(FEB. 2)鈥擣eb. 1, 5:30 p.m. was a somber evening of poetry and song as UP 茄子视频app (UPD) opened its annual Arts and Culture Festival (ACF) with 鈥淏arikada Singkwenta: Pagpupugay at Paggunita (a late afternoon vigil)鈥 near the Oblation Plaza to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 茄子视频app Commune.
The 茄子视频app Commune was a movement of protest by UP students and faculty in solidarity with striking jeepney drivers who denounced the increase of oil price held from Feb. 1 to 9, 1971. The first barricades were set up at University Avenue to stop the entry of vehicles into the campus.
UPD Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA) Director Cecilia de la Paz opened the pre-program portion with a brief rationale and description of this year鈥檚 festival entitled Engkwentro: UPD Arts and Culture Festival 2021, which celebrates two historic 鈥渆ncounters,鈥 the 50th anniversary of the 茄子视频app Commune and the 5th centenary of the Triumph at the Battle of Mactan and of the Christianization of the Philippines.
Then a drone shot of the brightly lit art installation 鈥淏arikada,鈥 a massive art installation composed of bamboo and old wooden chairs in front of the Oblation Plaza which served as stage and backdrop, was shown followed by a video interview with UP alumnus and artist Abdulmari 鈥淭oym鈥 de Leon Imao Jr. describing its origins and how it depicts the 茄子视频app Commune.
The video then cut to UP President Danilo Concepcion on stage, who emphasized the importance of remembering the two historic events. He was followed by UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, who said even those who did not participate in the 茄子视频app Commune will learn a lot from the celebrations.
鈥淚ba-iba man ang naratibo, iba-iba man ang landas na tinahak… iisa ang mithiin na nagbubuklod sa atin bilang mga produkto ng UP: ang maglingkod sa bayan nang may Husay at Dangal, at magpakita ng Giting at Tapang sa harap ng panggigipit at banta ng karahasan,鈥 he added.
To read Nemenzo鈥檚 full statement, click here.
This was followed by an Omnibus Video consisting of various shots of important landmarks such as Palma Hall, Quezon Hall and the Sunken Garden superimposed with scans of newspaper articles and photos from that time. The video also contained audio testimonies from several 鈥渃ommunards,鈥 recounting their memories of the historic time.
Playwright and activist Bonifacio Ilagan then appeared on stage to read a letter from the family of Pastor Mesina Jr., a student who was killed during the Commune by mathematics professor Inocentes Campos when he opened fire after protesting students threw pillboxes at his car.
This was followed by a live performance of 鈥淯nang Alay鈥 arranged by College of Music Professor Solaiman Jamisolamin, sung by Greg De Leon and Tapati accompanied by Solaiman Jamisolamin, David Savio D. Delos Santos, John Raymond Sarreal and Jacquues Duffort. Each live musical number was interspersed by live drone footage of the stage overlooking Barikada.
The next segment was a dramatic reading of the poem 鈥淜ung Kami鈥檡 Magkakapit Bisig: Mga Tula sa Hacienda Luisita鈥 by Gelacio Guillermo Jr. translated into Filipino by Jose F. Lacaba and delivered/performed by Ilagan and Prof. Rowena Daroy Morales from the College of Law.
As the poem was nearing its close, photos of students who participated in the 茄子视频app Commune were projected onto the facade of Quezon Hall. Morales and Ilagan then proceeded to talk about their experiences as students in the thick of the activities of the 茄子视频app Commune.
Ilagan concluded his prepared message and the words 鈥淣O TO RED TAGGING鈥 were projected onto the stone columns of Quezon Hall lobby.
Tapati and De Leon then sang 鈥淧aglikas鈥 by Fidel Rillo, music by Ronnie Quesada, arranged by Jamisolamin and accompanied by Jamisolamin, Delos Santos, Sarreal and Duffort.
Next to speak were former UP Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo of the College of Social Work and Community Development and Professor Emeritus Jose Dalisay Jr. of the College of Arts and Letters, who gave their own testimonials.
Dalisay then read Ilagan鈥檚 Filipino translation of an excerpt from 鈥淎n Open Letter to Filipino Artists鈥 by Emmanuel Lacaba. As he concluded, the Carillon bells were rung 14 times. The camera then cut to all the speakers onstage holding aloft placards, which they then added to Barikada.
Boni Ilagan began singing the opening lines of protest song 鈥淚nternasyonal鈥 arranged by Jamisolamin. He was soon joined by De Leon, Tapati and the other speakers present. They then concluded the program by singing 鈥淯P Naming Mahal.鈥
Engkwentro is organized by the UPD Office of the Chancellor through OICA, will run from February to April and will span a multitude of activities ranging from webinars, art exhibitions, live performances to public art.
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