Photograph by Erickson dela Cruz
“Makibaka. Huwag Matakot!”. A graffiti scene from the musical Silver Lining Redux that depicted the lengthy historical past of pupil radical activism within the College of the Philippines (UP).
Initially staged in 2023, the musical tells the story of three highschool associates Leo, Anton, and Raul, as they navigate the highs and lows of rising up within the Nineteen Seventies below Martial Legislation as UP college students.
It revolves round Leo’s concept of staging a musical throughout their reunion at St. Dennis highschool as a tribute to their late good friend Chito.
It was a nostalgic journey pushed by songs which have turn into a part of their adolescent lives once they had been pursuing each educational excellence and progressive considering.
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Complexities of generational variations
Centered on the complexities of generational variations, the musical faucets into the reminiscences and hardships of the Child Boomers whereas indulging on the creativeness of millennials and Gen Z.
The manufacturing showcased a cross-generational dialog about private and political betrayal that hang-out the older era, the enduring quest for justice and hope, whereas awakening inquisitiveness of their youngsters, linked with current points like extra-judicial killings and West Philippine Sea. They even related the
“ATIN To” slogan with the territorial dispute and College Athletic Affiliation of the Philippines (UAAP) video games.
It is peppered with parts related to UP faculty life as a showcase of iconic campus scenes and traditions – from enrollment chaos, UAAP, isaw, IKOT jeep, rivalries, rallies, classroom rowdiness, infinite rendezvous, and romance.
The campus was a much bigger classroom the place Iskolars ng Bayan discovered the worth of give-and-take, cooperation and mutual respect in coping with quite a lot of personalities and characters.
Microcosm of bigger society
UP is a microcosm of the bigger society as college students have all the time been one of many largest, most vibrant forces of the social actions. UP pupil chief Lean Alejandro as soon as stated, “the scholars are ready to function catalysts in social transformation.”
Again within the Nineteen Seventies, many members of the UP neighborhood participated in protest actions in opposition to the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Demonstrations, protests, and marches in opposition to the Marcos administration had been largely organized by college students and passed off from January 26 to March 17, 1970, now often known as the “First Quarter Storm.”
Violent dispersals ensued in the course of the FQS protests and it turned the watershed of the radicalization of Filipino college students within the Nineteen Seventies.
I used to be barely two months outdated when the nine-day rebellion referred to as “Diliman Commune” — from February 1 to 9, 1971— turned an proof of UP’s function because the “bastion of activism.”
It was the primary ever show of mass resistance from the UP Diliman neighborhood, along with transport employees, to protest the three-centavo enhance in oil costs.
Life below the dictatorship was lethal, particularly for individuals who stood in opposition to Marcos, Sr.
Desaparecidos
The play touched upon the problem of desaparecidos that revolves round Leo’s misplaced love, Julia.
“Desaparecidos” is the Spanish and Portuguese phrase for “disappeared folks” or victims of pressured disappearance with three parts: (a) deprivation of liberty in opposition to the need of an individual; (b) involvement of presidency officers, at the least by acquiescence; and (c) refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the destiny or whereabouts of the disappeared particular person.
It’s the identical academe the place I later spent a decade of my pupil life within the late ‘80s till late ‘90s.
If requested “Bakit ka ba naging aktibista,” I often reply again by saying that UP is the right place to develop in all points, whether or not it’s intellectually, politically, socially detached, or opposing spectrum.
The college teaches what textbooks can’t seize, the state schooling curriculum avoids, or the navy censors, erases or prohibits.
UP continues to exist with a vital eye on social and historic points.
The campus molded us to struggle for the causes we imagine in; skilled us for the talents we have to talk concepts and rally others to impact modifications in society.
The musical is the primary manufacturing of Rockitwell Studios owned by Galerie Joaquin’s Jack Teotico, a fellow graduate of the UP College of Economics.
Silver lining amidst darkish instances
“This musical is a bridge,” Teotico stated in an interview. “It’s about seeing the silver lining amidst darkish instances, for each era.”
The forged is led by Ricky Davao, Jamie Wilson, Raul Montesa, Jake Macapagal, Gina Respall, Don Anthony, Cheska Rodriguez, Dippy Arceo, Albert Silos, Drei Sugay, Jay Cortez, Sara Sicam, Krystal Brimner, Raflesia Bravo and Moi Gealogo.
The musical garnered vital acclaim throughout its unique run in 2023, together with 5 nominations on the prestigious Aliw Awards.
It runs on the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza in Makati Metropolis for 2 weekend, from November 8 to 10 and November 15 to 17,2024.
Allow us to proceed to have fun activism and to dwell by the beliefs that sure us collectively.
(Peyups is the moniker of the College of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho is the Junior Accomplice of the Sapal Velez Bundang Bulilan Legislation Workplaces. For feedback, e-mail [email protected], or name 09175025808 or 09088665786.)
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