The 2ND NATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL

dubbed Ikalawang Tagpo (Second Act), the National Theater Festival featured the Philippines' outstanding theater companies and a guest migrant theater group. After its highly successful first staging in 1992, the festival has become one of the country's most important cultural events of Philippine Theater.

Theme for the festival was Revolution and Theater. "Revolution" may mean subject of a play or a novel means in theater production. The festival celebrates the Centennial of the Philippine Revolution capped in 1998 with an International Theater Festival.

Ikalawang Tagpo shared stories and lore of the various cultures in the country binding Filipinos in their common struggles for justice, peace, economic stability and harmony. This effort should ultimately forge national unity to make Filipinos major partners with their international counterparts in the global movement towards world peace, understanding, progress, and harmony.

Accompanying outstanding productions in the 10-day schedule were workshops and conferences, a flea market of crafts, opportunities for interactions, and opening and closing social and parades. Participating too were youth theater groups and folk artists of various indigenous communities.

Regional Theaters featured:

MINDANAO

Kahayag Community Dance and Theatre Company
a community theater group based in Koronadal, South Cotabato
Tud Bulul: A Journey to Lemlunay
a dance-drama of the T'boli epic that depicts the journey of their hero, Tud Bulul

Sining Kambayoka Ensemble
theater group of the Mindanao State University in Marawi
Usa Ka Damgo
a Cebuano adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

LUZON

Artist, Inc.
a non-government institution aiming to popularize and develop people's art and literature in the Southern Tagalog. Korido is the resident theater group.
Sa Liyab ng Libong Sulo
depicts the role of women in the revolution of 1896

VISAYAS

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
the country's premiere institution of People's Culture through People's Theater
1896
a grand musicale on the Filipino revolution in 1896, focusing on Emilio Jacinto

Dulaang UP
laboratory production arm of the University of the Philippines' Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts
Fili
a deconstruction of Rizal's second novel

Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Inc.
an independent theater established in 1978 by National Artist Lucresia Kasilag, Ray Albano and Tony Espejo
Junto Al Pasig
a play by Rizal to be performed by children

MIGRANT GROUP

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS