(Updated with audio snippets of the live performance.)
Congratulations to the cast, crew, production staff, creative team, and everyone who helped in their own special way and those who watched the successful staging of “Makata’y Mandirigma, Mandirigma’y Makata” at the UP Theater last November 30, 2009!
I’m collecting in this post the bits and pieces of the play’s music including audio snippets of the live performance. As for photos behind the scenes, you can check here, here, here, here, here, and here. You can also check Arkibong Bayan and Pinoy Weekly’s photo coverage. You can also read this article about the play by Dream Worker Too. Accompaniment music and audio snippets of Makata’y Mandirigma, Mandirigma’y Makata LIVE! after the jump.
Prologo
Ang Gerilya ay Tulad ng Makata
Piano rendition of “Ang Gerilya ay Tulad ng Isang Makata (The Guerrilla is Like a Poet)”, poem by Jose Maria Sison and music by Danny Fabella.
Live! Listen to Ador, Joma, and Laya as they speak verses from the poem while the piano rendition plays in the background.
Barikada at Tortyur
A composition in Em originally for the play’s factory workers scene, but was later found much more appropriate for the dark prologue. Aside from passing the piano, string ensemble, and orchestra percussion through digital tweaking, various samples of instrument feedback and electronic line noise were used to aid in creating a dark musical texture.
“Punyal” / Mahusay na Mandirigma, Kagaya ng Isang Makata
Arranged by Lorenz Gealogo.
Live! Sung by Edwin Quinsayas, Nestor Marcelo, and Vernie Serrano. Verses spoken by Tony Liongson.
Unang Yugto
Payabangan nina Sgt. Zardo at Sgt. Samuel
Live! Sung by Vernie Serrano and me.
Ang Sumpa ng Kabataang Makabayan
Live! Sung by Angeli Mercado and the People’s Chorale.
Sa Pabrika Napasok sa Maagang Edad
A rendition of “Ang Sumpa ng Kabataang Makabayan”, rendered with a brass and percussion orchestra, string ensemble, and a harp.
Basahin mo Itong Aklat
Live! Sung by Edwin Quinsayas, Jed Aquino, and the People’s Chorale.
“Sanggol” / Pinapangarap ng mga Katulad ni Ador
Arranged by Lorenz Gealogo.
Live! Sung by Jo Salvana, Kleng de Loyola, and the People’s Chorale.
Ikaw ay Aking Kabiyak at Kasama
Composed and arranged by Tony Palis. Inspired by Jose Maria Sison’s poem and Filipino translation of “You are my Wife and Comrade”.
Live! Sung by Ariel Sumilang.
Baha ng Pagtutol Tinugon ng Dahas
Awit ng Pagsampa
Arranged with Rapture and Dimension LE for Cakewalk. Acoustic guitar used to play the main riff accompanied with a brass and percussion orchestra, a strings ensemble, and a rock drum set.
Live! Sung by Aaron Velasco, Bugsy Nolasco, Diane Asuelo, Gly Gotiangco, and the People’s Chorale.
Karahasan ng mga Naghaharing Uri
Arranged by Lorenz Gealogo.
Live! Sung by Joel Garduce, Jonathan Sta. Rosa, Nuki Calubid, and the People’s Chorale.
Ang Gerilya ay Tulad ng Makata
Live! Sung by Ariel Sumilang, poem verses spoken by Tony Liongson.
Pangalawang Yugto
Tula at Mandirigma
Suyuan
Banduria performed by Roland Peter “Peps” Nicart.
Live! Sung by Edwin Quinsayas, Kleng de Loyola, and the People’s Chorale.
Ang naiwang Kapatid ni Zardo
Live! Sung by Diane Asuelo and Vernie Serrano.
Pagpapanday sa Pag-ibig
Arranged with Cakewalk and Synthetic Instruments. Used an acoustic guitar, a strings ensemble, and a harp.
Live! Sung by Ariel Sumilang, Bugsy Nolasco, Diane Asuelo, and the People’s Chorale.
