A mission to continue Dr. Jose Rizal’s legacy

What if Padre Damaso did not meddle in the love story of star-crossed lovers and childhood sweethearts Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra? Will the couple have their happily ever after? And what if Sisa did not lose her sanity and found her missing sons Basilio and Crispin? These questions crossed my mind while having an exhilarating conversation with lawyer Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue during our fun dinner at Shang Palace a few weeks ago. As always, the food was good and it got even better because of the vivacious company I had that balmy evening. During our dinner, we talked about anything and everything under the moon including their latest project: Noli Me Tangere, The Opera.

Loida is a philanthropist and socio-civic leader based in New York City. She was the first Filipino woman to pass the New York bar without attending law school in the United States. An accomplished woman, she is the chair and co-founder of US Pinoys for Good Governance and one of the founders and the chair emeritus of the US advocacy group National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

In 2012, she saw Noli Me Tangere, The Opera in Chicago and was inspired to bring the production to New York City. A new production and cast for the first Filipino opera was assembled and the opera went onstage in New York later that year.

Loida invited Jerry and Edwin to join as executive committee members (together with Aida Bartolome, Michael Dadap, Dr. Angie Cruz and legal counsel Robert Perlstein) in March 2013. Before joining the project, Jerry is the founder of Jerry Sibal Design of New York City and an event designer and floral artisan while Edwin works in the real estate industry in New York where he is based for the past 28 years.

According to them, their mission is to continue the legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal’s literary opus and to showcase world-class Filipino opera artists in the global arena.

Noli Me Tangere, The Opera is an adaptation of Dr. Rizal’s classic novel by two Philippine National Artists, composer Felipe de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino who wrote the libretto. The immortal novel was first published in Berlin, Germany in 1887. Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) revolves around the abuses suffered by the indios in the hands of their Spanish oppressors. It highlights the “social cancer” that afflicts the rotten system of government, the dishonest conduct of the church leaders and the unfavorable dealings of the privileged class at the expense of the poor.

The novel has all the qualities of a top-rating teleserye: The star-crossed lovers Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, the demonic friar Padre Damaso who hides his true color under his angelic cloak, the tragic Sisa who lost her beloved sons, the mysterious but heroic Elias, the flamboyantly dressed social climber Doña Victorina and her henpecked husband Dr. Tiburcio de Espadaña, among others.

The Opera is composed of three Acts. Each act has several scenes which add flavor and taste to the opera. It also boasts of unforgettable arias including Kay Tamis ng Buhay, Awit ng Gabi ni Sisa and Di ba Silang Nagpapatay?

Last year, there was a three-day sold-out show at the Kaye Playhouse in New York. The opera was sung in Tagalog with English subtitles. Jerry has magnificently produced a stage design, beautiful costumes and video projection in less than three months. In a review in The New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer wrote, “Jerry Sibal created the attractive costumes and sets, featuring digital images that changed to reflect the different scenes.”

Noli Me Tangere, The Opera will have its tour on the following dates: Aug. 8 and 9 (Eisenhower Theater in The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.) and Sept. 12 to 28 (Resorts World Manila) for a 21-show run. For the Manila production, Jerry plans to bring back the time and the scenery of the Old Manila in the 1890s during the Spanish era and to create a backdrop of nostalgic beauty by introducing an approach of Classic with a Twist, using digital images with actual sets in different scenes.

The grand production is composed of more than 120 creative artists from 40 opera cast actors to orchestra members and other technical/production team.

There are also plans to stage the opera in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, among others.

Parts of the proceeds will go to the preservation of the original manuscript of the Noli Me Tangere book, for the Typhoon Yolanda relief operation and the sponsorships of deserving Filipino opera artists and musicians.