Dalawang Bayani

What would happen if Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio collaborated in one work of art? 

In this Palanca award-winning one-act play, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio puts the two key figures in Philippine history together in a dialogue that gets them to talk of their joys, sorrows, hopes, loves, and special vision for the Nation that they both dream of passing down to the new generation of Filipinos.

The Catechists of Calayan (Catc:H) invite you to watch Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas in a rare restaging of Dalawang Bayani, the 1995 winner for One Act Play in Filipino in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Proceeds will help send a catechist to the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Watch Dalawang Bayani on September 8, 2012, at 10am or 2pm, at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo, 64 Mapagkawanggawa St. Teacher's Village East, Diliman, QC.

Tickets are pledge cards that may be bought for Php 300, 500, 700, or 1000, depending on whether the person wishes to Share a Step, Go in Strides, Take a Leap, or Fly a Catechist to Brazil respectively. You may also support us by sponsoring a child from the urban poor communities of Bgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, or public school students from Ramon Magsaysay and Rizal High School to watch the play for free. Whichever way you would like to help, you’re sure it is for a good cause!

Contact Nicole at 0916-341-3366 or email nikkobautista at gmail dot com.

See you there!

You're invited!

Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio's Papet Pasyon

FREE ADMISSION 

April 1, 2012 - PALM SUNDAY

3pm and 5:30pm

Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio Teatro Papet-Museo

64 Mapagkawanggawa St. 

Teacer's Village East, Diliman, QC

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PRESS RELEASE

Pasyon for kids
In 1984, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio wrote a puppet play that sought to bring back the Pasyon to the younger generation. The puppet play was premiered in 1985 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Pasyon is a Filipino cultural tradition full of music and poetry performed during Holy Week for the love of the story of the Passion of Christ. It stands as a reminder for townsfolk to bear witness to the life of Christ, making the Lenten Season more meaningful.

This year, let the events of the Holy Week come to life in puppetry! Watch Papet Pasyon, the annual production of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, the country’s homegrown puppetry troupe and children’s theater. Papet Pasyon is now on its 27th year.

Admission is free on April 1, 2012, Palm Sunday, 3pm and 5:30pm, at Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo, 64 Mapagkawanggawa St. Teacher’s Village East, Diliman, Quezon City. For details email mulatpuppets77@yahoo.com or call/text 0918.903.2040. Bring your palms, and see you there!

Raising kids in a high-tech world

Owen Carandang is a natural! Ready smiles all the way--what a pleasant shoot this was! And what a pleasant cover too! I always break into a smile when I look at this sunny cover (our JUNE 2010 issue) taken by Krissy Rodriguez of Little People Lifestyle Photography.

This issue is all about Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. Because this new generation is growing up not knowing a life without computers, cellphones and iPods, it's a wonder how today's kids can be taught the value of imagination--don't all these high-tech media do the imagining for their consumers?

Another curious thing is the popularity of Facebook. I got to interview Educhild Facilitator Joy Barreiro for some insights on how Facebook can be maximized by parents to improve family relationships (instead of erasing them in favor of a "virtual life").

This month's Working Mother is Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, the Company Manager of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas. If you've been reading some of my older posts, you'll know that Teatrong Mulat is dedicated to the art of puppetry--a form of entertainment that may not be under your list of "high-tech media." Her take on kids and entertainment provides a refreshing contrast to today's video-games-Internet-TV-and-movie circus that spells typical entertainment. It's wonderful to note that kids still do enjoy theater, music and books!

Finally, I can't help posting this photo of little Owen that I took during the cover shoot. I love his expression here! If there's a word balloon, what would you write?


Baby magazine is published by Marathon Publishing Co. and is sold at all National Bookstores, SM baby department stores, Babyland (Robinsons Galleria, Shaw Blvd. near Cherry Foodarama, Eastwood Mall), Baby & Co. (The Podium and Power Plant Mall), Bufini, Procreation Shangri-la mall, Big & Small Co. Shangri-la Mall.

Papet Pasyon!

One more peaceful Sunday before Papet Pasyon, Teatrong Mulat's annual Holy Week show! This year is special because it marks the puppet play's 25th year. (Papet Pasyon was first shown in 1985.) So, if you want to see something different (cultural! historical!), how about forgetting the mall for one day and dropping by our teatro in Teacher's Village? Bring the whole family! (And, if you've just gone to mass, bring your palaspas!)

Watch AMELIA LAPEÑA-BONIFACIO' s

PAPET PASYON

(the Philippines' 1st and only children's senakulo in puppetry)

FOR FREE!!!