Pagpapabagsak sa bulok na sistema
Digmang Bayan
Arranged using Rapture and Dimension LE in Cakewalk. An acoustic guitar was used to play the main riff, while a simulated orchestra served as accompaniment. A rock drum set, a tweaked and distorted D chord sample, and a turntable twisting a sample clip of the original “Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan” song were used in the adlib part.
Live! Sung by the People’s Chorale and Jed Aquino.
Kapag may nawala, dapat may dumampot sa bandila
Sulong mga Kasama Huwag Matakot
Live! Sung by Ariel Sumilang, Jo Salvana, and the People’s Chorale.
Pangatlong Yugto
Ang Sayaw ni Ador
A rendition inspired by “Ang Pagdadalawang-isip ni Ador”. Used the higher octaves of the piano for the main riff. Supporting music provided by brass and percussion orchestra, and a strings ensemble. A tweaked sound sample from a heart rate monitor was used repeatedly in the rendition.
Ang Pagdadalawang-isip ni Ador
Live! Sung by Edwin Quinsayas, Kleng de Loyola, Jo Salvana, Diane Asuelo, and the People’s Chorale.
Dakilang Kilusang Pagwawasto – Digmang Bayan (Reprise)
Arranged using Cakewalk. An acoustic guitar was used to play the main riff of the first two stanzas, while accompaniment was created by a brass orchestra and strings ensemble.
Live! Sung by Angeli Mercado, Ariel Sumilang, and the People’s Chorale
Epilogue
Awit ng Pag-asa | Bartolina Muli
The first part was inspired by and partly a rendition of Tambisan ng Sining’s “Awit ng Pag-asa”. It was rendered in Cakewalk as a performance by a full orchestra playing alongside a rock band. The second part, “Bartolina Muli” was composed by Jefrey Guiban with lyrics by Jose Maria Sison. A strings ensemble was added to the piano rendition to add texture.
Live! “Bartolina Muli” sung by Ariel Sumilang.
Awit ni Laya | Ang Gerilya ay Tulad ng Makata
The music of “Awit ni Laya” was originally composed as an alternate intro for the rendition of the song “Pagbabalikwas”. The music was composed a bit earlier than the “Awit ng Pag-asa” rendition, and used the original instrument set. Walkie Mirana fused the libretto written for this part of the play into the music, hence creating the final version of “Awit ni Laya”. “The Guerrilla is Like a Poet” which was played after was composed by Danny Fabella and Arranged by Ronnie Quesada.
Live! Sung by Angeli Mercado, Ariel Sumilang, Edwin Quinsayas, and the People’s Chorale.
Makata’y Mandirigma, Mandirigma’y Makata
Itinanghal sa UP Theater, 2:30 PM and 7 PM, November 30, 2009.
Sumulat ng Tula
National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera
Sumulat ng Dula at Libretto
Edward Perez
Direktor
Romel “Pipoy” Linatoc
Direktor ng Musika
Rica Saturay Palis
Disenyo ng Ilaw at Produksyon
Katsch Katoy
Koreograpiya ng Sayaw
Jun Bueta at Edwin Quinsayas
Mga Gumanap
Jose Maria Sison – Ariel Sumilang
Batang Ador – Edwin Quinsayas
Matandang Ador – Ka Tony Liongson
Laya – Angeli Mercado
Nelia – Jocelyn Cunana-Salvana
Orya – Kleng De Loyola
Nanding – Jed Aquino
Maj. Palapala – Nestor Marcelo
Sgt. Zardo – Vernie Serrano
Sgt. Samuel – Karl Ramirez
Minerva – Dayan Asuelo
Ama ni Minerva – Jonathan Sta. Rosa
Panginoong Maylupa – Joel Garduce
Katiwala – Nuki Calubid
Koro ng Manggagawa
Mariza Sabater, Alex Samson, Rowena Villanobos, Ulysess Sunega, Sonny Tuanio, Leleng Kimuol, Sheila Omana, Martin Custodio
Koro ng Taumbayan
Ofel Cantor, Silahis Ramos, Ludy Comeling, Gly Gotiangco, Danya Reyes, Sheng Ocampo, Diane Zapata, Joel Garduce, Nuki Calubid, Jonathan Sta. Rosa, Aaron Valenzuela, Bugsy Nolasco, JP Lapid, Zak Tamayo, Milo Rivera, JR Madarang
Koro ng Mananayaw
