Hinilawod: Local flavor, global appeal

A pre-Spanish story comes to our very own eyes bringing back to life the rich and glorious past.

Last August 28, 2013 at the Marco Plaza Hotel, I had the privilege to witness and "taste" another showcase of world-class talents in a musical play depicting our people's narrative. It was a teaser of a musical which the sponsoring organization planned to stage sometime in July 2014 at the Cebu Cultural Center. 

I am very grateful to Hiyas Kayumanggi for bringing to Cebu a musical play that portrays our rich culture. As a non-stock and non-profit organization, Hiyas Kayumanggi runs programs and events promoting the beauty and richness of Filipino art, culture and heritage.

"The organization's medium is primarily the use of theater that is distinctly Filipino, as a tool for bringing pride and honor in the country's heritage". Founded in 2009, its pioneering effort is the theatre production of the epic Hinilawod.

Hinilawod which means tales from the mouth of the Halawod River is an epic poem chanted by the early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay. It is one of the many pieces of oral literature passed from one generation to the next. Changed and morphed by a storyteller to one degree or another as he narrated it to his audience.

Production after production, honestly, that was my first glimpse of Hinilawod, which has been staged in Dumaguete and at the Cultural Center of the Philippines which wowed the Manila audience, gained great reviews and adulations parallel to that of world-class theatrical performances. The production team has planned to stage it in Cebu since some of the performing casts and crew are our very own Cebuano artists, a fitting move and a welcome one for the Cebuano viewing public.

A quick trace of this long epic, "Hinilawod was first discovered in 1955, when F. Landa Jocano, Filipino anthropologist became interested in native folklore. He traveled the hinterlands of his home province, Panay, with two colleagues collecting folk songs, stories, and riddles. It was during one of those trips to the upland barrios of Lambunao, Maasin, Janiuay, and Calinog in Iloilo that his attention was called to a long and popular tale called Hinilawod. Portions of the story were sung to him and his colleague by an old man named Ulang Udig who was chanting to his son. Returning the following year, together with a radio technician from Central Philippine University, he then recorded a portion of the story on tape in 1956."

"However, when he returned in 1957 to make a recording of the complete story, Ulang Udig refused to sing again. Weeks later, he was introduced to a mountain singer named Hugan-an, who, after much cajoling, allowed herself to be tape recorded as she recounted both her story and the Hinilawod story. It took three weeks to complete the recording of the 30 hour epic poem."

It is a story about fighting for one's true love, the journeys and struggles of both the mortals and mystical creatures-truly a literary piece that is a source of information about culture, religion and rituals of the ancient people of Sulod. It shows that ancient Filipinos believed in anything that is "sacred," in the importance of family honor and in personal courage and dignity. This 8,340-verse epic is chanted when performed and would take about three days when performed in its original form, making it one of the longest epics known.

Specific to the production and performance: Under the creative directorship of Dr. Joanie Dy-Sycip and Rene M. Oliva, Jr. with musical director and composer Gina Raakin-the intensity of emotions is remarkably creditable, justifying each role being portrayed. The costumes are intricate and elegant, showcasing the grandeur and opulence of the status of our ancestors. The singing prowess of the lead actors and the group is astounding. Crystal Marie Esmero-Oliva's voice, who played Alunsina, is simply crystal-clear and powerful. For its future performances, Hinalawod, a must-see two-hour musical, is translated in Filipino. 

Ang Hinilawod bagamat isang yaman ng ating bansa na halos lamunin na ng limot at malapit nang mabaon sa alaala ng nakalipas ay kailangang maibalik at maitaas ang antas ng kamalayan ng mga tao.

Be charmed. Viewing Hinilawod evokes rediscovering the glories of the past. This is our people's story-pride in one's dignity, source of national identity.