about deities and
mythical legends, where the spirit of the deities would seemingly possess a catalonan (priest)
or babaylan (prietess).
2. Spanish Regime – they used dramas such as zarzuela as pedagogical tool to influence the
pagan tribes and teach them about Christianity and religion.
Zarzuela – it portrays the typical Filipino realities and stories and social relations which
viewers can relate in their lives.
Comedias (Secular & Religious) were normally performed in pueblos or village centers to
attract more people to the foundation of its regime. The comedia can last from 3 to 15 hours
through a series of performances. The first Filipino comedia was performed in latin and
Spanish by Fr. Vicente Puche in Cebu 1598.
3. American colonization - apparently influence Philippine theatre through
the bodabil (vaudeville). Bodabil is not straight-up play. The theatrical
performance is, in fact, a mix of songs, dances, comedy skits and even
magical performances. In the 1930’s, the country was introduced to Broadway
theatre.
4. The Japanese occupation – by the the 1940s, when the Japanese took over
the Philippines from the Americans, movie actors and actresses could no
longer appear in films, as the Japanese confiscated all film equipment.
However, the comedia, zarzuela, and bodabil remained in the country as
forms of entertainment and expression. Eventually, bodabil evolved to
become stage shows or variety with short melodrama at the end to
accommodate the actors and actresses who moved their craft bodabil and
theatre. Venues such as the Grand Manila Opera House and the Savoy Theatre
became homes of bodabil.
 Viewing activity
INSTRUCTIONS: The video consists of a short documentary of a
particular theatre.
Watch the video and describe the musical characteristics, features
of the theatre
and how specific idea or story is communicated through music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAyxX8tDWHI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79RBOJDJqc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM_AwB73lc
 LET US PRACTICE MORE: CONCEPT MAP
Instruction: Choose only one Philippine Musical Theater.
Make a short sentence in defining each word inside the
map.
 Let Us Assess
Direction: Write the correct answer on your paper
1. It is a collaborative form of theater, music, dance and literature that portrays day to
day struggles and triumphs of common Filipinos.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
2. What theater timeline mimetic performances mostly dramatized primitive rituals and
epic poetry about deities and mythical legends, where the spirit of the deities would
seemingly possess a catalonan (priest) or babaylan (prietess).
a. Pre-colonial period b. Spanish regime c. Japanese occupation d. American colonization
3. It is one of the colorful theatrical traditions in the Philippines used by the Spanish as a
method to spread Christianity.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
4. What known theater in the Philippines changed and become burlesque and strip
shows held in cheap theaters around American Military bases a decade later during the
Japanese occupation in the Philippines?
a. Sarsuela b. Komedya c. Bodabil d. Moro-moro
5. It is a type of stage performance that portrays the clash between Muslims and
Christians.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
6. Who is the first Filipino who performed a comedia in latin and Spanish in Cebu
during 1598?
a. Fr. Vicente Puche b. Fr. Pedro Penduko c. Fr. Agustus Caesar d. Fr. Harman Arpon
7. What is the name of the venue which is considered to be the house of Bodabil in the
Philippines?
a. La Carmella de Opera c. Grand Manila Opera House
b. Marco Polo d. Grand Men Sing
8. During what period in Philippine history was Bodabil introduced in the Philippine
theaters?
a. Pre-colonial period c. Japanese occupation
b. Spanish regime d. American colonization
What are the two types of
Comedia/Komedya?
9.________________
10._______________
 LET US ENHANCE
When music and the theater performances are heard,
these signals a celebration (in a story), an intense feeling
of happiness or sadness in the event happens in a
storyline inside a theatre house. In your own opinion,
state a different reason why music is important in
communicating a specific idea or story in Philippine
theater?