Terence Lopez, Glades Maglunsod, Mavi de Ocampo, Lourdes Villarias, JJ Pandeagua, Geming Abraham, Teta Sibugan, Queda Guerrero, Janesa Baniago, Rebo Rodriguez
Namahala sa Produksyon
Executive Producer
Benjie Oliveros
Associate Producers
Rey Casambre, Bedette Libres
Production Manager
Walkie Mirana
Assistant Production Managers
Dayan Asuelo, AK Guray
Head Stage Manager
Jola Diones-Mamangun
Assistant Stage Managers
Michelle Buenaventura, Angge Santos, Aian Perucho (Props), King Catoy (Lights), Taren Lulu (Lights)
Technical Director
Jason Bobier
Video Support
Ariel Saturay, Cris Balleta, Nino Tagaro, Raymund Villanueva, Juny Frias
Mga Lumikha at Nag-areglo ng Musika
Rica Saturay-Palis, Tony Palis, Fitzgerald “GP” Villapando, Roland Peter “Peps” Nicart, Lorenz Gealogo, at Karl Ramirez
Production Design Team
Angge Santos, Marish Viola, Kuki Musni, Max Santiago, Aian Perucho
Costume and Make-up
Diane Directo, Kate Weaver, Jeanne Nebrida
Mobilization and Invitation Team
Rita Baua, Norma Binas, Nelson, Gary, Tom Medina
Transportation and Food Committee
Mona Bernardo, Norma Ranjo, Nanay Lolit
Karl Ramirez 
Words that came to my mind while listening to a sampling of the various soundtrack files: dark, melancholic, riveting, sentimental, foreboding, intense. I even experimented listening to some of the music files at the same time and could sense a rich musical texture.
winner ang site! kailangan may irelease talgang OST.. pahinga kopya ha..:)
tagumpay!!!
sana maitanghal muli…kailangang marami ang makapanood nito…
wah!!! ang paget ko tlga dyan :C salamat sa lahat for a great experience !!!!!
ipaabot naman kung muling ipapalabas para makapanood mga anak ko. Ty
@exzur: I’m not sure kung may plano ngang re-run ang mga producers. I hear though that an OST album and a DVD is in the works. 🙂
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…for all its worth, the performance was great, i felt it.and yes, it deserves restaging and roadshows. and being part of it, i would say, the success was due largely to the performers and to the great minds who did everything and gave their heart and soul to it not only because it’s their task but because they are genuine artists dedicated to always reaching for the highest standard of people’s revolutionary art. the great minds who did not content themselves with the mediocre, even if that was the easier thing to do. and we all know who these people are. those who sacrificed their time for their day jobs, those who wouldn’t mind crying or raising their voices to make it the good play that it has become from the moment the script was being developed up to the last curtain call.
to the executive producers who took up the challenge of staging a decent play against time constraints and technicalities, more power and you did an excellent job, given all the odds.
to our choreographers who gave more than what was expected of them, who did more than what the word “choreographer” entails, you both deserve your praises!
and to all the cast- the chorale, fellow dancers (na literally ay nagkapasapasa, gaya ko sa tuhod, nagkasakit and all) at sa main cast, Congratulations!!!
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It was a one great experience based from one great inspiration. Thanks to the great minds that collectively worked and crafted a one great endeavor. Thanks to Direk Rommel, a one great director and performer and to all the people from the producer, writer, marshall, ushers and usherettes, support staff, you were one great inspiration and support to a one great endeavor. Mabuhay kayong lahat! Sana may chance to re-run and play. Great songs, great people! Thanks for those who watched the play!
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