Filipino Play Celebrates Centennial
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The Tinikling Dance Group and cast of “To U.S. With Aloha and Mabuhay”
perform a traditional Filipino dance. Pictured are (kneeling) Lydia Abajo-
Quides and James Ramos, (standing) Michelle Csigi, Sam Sil-Yun Cannon,
Marilyn Csigi, Alysia Ignacio, Jesus Basuel, Lito Capina, Shirley Castillo,
Cythia Ochoa, Kevin Agtarap, Johnny Verzon, Chloe Amos and Loren
Farmer. Photo courtesy of The Actors Group.
The 2006 Hawaii Filipino Centennial Celebration is taking to the stage at Pearl City Cultural Center Theater. The Actors Group is leaving its cozy Yellow Brick Studio niche in downtown Honolulu to perform To U.S. with Aloha and Mabuhay, a series of eight vignettes offering insight into Filipino-American history.
The play was written by Virgilio Menor Felipe, author of the book Hawaii A Pilipino Dream, and is being co-directed by island theater veteran David Farmer and his Philippine-born wife Loren Karunungan D. Farmer.
Shows are set for Oct. 13-15 and 20-22, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $15 each. Call 550-8457 or visit www.honoluluboxoffice.com
“There are two things happening (this year) - the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Filipinos in Hawaii and the 60th anniversary of the (last) contract laborers, called sakadas, to come to Hawaii,“said Mike Mazzola, one of the original founders of TAG.
In honor of the Filipino presence in Hawaii, the play follows significant events that took place in the Philippines between 1898 and 1902, events that changed the world.
“Most Americans (including) Filipino-Americans know nothing about that time in the Philippines having to do with the Spanish-American War and then the Bay of Manila Battle where the United States helped to defeat the Spanish people for the Filipinos,“explained Mazzola.“But then the United States decided they wanted to colonize the Philippines and set up an American democratic sort of government.”
The tension led to a war between Filipino insurgents and the United States.
“Rather than present something about war - only three scenes have anything to do with war,” said Mazzola,“we hope that just a glimpse of things that happened will encourage the Filipino people to learn more about their history.”
In the spirit of celebrating Filipino history, colorful cultural song-and-dance numbers have been incorporated into the play.
Mazzola said the vignettes will take place on the sides of the stage while a huge screen in the center will project images that complement the various scenes.
“Some of the images have to do with the war, some are scenes of the White House back in 1898 when President McKinley was deciding that we should put Americans in the Philippines to secure the Pacific Ocean, and then there are scenes of present day Hawaii,” described Mazzola.
The entire cast will join together for a grand finale in which they sing a mabuhay or “thank you"song while a montage of all of the Filipino people who have made a name for themselves in Hawaii plays on screen.
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