‘Pagsambang Bayan the Musical’: A remembrance of Martial Law

Inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), an establishment built by the Marcoses, actors frolic on stage while intentionally throwing lines directed at the hostile dictatorship of the 70’s and the fog of blood and extrajudicial killings that has settled over the present-day Philippines.

Along with the chilling storytelling of the theater company were the radically enticing music and soul-penetrating songs that resembled the nation’s strong belief in spirituality and democracy.

Just in time for the anniversary of declaration of Martial Law, “Pagsambang Bayan the Musical” takes the new generation back in time to the days of the Marcos regime and reflect it on the present time at CCP Little Theater on Sept. 21.

Originally ran in 1977, "Pagsambang Bayan" was written by Bonifacio Ilagan and was then directed by Behn Cervantes.

Ilagan took the inspiration from his sister, Rizalina Ilagan, who went missing during the Martial Law regime. She was also the motivating force behind the CCP event known as the “Pista Rizalina.”

The revised play, directed by the veteran director Joel Lamangan, tackled not just the dictatorship of Marcos, but also weighed-in issues concerning the current administration, through audiovisual presentation of reports about Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, as a ‘prologue’ of Duterte’s administration.

Four decades ago, the musical was once just a dialogue play combined with background music, until it was revised today to be an entertaining and informative full musical that correlates to its authentic style back in the ‘70s.

The musical was born to life through the actors and chorus’ phenomenal voices, singing songs with folk and rock melodies composed by Joed Balsamo, a Filipino composer known for his works in “Mabining Mandirigma” and “Ibarra”. The music’s sense of patriotism and support for democracy made the storytelling more powerful.

Ilagan, influenced by his imprisonment, with only a bible at hand during the Martial Law period, used its verses to incorporate the moral values that society should embody today.

Lamangan, notable for his works in directing films and theater plays, challenged the actors to put themselves in the shoes of the characters to effectively portray the lives of the victims of Martial Law who were lost, tortured, and killed as they fought for the rights they wanted to protect during the dictatorship of Marcos.

“Pambansang Bayan the Musical” will ceaselessly run nationwide unless martial law will be declared again, Ilagan mentioned in a question and answer session after the show, pertaining to Duterte’s plan to declare martial law.

He added that his disappointment for the play’s lack of public support and patronage tempted him to make the play recorded for public viewing for everyone to be informed about the issues ventured in the play; but for that to happen, certain measures needed to be done.

Bonifacio Ilagan was a human rights activist captured and tortured during the Marcos’ regime, and since then, his nationalistic expression in writing helped him grow as a playwright.

Lamangan, being a member of the militant group Kabataang Makabayan during the Martial Law, was also captured and tortured.

Both stood against President Duterte’s support in the state burial of the late Ferdinand Marcos last Nov. 2016.

“Pagsambang Bayan the Musical” was one of the entries for the festival of plays in the Pista Rizalina: Festival of Arts and Music in CCP and will continue to be one of the quintessential storytelling of history in the form of performing arts.