March 28, 2010/Palm Sunday

3:00 & 5:30 pm

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo

64 Mapagkawanggawa St., Teachers Village, Quezon City

for details call 921.9773, 929.0895, 0918.903.2040

Directions from Quezon Memorial Circle: Take Commonwealth Ave., RIGHT on Masaya St. (before Mercury Philcoa; corner w/ tricycles, Ministop and Bank of Commerce) LEFT on Maginhawa St. go straight until you see Holy Family School. Theater on the left side in front of Talleres de Nazaret.

From Katipunan: Take CP Garcia, go straight when you see National Stud Farm turn LEFT. RIGHT on Magiting St. when you see Ministop turn RIGHT (Maginhawa St.). Next street to your LEFT is Mapagkawanggawa. Theater on the left side in front of Talleres de Nazaret.

Papet ASEAN 2010 in pictures

The festival is over! It was an eye-opening experience, not only because I met people from different ASEAN countries (and got to see awesome shows!), but also because somehow, there are times when you feel like a foreigner in your own country. Take, for instance, coping with little changes in the plans! One has to learn to be flexible when the instructions given and the demands of the moment disagree. One has to be ready to do things, and not just wait for them to be done. And one has to learn to be calm in case the printer does not cooperate. hehe!

Can't write much now because I only have two weeks for all my Baby Mag assignments! So here are a few pictures I took with my low-batt camera. Enjoy!

At the festival opening; waiting for the show to start!

Vishnu shadow puppet for Teatrong Mulat's Sita and Rama.

Checking the OHP's distance for Ravana's song.

The delegates have their meeting at the Claro M. Recto Hall in Faculty Center.

Wayang sandosa from Indonesia!

Eating out with some delegates at Max's Restaurant after a long day!

The delegates take a tour of Amelia Lapena Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo.

Jamming--the ASEAN way!

Papet ASEAN!

It's a busy time for puppeteers now that February is coming up. On February 24-26, puppeteers from different ASEAN countries (such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines) come together at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium (College of Music, UP Diliman) to showcase their different puppetry forms and techniques to help create appreciation and awareness among the younger generations.

At a time when television and the Internet rank high as main forms of entertainment for kids, the puppets of Papet ASEAN 2010 provide a different (and if I may stay so, creativity-enhancing) take on what entertains kids--and at the same time educates them. Join the Seminar on Puppetry-in-Education at the Claro M. Recto Hall, Bulwagang Rizal (Faculty Center), UP Diliman, at 4pm on Feb 25.

Here's the news snippet on the puppet fest:

“PAPET ASEAN 2010: Celebrating ASEAN Puppet Traditions” is a 3-day celebration of artistry, solidarity, and life as distinguished puppet artists and experts/scholars meet, perform and discuss the rich tradition of puppetry in the ASEAN.

Puppets come alive on Feb. 24 (Festival Opening) and Feb. 25-26 (10 am & 2:30 pm shows @ the Abelardo Hall Auditorium). The festival will feature Mascots and Puppets Specialists (Singapore), Pak Yusoff Mamat (Malaysia), 2 Indonesian dalangs, Anino Shadowplay Collective (Philippines), Ony Carcamo (Philippines), Roppets Edutainment (Philippines), and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas (Philippines). A seminar on puppetry-in-education is scheduled on Feb. 25.

PAPET ASEAN 2010 coincides with the celebration of the National Arts Month, the U.P. Diliman Month and the U.P. Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts 50^th Anniversary.

Festival Organizer Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas acknowledges the invaluable support of the ASEAN Foundation, ASEAN Puppetry Association, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, UNESCO, the Quezon City Government, PAGCOR, Theater Lighting Technology, Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the University of the Philippines (Office of the President, Office of the Chancellor, Office for Initiatives in Culture and Arts, College of Arts & Letters, and the College of Music Department of Musicology).

Mark your calendar for Papet ASEAN 2010—February 24-26, 2010--and get ready for this magical puppetry event!

For inquiries, call/text 0918.9032040, 439.1471 or email papetir@gmail.com.

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Schedule of shows!

Feb 25/Thurs

10am and 2:30pm

Wayang golek dalang (Indonesia), Pak Yusoff Mamat (wayang kulit, Malaysia), Anino Shadowplay Collective (shadow puppetry, Philippines)

Feb 26/Fri

10am and 2:30pm

Wayang kulit dalang (Indonesia), Roppets Edutainment (table puppetry and muppets, Philippines), Mascots and Puppets Specialists (marionettes, Singapore)

Feb 26
Festival closing (after 2:30pm show)

Tickets (P200) are available at the Department of Speech Communication & Theater Arts, FC3069, Bulwagang Rizal, College of Arts & Letters, and Ticket Net)

Pasyon on TV!

