Pinoy Kids Perform Rizal Play Excerpt
By Cheryl Arcibal
September 10, 2015
TEATRO FILIPINO MEMBERS
TO CELEBRATE “Buwan ng Wika,” a theater group composed of Filipino children in Hong Kong performed an excerpt of the play about Jose Rizal at the Philippine Consulate General on August 31.
Consul-General Bernardita Catalla said the theatre group was an offshoot of the Sentro Rizal project of the Philippine government which seeks to introduce Filipino culture and traditions to Filipino youth living overseas.
Cathe Tating-Marsden, who trained the kids, and wrote the play, said many of the 30 Filipino children who joined the group and workshop training, were not fluent in Filipino.
“They don’t speak the language, they don’t understand Filipino. Iilan lang ang marunong. Ngayon, nakita ninyo na ang full play namin ay Tagalog, and they said [their lines] with expression, with feelings. Naiintindihan nila because as we went through the script, I made sure that they understood what a Filipino family is, ano ang values natin, our heritage.
“Ito ang target natin sa Sentro Rizal, to educate our young Filipinos kung ano ang traditions natin, culture natin. Kasi dito sa Hong Kong, hindi na nila malalaman iyon if they grow up and live here,” Marsden said.
The full Rizal musical will be staged in June 2016 in time for the Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Catalla said that while Filipinos learn other languages, they must also learn to love Filipino languages and dialects.
“Napaka-encouraging nito na tayo, bilang mga Pilipino, ay nagkakaisa na gumagamit tayo ng isang wikang Filipina na binuo mula sa isang wikang Tagalog at iba-iba pang wika sa ating bayan…Kung ang salita ay galing sa Bicolano o Cebuano o Waray, iyan po ay parte ng ating wika.
“Para sa mga kabataan, ipinapaalala ko lang na importante po na habang nasa bahay importante na alam natin ang wika natin at napaka-importante din na mayroon tayong ibang wikang nalalaman dahil ito ay isang bentahe din kung titira tayo sa ibang bansa,” Catalla said.
Marsden said the rehearsal of the group for the full play will resume again in October, once the full script is completed.
She also appealed to the Filipinos who watched the performance to support the theatre group.
“Kailangan namin ng help. Kung sino ang gustong tumulong sa amin dahil gusto namin na next year, sa isang theater kami magtanghal. We are targeting to have it in a theater sana so we can cater to a lot of kids,” she said.
The excerpt of the play showed the Filipino youths acting, dancing to and singing folk dances and folk songs.