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May-June 1998  March-April 1998  February 1998  1997

 

Romance, treachery, and pride are some of the human passions that promise to make the latest production of the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) another compelling coup d’ theatre.

The IPAG whose productions have been acclaimed by critics and audiences in Europe, Asia, and the Philippines presents “Lawanen,” its latest full-length dance theater piece that is adapted and updated from an episode in the Maranao epic Darangen. The story of the abduction of Princess Lawanen takes a new form updating events in the epic to suggest contemporary meanings. 

Lawanen, the Princess of Gumbaran, is abducted by Bantugan’s arch-rival Salindagaw, with the help of the passionate tonong spirits. Passion turns Lawanen between Bantugan and Salindagaw, and this conflict heightens to a panorama of violence and war, a local counterpart of the Greek siege of Troy. 

IPAG, hailed for its innovative productions that have represented the country in major performing festivals abroad, highlights “Lawanen” with other dance-stories that feature Mindanao women in the lead characters. Providing front-act support will be the dance-vignettes “The Legend of Maria Cristina” (from a poem by Christine Godinez-Ortega) and “Muddas” (from a story by Anthony Tan).

IPAG, the resident theater company of the MSU-IIT and acknowledged as a leading Philippine theater company, has performed to much acclaim its Mindanao-adapted dance-vignettes in over 50 cities in France, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Austria, Portugal, and Singapore. It has also performed in extensive tours from as far North as Laoag to down South in Zamboanga bringing to its wide audiences the lore of the Southern Philippines.

Leading the cast are Leilani Monterola, Reynan Revillas, Melvin Pascubillo, Eleanor Judith and Lilybeth Maraon supported by the IPAG performing ensemble.
Steven Patrick C. Fernandez adapts, scores, and directs from his scenario. Main choreography developed from improvisations of the IPAG Creative Collective is facilitated by Nolly Ceballos. Arlem Abanes stage-manages and acts as second director.
“Lawanen” will complete a regional tour under the programs of the Mindanao Theater Artists (Mindulani, Inc.). The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) partially supports the production through a grant. Other major sponsors include the Cultural Center of the Philippines, MSU-IIT, Iligan Council for Culture and the Arts, and PAGCOR. Marketing is facilitated by the Lex Juris Fraternity of the MSU College of Law and the Dept. of Filipino.

“Lawanen” premieres February 26 and 27, 7:00 p.m., at the MSU-IIT gym to coincide with Iligan’s celebrations of the February Arts Month. Preview performances will be held February 10 with the NCCA-initiated “Bukam Bibig” poetry sessions at 7:00 p.m. at the MSU-IIT.
 

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