(This is a photo of last year's Pasyon. I don't have any of this year's! :-o)

I don't know what they'll be showing on The Probe Team tonight (Holy WED, 11:30pm @ ABS-CBN Channel 2), but the TV people sure took a lot of footage. Ma'am Ami Ramolete and Amelia Lapena Bonifacio (Lola Amel) gave interviews, so that should be good to watch.

Tune in tonight!

Palm Sunday is Papet Pasyon!

Lola Amel with Magdalena, Jesus and Batang Lalaki. Photo from Teatrong Mulat.

Once a year, we bring the puppets called Jesus, Maria, Juan, Magdalena, Pedro, Tomas, Felipe, and Judas out of their sleeping bags (i.e. boxes) for the annual free show, Papet Pasyon. Last Sunday was our first rehearsal, so that explains why "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" keeps playing in my head. Happens every time.

Of course, I'm inviting everyone to come see our Holy Week show! It's free, so all you'll really worry about is transportation! :-D Here's the invite I sent by email.

Watch AMELIA LAPEÑA-BONIFACIO' s

PAPET PASYON

(the Philippines' 1st and only children's senakulo in puppetry)

FOR FREE!!!

April 5, 2009/Palm Sunday

3:00 & 5:30 pm

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo

64 Mapagkawanggawa St., Teachers Village, Quezon City

for details call 921.9773, 929.0895, 0918.903.2040

Directions from Quezon Memorial Circle: Take Commonwealth Ave., RIGHT on Masaya St. (before Mercury Philcoa; corner w/ tricycles, Ministop and Bank of Commerce) LEFT on Maginhawa St. go straight until you see Holy Family School. Theater on the left side in front of Talleres de Nazaret.

From Katipunan: Take CP Garcia, go straight when you see National Stud Farm turn LEFT. RIGHT on Magiting St. when you see Ministop turn RIGHT (Maginhawa St.). Next street to your LEFT is Mapagkawanggawa. Theater on the left side in front of Talleres de Nazaret.

---

In 1977, Prof. Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio was invited by the Dept of Speech and Drama to present one of her plays. Originally a playwright for adult audiences, Prof. Bonifacio decided to present Abadeja: Ang Ating Sinderella, a puppet play based on a Visayan folktale. It was performed in cooperation with DUP and UP Rep Company. Moved by the enthusiasm and spurred by her own long-standing dream of forming a children's theater group, Prof Bonifacio founded TEATRONG MULAT NG PILIPINAS (1977). "Mulat" means to open and to awaken; hence, a theater to awaken children to the beauty and richness not only of their own culture, but of still unfamiliar Asian cultures. Papet Pasyon was first staged in 1985. Visit www.mulat.org for more info.

See you there, folks!

Be mine Valentine

It's Valentine's Day! Let me share a scene from Sita and Rama: Papet Ramayana, here being performed by Roel (7) and Aina Ramolete (10), future master puppeteers. In this scene, Rama and Sita sing a beautiful duet about love and service--which really do go together however people try to separate them.

Let me share the song lyrics (written by accomplished playwright and professor emeritus Amelia Lapena Bonifacio):

Awit ni Prinsipe Rama at Prinsesa Sita
P. Rama: Magmula sa araw na ito,
sumpa kong matimtiman
Lahat ka sa aking buhay,
hindi kita pababayaan;

P. Sita: Magmula sa araw na ito,
sumpa kong matimtiman
Ikaw lang ang mamahalin,
Hindi kita pababayaan;

Sabay: Maging anuman ang iyong pasiya,
ako ang mag-aalalay
Kasama mo ako sa hapis o saya,
sa hirap o kasaganaan.
Maging anuman ang iyong pasiya,
Ako ay nakaalalay;

Magmula sa araw na ito,
hanggang tayo'y sumakabilangbuhay!
Magmula sa araw na ito,
hanggang tayo'y sumakabilangbuhay!

---
For English speakers, forgive me, I can't make a better translation (that is an art in itself, I suppose). But here's what I did just for you:

The song of Prince Rama and Princess Sita
P. Rama: From this day hence,
I sincerely vow
You are all to me,
I will take care of you.

P. Sita: From this day hence,
I sincerely vow
Only you will I love,
I will take care of you.

Both: Whatever you decide
I am you aide
With you in sorrow and joy,
in hardship and abundance.
Whatever you decide
I attend;

From this day
until we pass from this world!
From this day
until we pass from this world!


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Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Spread the love ;-)

Busy with puppets!

