"The Night Before the Wedding," a creation of Ismael Gallaza Pantao, is set to make its Philippine debut at the Ameliyah's Venue in General Santos City on March 15.
The event is one of the highlights of the 18th TANGHAL National University and Community-Based Theatre Festival in Mindanao in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) National Committee on Dramatic Arts and the Mindanao State University-General Santos through its Cultural Affairs Office and BIDA General Santos.
The 18th Tanghal in Mindanao, which runs from March 14–16 and features 12 theater groups performing in various venues, forms part of the NCCA's National Arts Month (NAM) 2024.
The festival includes theater and storytelling sessions for children from all over the country.
Pantao described the event as significant as it underscores the crucial contribution of theater and its practitioners in tackling societal and environmental issues.
“As artists, our catharsis lies in the relentless pursuit of purpose and meaning that shapes our artistic existence. We are compelled to create amidst chaos and devastation, narrating the unfolding events of the world through our craft,” shared Pantao.
The play represents the culmination of Pantao’s studies in 2022 at the Intercultural Theatre Institute in Singapore, where he earned a Professional Diploma in Intercultural Theatre Acting.
Since then, he has implemented several enhancements to refine the play. This one-act drama explores the challenges confronted by a Maguindanawon man about an arranged marriage. The production is brought to life by the Kalimudan Culture and Arts Center, Inc.
Pantao is a respected theater practitioner, cultural worker, and educator who has made significant contributions to both local and international performing arts.
He currently teaches performing arts and culture and arts education at Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges, Inc. in GenSan. Additionally, he has been an arts consultant at Notre Dame-Siena College of GenSan since 2016.
Pantao is an active member of the cultural scene, with ties to Sining Kabpapagariya Ensemble, Kalimudan Culture and Arts Center, Inc., and inITIate PH.
As a one-person show, “The Night Before the Wedding” hinges on the performer’s adaptability and prowess in portraying a variety of characters.
The play offers a touching journey into the realms of friendship, love, and cultural identity within a Maguindanawon community.
Pantao said that he aims to narrate a story that encapsulates the contemporary struggles of the Moro community. He intends to foster a deeper understanding among audiences about their community’s complexities.
He dreams that someday his play will reach stages across the country and even internationally. Pantao also aspires for the play to receive a full-scale production and is open to exploring its adaptation into other artistic forms, such as a short film.
This event is part of National Arts Month (NAM) 2024, led by the NCCA. The theme for NAM 2024, “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain,” represents a Filipino society that highly values imagination, innovation, and artistic expression as essential parts of its identity and development.
The festival kicked off on Feb. 28 in Los Baños, Laguna. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Voice of the Youth Network/PIA SarGen)
