Retelling the life story of MLQ

MANILA, Philippines - “This is the start to getting to know the man again. He is a very interesting man,” said Regina Samson, head of the Quezon City’s Communication Coordination Center, of the restaging of MLQ, Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon, Isang Dula, a musical play set to premiere on Aug. 19 at the KIA Theater, the newly-renovated New Frontier Theater.

MLQ was first mounted in 2009 at PETA for the city’s 70th founding anniversary with then QC Mayor and now Speaker of the House Feliciano Belmonte Jr. spearheading the event.

This time around, the musical play with Arnold Reyes reprising the title role is part of the Quezon City’s diamond jubilee celebration under the leadership of Mayor Herbert Bautista.

“We (the audience) will see how the young characters interpret certain historical events that Manuel Quezon (the Philippines’ Commonwealth president) figured in,” Regina added.

MLQ, Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon, Isang Dula, as director and playwright George de Jesus described it, is told through the eyes of three college students, who are technology savvy themselves compared to the student-narrators of the 2009 staging.

With iPad as something they can’t live without, the student-characters are aware of the vast information the Internet offers and the power social media possesses.

“It is not the usual biography about a hero,” said direk George. “Mula ito sa punto de vista ng mga estudyante kung (paano) naging si Quezon si Quezon (The story of MLQ is seen from the perspective of the students on how Quezon became Quezon). There are interesting facts about him. When you go to Quezon Memorial Circle, you’ll see there his epitaph (stating that Quezon is a Statesman and Patriot, Lover of Freedom, Advocate of Social Justice, Beloved of the People). The story of the (musical) play will revolve around it.” The stage interpretation of Quezon’s life and legacy also touches on his political and cultural contributions like the establishment of an independent Philippines and his being the Father of the Philippine National Language (which is Filipino). Thus, Quezon is both a Philippine symbol and an icon.

“The (musical) play was made in a way that the youth could  easily understand (the storyline) and grasp it,“ said direk George. And what other people behind MLQ can assure of is, the whole package is “very contemporary,” while the treatment is “very fresh although it is called dula.”

Given the premises where the musical is set to be told, the audience will never get lost in the interaction of — and juxtaposition — of the past and the present. The lines between the intertwined time zones are well-defined, so to speak. 

“Yung pagkakagawa ng (musical) play ay balanse. It has one foot in the present, and the other foot in the past,” said Chinie Concepcion, who has been tapped to play Aurora Quezon, wife of Manuel Luis Quezon. “Napakaganda ng presentasyon ng mga kundiman. These songs (like Lambingan and Joselina Baliuag) are about and part of the history. The songs will set the pace of the past. However, (the play) is grounded in the present time.”

According to executive producer Maricel Santos, MLQ is a mix of dialogues and songs. It is divided into three acts. Act I will see the students doing their assignment research about Quezon, while Act II reveals their learnings from the man’s life. Act III shows the highlights of Quezon as a statesman. Arnold Reyes and Gian Magdangal will alternately play Quezon.

“Nung ginawa ko yung (musical) play na ito, natuwa ako sa kabataan ni Quezon (When I did the play few years back, I was fascinated by the young Quezon),” said Arnold. “I discovered that he was just a regular kid, na nakipagaway sa kalaro, na dumaan din siya sa pang-aapi ng ibang tao (He engaged in some childish fight and experienced abuses in the hands of others). These experiences had made him stronger as well as his desire to free his country — nagsimula ito sa maliit at lumaki nang lumaki.”

In a previous interview with Arnold, the actor said that the hard times Quezon’s family experienced in the hands of Spanish friars helped the Philippine president become a principled man. “I’m grateful to him because he (contributed a lot) to the freedom we are enjoying now,” Arnold added.

(After the press preview and opening show on Aug. 19, the performances of MLQ, Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon, Isang Dula are slated on Aug. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. These play dates are exclusively for Q.C.’s public high school students.)