Young love, sweet love in an old play

This February, love blossoms in the midst of war in the Ateneo de Manila University’s production of Walang Sugat, a sarsuwela by Severino Reyes and Fulgencio Tolentino. This will be the Ateneo’s first staging of a major sarsuwela. It will serve as the culmination of the school’s 150th anniversary celebration. Bleeding love Regarded as Severino Reyes’ masterpiece, Walang Sugat broadly underscores the injustice of Spanish rule even as it dances around the cruel fate of the young lovers Tenyong and Julia with humor and song. Though sarsuwelas are no longer the rage these days, people will be reminded of movies like A Very Long Engagement and Cold Mountain when they find out what Walang Sugat is all about. Gripping saga The play opens in the final leg of the Philippine revolution against Spain, when the soldiers are closing in on a small town in Bulacan. There, Tenyong, a country lad, is wooing Julia, his childhood sweetheart. Julia's mother, however, is against their love. In an unfortunate turn of events, Tenyong’s father, a Katipunero, is tortured to death by Spanish authorities. This forces Tenyong to join the Katipunan and leave Julia. When the battle becomes prolonged and no word about Tenyong reaches Julia, she is pressured by her mother to marry the wealthy Miguel, a man she does not love. Julia only agrees to the marriage when she receives news that Tenyong has died in battle. On her wedding day, Julia’s heart leaps when fellow soldiers bring before her a dying Tenyong, whose only wish is to see her for the last time. (Move over, Nicholas Sparks!) Behind the scenes Walang Sugat will be directed by Ricardo Abad, under the musical direction of Josefino Tolledo. Jonjon Villareal will handle lights design while Dexter Santos is in charge of choreography. National Artist Salvador Bernal will design the set and costumes. The sarsuwela’s cast members include Laura Cabochan, Arman Ferrer, AJ Constantino, Delphine Buencamino, Sonia Mallasarte-Roco, Michael Coroza, Zuriel Valbuena, and Miko Coroza. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Ateneo de Manila University’s program 500@150, which aims to raise money for 500 scholarships this year, and to Agenda for Hope. - FVI, GMANews.TV The show runs from February 24 to 28, 2010 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila University. For ticket inquiries and reservation, contact Ia Solis at 0921-258-5000. You may also send email inquiries to marketing@tanghalangateneo.org.