Komedya Fiesta 2008

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November 1, 2007

Komedya Fiesta 2008

In celebration of the UP Centennial, the  College of Arts and Letters, in cooperation with the Office of the Chancellor and OICA, presents Komedya Fiesta 2008.  

The Komedya Fiesta 2008 is a month long event which aims to present, create an awareness, and increase the  understanding of  and appreciation for the komedya.  The komedya  is a colorful theatrical tradition whose plot revolves around the social, political, and religious conflicts between the Muslims and Christian heroes. It is usually presented in festivals with the support and patronage of the communities. This theater form has its origins in the theatrical traditions of Spain and Mexico in the 16 th -18 th century. It reached the Philippines through the Hispanic Christianization of the Philippines . This is precisely the reason why many of the plots have Hispanic leitmotifs. While komedya performances will be the principal event, Komedya Fiesta 2008 will also feature an international conference, an exhibition, and a colloquium to provide scholars, cultural researchers, artists and production teams a venue for sharing ideas.

The existence of active komedya/moro-moro groups in a number of regions in the Philippines today warrants an intensified effort to assert the significance of this centuries-old theater tradition. Although the komedya, which is also referred to as  moro-moro among the Tagalogs and Ilokanos; linambay among the Cebuanos; moros-moros among the Ilonggo's;  palo-palo among the Ivatan, is still performed to this very day and draws a following, it enjoys limited exposure.

As one of the traditional theater genres that is fully developed and which has dominated the Philippine theater for over 300 years across regions, the komedya truly deserves a serious examination. It is sad that after substantial studies conducted by some scholars in the early eighties, no significant event has been initiated to further the studies nor promote the understanding of and appreciation for this form on a national level. As a theater form, it is significant to study its performance conventions, production process, and organizational practices that make it possible to survive to this day. In the same light, the persistence of this tradition ensues an interest to look more closely at the manner and processes of transmission of this tradition from one generation to the next. It is in this light that the first national festival is conceived.

The festival seeks to celebrate the komedya as a significant legacy in the continuing history of the Philippine Theater.   More significantly, the effort, talent and creativity that have been manifested by several komedya groups all over the country to make this tradition survive for more than three hundred years is definitely worth celebrating.

The celebration primarily aims to encourage the academic study and research on the komedya and other traditional theater forms in the country. It  will also examine how the disciplines of theatre and performance studies, including related fields, struggle with questions of globalization. This event can be a platform for discussions across disciplines in the Arts and Humanities, History, Philippine Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Tourism and others. It will also provide a venue for sharing expert knowledge about traditional performance practices across a broad spectrum of perspectives. In the process, this exchange will hopefully develop among scholars and researchers a theoretical grasp of the relationship between performance and culture in the context of globalization and transnational mobility.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Komedya Fiesta 2008  will be composed of the following:

A. Research

As a pioneering effort to hold the festival on a national scale, the research component plays a significant role in substantiating all the major events of the festival. An updated information on the existing komedya troupes, their performance practices as well as their organizational management processes is  necessary to create a better understanding of this form.  The information will govern the nature and substance of all the festival events.  

B. Performances

As the flagship component, regular performances will be held every Friday for the whole month of February 2008. Each performance will have  “entreme”  or front act performances prior to komedya performances. It may include a balagtasan, an amateur singing contest, magic, circus etc. Since the komedya's running time varies from 1 ½ hours to several days, a further study on how to regulate the performance period is necessary. Nevertheless, there will be one komedya group to perform each night.  

C. International Conference and Workshop

The two-day gathering  will include the presentation of academic papers in the morning and workshops on the different aspects of komedya productions in the afternoon. The conference hopes to tackle the current state of this tradition in the Philippines and in some parts of the globe.  

D. Exhibition

This component is a month long exhibition that features modern works, installations and other contemporary visual arts expressions on the  komedya. The exhibit will also include a historical overview of  its origin, assimilation, indigenization and diffusion of komedya tradition in the Philippines . This exhibit will highlight the data on the existing komedya groups, komedya performances, production process and the maintenance of the organization. The panels of text will be punctuated by the presentation of significant komedya material elements like orihinal (scripts), props, costumes, shields, headdress etc.  

E. Colloquium

The half day colloquium will be a discussion among all the comediantes , production team and accompanists that comprise the groups. The discussions will center on the strengths, weaknesses of the groups and their recommendations for the future of  the komedya on a national scale. This component hopes to establish a network of komedya groups of the country.  

F. Special Events

1. Opening Ceremonies

This event will usher in the entire celebration by a parade of all komedya players along major streets in UP. They will be accompanied by marching bands. The Opening Ceremonies will have a program that will officially announce the opening of the festival. All the performing groups will be presented to the public. The UP officials, the officials of major stakeholders as well as important organizations in UP are also part of the parade. Fireworks display will highlight the Opening Ceremonies.

2. Serenata ng mga Banda

Marching bands play an important role in any komedya performance. To give prominence to this role, a “serenata ng mga banda” will be held on selected afternoons within the festival period.  

3. Auxiliary Events

The auxiliary events will feature activities that help create the “fiesta” atmosphere. They include a singing contest, jugglers, magic tricks, mime performances, higantes on a stilt, fire eaters (if allowed), and circus among others.

4. Closing Ceremonies

This event focuses on a video presentation of the week that was. This is the time when the participating groups will sit down as guests. The highlight of this event is the mass playing of different participating bands. Hundred voices will render pieces relevant to komedya. Choral Groups will render musical pieces relative to komedya. The highlight of the program is the singing of UP HYMN by hundred voices.

Target Date of Implementation: February 1, 8, 15, 22, 27-29, 2008

Venue: The Ampitheater, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City   

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