“Thanks to Antigong Agong!” said one of its amazed and enlightened audiences during their performance at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao last December 6, 2006. This was the seventh time that the musical play was performed here in Davao City. Antigong Agong is a musical theater bannered by two of the most prominent artists in the theater and music field respectively. The play was written and directed by two-time Palanca Awardee Mr. Arnel Mardoquio with Davaoeño artist Popong Landero as the Musical Director.
History to a Theatrical Presentation
Way back in 1906, at Jolo, a massacre happened at Bundok Dahu. This massacre was said to be the root of rebellion of some Tausugs at the present. This massacre was then called “The Bud Dahu Massacre.” The concept of the play begun after Mr. Mardoquio took part of a workshop about the Bu Dahu (Bundok Dahu) at Jolo January this year. He met with the descendants of the survivor of the massacre and was able to put the history into a script. The next time Mr. Mardoquio went to Jolo, we brought Pepito Sumayan (Production Manager) and Mario Leofer Lim (Asst. Director and Choreographer). It was on the third trip to Jolo when the three mentioned above had Davaoeño artists Popong Landero and Maree Contaoi (Stage Designer and Performer). The play was made because the direct descendants and elders waned to tell the whole world about their story. It was also made in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Bud Dahu Massacre.
The Play
The play was about a group of fresh graduates named Nadzmi (Edwin Tantalie), Faidal (Mohammad Al-Jainal Benson, Fatima (Nurmina Hadi), Amrayda (Babylyn Kissail), and Samsullaw/”Sam” (Gamrazer Albani) who wanted to get out of Jolo in order to experience life that is more than what they have experienced, a life moving in the sounds of guns and bombs. Sam wants to marry Amrayda but Amrayda’s Father (Nadzmi Salahuddin) would not allow them until Sam could provide dowry. Sam thought of going to work abroad to earn enough money for the dowry but Amrayda told her not to do so since she found out another solution to their problem. This solution was suggested by her Grandmother (Maree Contaoi). She and Amrayda’s father would give a huge amount to anyone who could bring back a property that their family owns for a century, the “Antigong Agong.” The group then went to search for the antigong agong while Amrayda’s Grandma became sick. In their search a spirit of their elders told them that it was at the Bundok Dahu. When they got there, they saw the antigong agong but when they took it, the spirit of their elders got angry and possessed their bodies that led them to be back at the past 100 years ago. With the flashback, they witnessed what happened at the Bud Dahu Massacre by American soldiers. When the spirits got out of their body, they had many realizations about their history. The play ended when they came home with the antigong agong being welcomed with both good and bad news- Amrayda’s Grandma died and the reward was raised to a higher amount. Sam also received a letter saying that he passed in a scholarship.
All throughout the presentation, scenes were filled with songs and dances which is backed with a music pool composed of indigenous instruments like kulintang, agong, dabakan, gabang, and the likes. In the play, many controversies were revealed. First is about the Bud Dahu Massacre by American soldiers which is not written in our history books. The betrayal by Adam was also shown in the play. The story also had social, economical, and cultural aspects giving highlights to problems such as poverty, war, discrimination on women, dowry, “Balikatan,” and Tausugs who want to go out of Jolo.
The Stage
The stage was designed by Maree Contaoi. It is a originally a 16 feet-stage but it was lowered by two feet when it was brought in Davao. It is made of lumber and bamboo. It also have moveable parts (with wheels). According to the performers, so far, there has never been a serious accident caused by the stage.
The Performers
“Antigong Agong” is performed by the Puddang Lupah Sug Artists’ Guild (PDLSAG). The group first started as a student organization at the Mindanao State University-Jolo. As of the present, it is no longer a student organizationand it is composed of “out-of-school youth.”
Rehearsals and Performances Worth Remembering
The rehearsals took 28 days while it was stopped for three days due to armed conflict. According to Ms. Maree Contaoi, it is really scary practicing with the play while they could hear the gun shots from encounters between the military and rebels. The first performance was at Jolo, in front of the direct descendants and the elders in the community. According to Nadzmi Salahuddin (the one who portrayed as Amrayda’s Father), after their first performance, everybody was crying; the descendants, elders, staff, and even them as the performers. Until their most recent performance, they could still feel like crying but they just control their emotions. There were also times when some of the actors were possessed by other victims of the massacre right after their performances. Since that time, they perform rituals and prayers for the spirits to let them perform and guide them while performing before rehearsals and performances.
Their performances already had two legs: the First and the Second one. Performances in the first leg were performed at Jolo and Zamboanga. The second leg is the Davao Leg wherein they performed at the Matina Town Square, Ateneo de Davao University – High School, Ateneo de Davao University – College, University of the Philippines in Mindanao, and University of Southeastern Philippines. Ms. Maree said , being a performer of so many plays, it is only in the “Antigong Agong” where she experienced signing autographs for the audience. “Dito ko lang na-experience yung parang Starstruck na may mga nagpapapirma.” She said.
A Closer Look
Gamraser “Sam” J. Albani is the youngest among all the performers in the play. He is only 18 years old and a high school graduate. As the writer conducted an interview with him, his eyes were glittering, seeing the real happiness within him being part of the “Antigong Agong.” He was not able to go to college due to financial problems. He became part of the PLSAG only on the time of the Antigong Agong. He was recommended by a friend to be part of it. When asked on how he feels being the lead role of such a marvelous production, he said that he is really nervous. According to him, he doesn’t really have any other talent other than acting. “Wala talaga akong talent in sa pagkanta at pagsayaw, acting lang talaga.” He said. On the first leg, his role was as a Taong Bayan but during that span of time, he was selected to act as Sam in the second leg since the original actor for Sam already went abroad. He is very thankful for the group because he became part of it and he made use of his time well. “Lubos lubos talaga ang pasasalamat ko sa kanila kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanila, nakatambay lang ako sa bahay ngayon.”
The Goals
The main objective for the presentation is to inform the people about the Bud Dahu Massacre and to remove the wrong impression to the Tausugs being “terrorists.” The group also aim to have their third leg at Visayas and hopefully to perform abroad. The “Antigong Agong” truly is more than just a musical theater. Aside from the extravagant features of the presentations such as the costumes and stage design, the performers were really credible for their part in the play. This is because the aim of the play is also the aim of each and every person as part of the production. They did not only amazed their estimated 500 audience with the great choreography and sound effects, they also were able to capture their heart and have enlightened them from the darkness that the Americans have brought to us through our present history books nowadays.
The “Antigong Agong” is sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in cooperation with the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), TM ang bagong Touch Mobile, Peace Builders’ Committee, the Brothers of Sacred Heart, Better Components Incorporated, Better Music Factory Outlet Philippines, ADI Guitar, Mergrande Ocean Resort, ABS-CBN FM Radio, MOR 101.1, The Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS) Matina Town Square and the hosting Universities.
