The literary works of Don Vicente Sotto in Cebuano
Don Vicente Yap Sotto was called the "Father of Cebuano Journalism, Language and Literature." The first issue of the "Ang Suga," the first newspaper in Cebuano, published the first short story in Cebuano, entitled "Maming." It was printed on the first issue of Ang Suga on June 16, 1901.
"Maming" is the story of a devoted Catholic couple. Their obedience and respect to the men of the church resulted to the seduction of their daughter to a Spanish friar. The story caught the attention of the public as it reflected the realities of that time.
An earlier work of Sotto is a story entitled "Ang Gugma sa Yutang Natawhan." It was first written in Spanish but was later translated into Cebuano. Sotto was charged for sedition for this work as it was perceived to have encouraged the assassination of pro-American collaborators.
In 1902, Sotto gave birth to the "Modern Cebuano Theater" with his "Ang Paghigugma sa Yutang Natawhan." At that time, the medium of stage plays were in Spanish. Challenged by what he felt as inequality and Cebuanos deprived by being entertained by their own language and talent, he decided to produce the play himself.
The first stage play in Cebuano happened on the evening of January 1, 1902 at Teatro Junquera (now Oriente) on Colon Street. It was played before a large audience. Don Florentino Rallos, the municipal president of Cebu attended the play.
The opening night was a huge success, Sotto profited on the sales of the entrance fee. He shared the profit of the play by constructing the Aglipayan Church, which today still stands in Barangay Parian. Sotto was a supporter and legal counsel of the Philippine Independent Church also known as Aglipayan Church. Sotto and the church founder Bishop Gregorio Aglipay were friends, both advocates of nationalism and Philippine Independence from any colonists. Sotto in his lifetime fought against the Spaniards and its successor colonists, the Americans.
Incidentally, according to the book of Resil B. Mojares, Don Vicente Sotto was able to convince close friends and staff of his newspaper, Ang Suga, to be the talents and workers of the first stage play in Cebuano. They were Natalia Bondok, Filomeno Roble, Marciano Ufana, Nitoy Rallos, Leon Violango, Valeriano Rabor, Pedro Noel, Marcos Serin, Apolonio Basa, Estanislao Rosales, and even two "Ang Suga" newsboys, Pisyong Noel and Blas Urgello. His editorial associate, Leoncio Avila, acted as prompter.
Months later, Sotto staged another play, this time it was entitled "Elena" at the Teatro Junquera in May 1902. Despite the so called "Flag Law," which prohibits the display of the Philippine Flag in ceremonies and public events, Sotto caused the display of our flag during the play. The American Inspector of the Philippine Constabulary objected.
Another play, "Ang Dila sa Babaye," was staged on June 17, 1905. It was a masterpiece of the great Cebuano playwrights. Vicente Ranudo (V. Ranudo Street, where Velez College and the Casino Espanol are situated, was named after him) contributed verses of the play. The elder brother of Vicente, Filemon, composed the musical score in collaboration with Celestino Rodriguez, Mariano Alburo, Pedro Espinosa, Justo Kabahar, and Ramon Abellana.
The other musical and literary works of Don Vicente Sotto were "Maktang," which he called as the first operetta in Visayan. The musical score was done by Jose A. Estella and Maputi ug Maitum. Sotto considered this as the first zarzuela in Visayan.
"Ang Suga" opened the eyes of the public to the fact that the Cebuanos could actually express their sentiments in their own language. Don Vicente Sotto was believed to be ahead of his time. There were those who criticized and prophesized that his literary adventure would fail, yet the increase and continued patronage of the Cebuanos of the newspaper and his stage plays proved that Cebuanos are capable of appreciating and loving its own language.
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