Yep, you read it right: from now until April I'll be hanging out with puppets every Sunday because Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas has 2 big upcoming shows early this year! What an exciting way to start the year. :-D

That's Rama and Sita in the picture. The play Sita and Rama: Papet Ramayana will show in CCP's Huseng Batute (black box) theater, for CCP's 40th year. Tickets cost 300 for adults and 150 for students. Here's the schedule:

February 20, FRI, 10am and 3pm
February 21, SAT, 3pm and 7pm

(Tickets will be with Mulat so you can email mulatpuppets77@yahoo.com. Or ask me, hehe!)

The other show is of course the annual Papet Pasyon, which is usually scheduled on Palm Sunday is for free. For now, it's Sita and Rama we're busy with, so I'll just put up another heads up for the Holy Week show in March....

Oktoberfest (though not about beer)

October is the birthday month of Baby Magazine! That explains why every October, our magazine's theme is festive:


(That's SM Star Baby Winner Madielyn Jhen Tan Daughtry on the cover, taken by The Picture Company.)

The October issue is one meaty read, especially for parents who are planning for their child's birthday! We had so much fun planning, preparing, shooting and writing this issue--and one of the most memorable experiences was when we went to the house of Robert and Gia Leon to shoot the pretend-mini-preparations for their middle child Mikee's birthday. We made birthday banners, banderitas, party food trays--colorful and festive party stuff that won't put a hole on the pocket. Needless to say, all five kids--Raffie, Regina, Mikee, Mari and Marti--had a swell time with the crafts and balloons.

There's also a feature about Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas, which I covered. Children's theater is being overlooked now that there are so many other high-tech gadgets to entertain today's kids. Puppetry is a different kind of entertainment--and it inspires creativity in so many different ways! SPP had a puppetry festival last August, and that's the first time all the Filipino puppeteers got together for one event. Let's hope for more events like this!

Of course there's the usual dose of helpful parenting stuff! Baby magazine is published by Marathon Publishing Co. and is sold at all SM Department stores (baby section), National Bookstores, Babyland (Robinsons Galleria, Shaw Blvd. near Cherry Foodarama, Virra Mall, Baby & Co. (The Podium and Power Plant Mall), Bufini, Procreation Shangri-la mall, Big & Small Co. Shangri-la Mall.

The First Philippine Puppetry Festival

Witness the 1st Philippine Puppetry Festival from August 13 to 15 in celebration of the Buwan ng Wika. The festival features the pioneers in Philippine puppetry namely -- Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, Black Theater of Manila, Tali Galaw, Roppets Edutainment, ANINO Shadowplay Collective and Ony Carcamo. Learn about the different types of puppets (rod, string, hand, and
shadow puppets, black theater, and ventriloquism) when you watch their 10 am or 1:30 pm shows at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines. For details call, Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas, 439-14-71; Cultural Center of the Philippines, 832-1125, or e-mail papetir@gmail.com.

Aug. 13: Black Theater of Manila & Ony Carcamo
Aug. 14: ANINO Shadowplay Collective & Roppets Edutainment
Aug. 15: Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas & Tali Galaw

Papet Pasyon

I've learned so much from puppeteering with Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas: there are the numerous lessons on puppetry and stageplay, there's the giganormous one on teamwork and dedication, and finally there's the sincere belief of being able to open the eyes of the youth to the beauties of our own culture (and the many remarkable abilities of motivated people!), which is actually more like a virus you catch from Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio and her daughter Ami Bonifacio-Ramolete.

L-R: Felipe, Tomas, Juan, Jesus, Pedro, and Judas.

Right now, we're all busy with rehearsing for our annual Palm Sunday show, Papet Pasyon, which is a retelling of the passion and life of Christ in the form of puppetry. The photo above shows what is left of the original 12 apostles. The show has been running since 1984, and through the years the puppets have gotten worn out and replaced, and some got removed from the scenes, because as a trained-volunteer-dependent organization, we can't just turn up puppeteers in mid-air.

The good news is, we're more than ever this year, as some old puppeteers who have "graduated" have made a reappearance. We're working towards doing a complete Pasyon next year, and hopefully it pushes through. How nice it would be to begin the story from Creation!


Papet Pasyon and Mulat are featured this March in Baby Magazine, the first parenting magazine in the Philippines! I got these photos from the images we took for the magazine; Ditas Bermudez was behind the lens. Catch Papet Pasyon on Palm Sunday, March 16, at 3pm and 5:30pm, in Tita Amel's Children's Theater (TACT), 64 Mapagkawanggawa St., Teacher's Village East, Diliman, Quezon City.