Tanghalang Pilipino unveils their productions for their 37th Theater Season.

Images provided by Tanghalang Pilipino
August 17, 2023

For Tanghalang Pilipino (TP)’s 37th Theater Season, they were guided by the action word, UNFILTER. UNFILTER means to not tone down, censor, or edit. It is the courageous act of being raw, honest, and unapologetic in one’s words or actions, especially when one is telling the truth or expressing deep emotions that can liberate oneself, one’s loved ones, one’s people and country.

Tanghalang Pilipino recently unveiled their offerings for their latest theater season—Anak Datu, Sandosenang Sapatos, and Pingkian: Isang Musikal. The musicals will be staged at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Jimenez. Tickets can now be reserved at ticket2me.net.

Anak Datu

This multiverse, post-pandemic production banners peace through the intertwining of conflicts in a folk tale, a stark social realism, and an all-too-familiar family drama. It is based on National Artist Abdulmari Imao’s short story “Anak Datu,” which revolves around the son of a village chieftain in Muslim Mindanao during pre-colonial Philippines. Before he is born, the village is raided by pirates, and his mother gives birth in captivity. Hence, he grows up believing that his father is a former pirate. Only upon the death of the old man does the son discover the truth about his real father. This short story gave birth to Rody Vera's stage adaptation adjacent to other events in the history of Mindanao and the personal lives of Abdulmari Imao’s family.

Anak Datu is a rerun of one of TP’s most successful productions, under the deft direction of Chris Millado, with music by Josefino Chino Toledo. Prepare to be captivated as Anak Datu explores themes of identity, heritage, and the pursuit of peace. The innovative production promises to transport audiences into a mesmerizing world where the past, present, and future converge.

Anak Datu will run from September 29 to October 15.

Sandosenang Sapatos

Tanghalang Pilipino’s 2023 revival of Sandosenang Sapatos is a heartwarming musical that follows the journey of a child who wishes to fulfill her shoemaker father’s dream of having a ballerina for a daughter. Unfortunately, the child was born without feet.

Each year, on her birthday, the child enters the world of enchanting shoes, where the Shoe Fairy gives her a pair of feet, allowing her to dance to her heart’s desire. However, every time she leaves the enchanting world, she loses her feet and faces her father’s disappointment. It takes a tragedy for her to truly understand the depths of her father’s love. The musical highlights the power of familial love and the significance of cherishing our loved ones, especially those with unique needs.

Based on a short story by Dr. Luis P. Gatmaitan and adapted for the stage by Layeta Bucoy, Sandosenang Sapatos will be directed by Jonathan Tadioan, with music by Joed Balsamo and Noel Cabangon.

Sandoesenang Sapatos will run from November 17 to December 3.

Pingkian: Isang Musikal

Pingkian: Isang Musikal is a full-length stage musical about the life of Emilio Jacinto during the tail end of the Philippine revolution up to the start of the Philippine-American war. Witness the trials and triumphs of a nation on the edge of revolution as Jacinto navigates the complexities of war with an unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom.

Jacinto sustains serious wounds in an encounter with the Cazadores at Majayjay, Laguna. As he fights for his life, he is visited by the ghosts of Andres Bonifacio, his closest friend and the revered Supremo of the Katipunan, and Dr. Jose Rizal, his role model for citizenship and civic values. Together, they delve into Jacinto’s haunting nightmares and aspirations for a heroic death—an introspective exploration that serves as a poignant examination of the Katipunan's conscience and his definition of Freedom. It tests whether they have truly upheld the ideals outlined in Jacinto’s Kartilya and faithfully served Lady Freedom, whom he wrote about in his Pahayag.

Pingkian: Isang Musikal brings to life the unyielding spirit of Emilio Jacinto and the unwavering resilience of the Filipino people. The musical is a product of intensive research by playwright Juan Ekis, with the valuable guidance of National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario. It promises to be a most Unfiltered TP production under the direction of Jenny Jamora, with music by Ejay Yatco.

Pingkian: Isang Musikal will run from March 1 to 24, 2024.