Bona fide text
Baloy
Last Friday, Teacher Agnes Salinas, a fellow Josephian teacher and a good friend of mine invited me to watch a stage play in University of the Philippines (Visayas) Auditorium after our faculty meeting on that day.
Actually, at first it was not that inviting for me probably due to the bad weather condition. It was a rainy Friday night and somehow a bit colder than the previous nights. Christmas is finally here so they say.
I can't say no to her since she said that by watching the play, we can help the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP), Iloilo City Chapter Inc. What is a hundred bucks and a time allotted, after all it is Christmas, time to share and time to give.
After the meeting, we hurriedly went out of the school and agreed to take a cab going there. We waited for 15-20 minutes for a cab but it seemed we were unlucky. Cabs were full, yeah, especially on a rainy day until Mrs. Ging-ging Espinosa offered a ride. Actually, we were so shy to say yes but we were considering the time of the play. The gala show starts at 6 P.M. and it was already past 6. So we accepted the offer and they dropped us in front of UPV campus. We said our thanks as we bid goodbye to each other.
We thought we were already late, however the moment we arrived there, people who watched the first show just came out of the auditorium. After 10 minutes, we were allowed to enter and in 10 minutes the auditorium was full. The band played two songs while visitors were still coming in. The show started at around 7 o'clock in the evening. The show directed by Ed Defensor is entitled Baloy.
Here the synopsis of the Baloy which was given life by the UP Teatro Amakan Alumni Association, Inc. A satire on the legend of Mt. Baloy, this play is about the adventures of Prinsipe Bagani to regain his kingdom of Tribu Bulawanon, which was forcefully taken by his uncle, Bahag, through the aid of Balloy, a tikbalang.
Soon after the birth of the long-awaited heir of Haring Daguob, the tribe people celebrate the birthday of their King with much rejoicing. However, Bahag succeeds in capturing the kingdom for himself as Baloy kills everyone – including Reyna Matam-is and Haring Daguob.
Padi Buringot, the highest priest of Tribu Bulawanon, escapes the carnage taking with him the infant Principe Bagani. He settles, and rises up the young prince, in Tribu Barumbado. When Bagani grows up, he searches – with his side-kick Sinamak – for the Busalian nga Binangon, the only weapon that can defeat Baloy.
The young warriors seek the aid of Yao Ming, the king of the dwafs, and Diwata Maldita, the queen of Kweba Bagaonan, and engage in a final battle with Bahag and with Baloy.
The stage play presented the talents of Ilonggos in a superb performance. The script was written with wit and with moral lesson. No dragging moments, equipped with good sound, nice production and special effects. Plus it maximizes the Ilonggo dialect as used in the play which for me gains a two thumbs up!
Congratulations to all the casts, the band, and the whole production of Baloy for a job very well done! You celebrate Christmas in an Ilonggo way! Kudos to all of you!
(My special thanks to Mr. Dado and Mrs. Mae Tan for the invitation extended to us.)