QUARTER 4: 2OTH AND 21ST MULTIMEDIA FORMS

PHILIPPINE OPERA
Learning Competency:

 describes how an idea or story in a

musical play is presented by watching a
live performance or video excerpt;
(MU10MMIIIa-h-1)
 explains how theatrical elements in a
selected part of a musical play are
combined with music and media to
achieve certain effects; (MU10MMIIIa-h-2)
 Direction: Recall the names of opera composers and
their compositions by choosing the composer of the
given musical composition from column B.

COLUMN A COLUMN B
1.Rigoletto a.Gioachino Rossini
2.La Boheme b.Giuseppi Verdi
3.Tristan Und Isolde c.Giacomo Puccini
4.The Barber of d.Richard Wagner
Seville e.Georges Bizet
5.Carmen
 DIRECTION: Guess the title of the
opera by arranging the given jumbled
letters.

I Have A Story!
A young attractive woman from a rich Mexican
family is under a curse that causes her to
transform into a wolf-woman at night and kill
people. She falls in love with the doctor she
sees (in order to get cured from her curse) who
is also a werewolf. Unfortunately for both, their
love filled killing spree comes to an end when
they are killed by a trained, werewolf-killing dog.
At the laying of the cornerstone for the new
schoolhouse, a suspicious accident, apparently
aimed at Ibarra’s life, occurs, but the festivities
proceed until the dinner, where Ibarra is grossly
and wantonly insulted over the memory of his
father by Fray Damaso. The young man loses
control of himself and is about to kill the friar,
who is saved by the intervention of Maria Clara.
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra has changed his name and
identity to rich jeweler Simoun. In disguise, he travels
the world amassing wealth, which he intends to use to
topple the corrupt and abusive regime in his native land.
But Simoun's real motive is personal. He wants to
rescue his beloved, Maria Clara, from the convent and
avenge the death of his father. In a forest on Christmas
Eve, medical student Basilio recognizes Simoun as the
man who helped bury his mother Sisa under a tree over
10 years ago.
PHILIPPINE OPERA
 What is Opera?
• Is an art and musical form in which
singers and musicians perform a dramatic
work combining text (libretto) and
musical score, usually in an elaborate
theatrical setting.
• It incorporate many elements of spoken
theater such as acting, scenery, costumes
and sometimes dance.
 When did Opera in the
Philippines emerge?
• The emergence of Filipino opera started
during the middle part of 19th century.
• That period in Philippine history was ripe
for artist to voice their own sentiments
about love of country for independence
from colonial rule.
• The element of tragedy, emanating from
the popular themes of romance, deceit,
murder and vendetta and other elements
of human frailty became a favorite story
pattern of the Filipino opera.
• Some operatic works were based on
previous literary creations such as Noli
Me Tangere and El Felibusterismo.
 Local Theaters and
Early Philippine Opera
Local theaters: The Teatro Zorilla also known as
Dulaang Zorilla sa Maynila was prominent theater in
the Philippines.
The first Philippine opera is said to have been
Sandugong Panaginip by Pedro Paterno, a poet,
novelist, musician and government official.
Subsequent opera followed such as Lakangbini by
Patricio Mariano that was staged at the Metropolitan
theater on December 19, 1933.
 ORIGINAL
PHILIPPINE
OPERA
La Loba Negra

La Loba Negra (The Black She-Wolf) is a

three-act Filipino opera.

Acts I and II based on the history and Act III

based on the legend attributed to Fr. Jose
Burgos, one of the three martyred priests.

The music was composed by National artist

Francisco Feliciano with libretto by Soprano
Fides Cuyugan Asensio.
A.La Loba Negra
 Doña Luisa
 Governor- General Bustamante
 Dolores
 Fray Sebastian Totanes
 Macatangay
 Auditor General Antonio Torralba
 Sandugo
 Jose
 Synopsis:
• Scene 1 - Palace's Ballroom
• A ball in honor of the new Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, Fernando Miguel
Bustamante is in progress. The guests assembled have come to the palace to offer gifts of welcome.
To their consternation, he responds to their chorus of "Viva El Rey, Viva España, Viva El
Governador Bustamante" with a harangue against lavishness and ostentation as well as bribery
which he says could only lead to corruption. He reminds the people of the glory that is Spain and
tells them to keep the trust of King Felipe V. The entrance of Fray Totanes posturing elicit sarcastic
remarks from the governor causing embarrassment to the governor's wife, Luisa. They exit, hailing
the King and Spain.
• A minor disturbance is caused by the entrance by Macatangay, an Indio servant, with message to the
governor from his employer, Auditor General Torralba.
• Fray Totanes now holds court with the exit of the Governor. Known as the Friar King, Totanes grabs
the chance to assert the church's power over the state, prompting Dolores, the Governor's daughter,
to chide the Friar for speaking thus in her father's palace. Totanes parries her accusation with a
lascivious gesture of apology. Dolores exits, followed by an interested young friar. Totanes accepts
all the gifts meant for the Governor to augment the church's treasury. Dona Luisa reappears on the
scene bothered her daughter is nowhere to be found. The curtain falls on Fray Totanes, blessing the
guests, reassuring them of a place in heaven.
 Synopsis:
• Scene 2 - Palace's Family Room
• Scene 2 opens with Luisa singing a lullaby, "Huitzilipochtli" accompanying herself on the
harpsichord. Dolores, embroidering nearby, listens distractedly. She parries questions from
Luisa with her own questions about the subject of the lullaby. Luisa has very grave
suspicions about Dolores' state of mind but is distracted by the governor's entrance, on his
way to investigate the state of the King's treasury at Auditor General's Torralba's office.
• Scene 3 - Auditor-General's office
• Friar Totanes was in full view and hearing of Auditor Torralba exacting their share of taxes
from the various merchants gathered to get their trade permits. After sharing the "loot",
Totanes gives Conchita, his mistress, her share. Bustamante enters and demands to know
the state of the King's Treasury in the colony. The confrontation lasts a few minutes,
whereupon Bustamante discovers an empty treasury and orders the immediate
incarceration of Torralba at Fort Santiago - the dreaded jail for political prisoners and
criminals at the time. Torralba is in shame and remorse while Bustamante in pity and
disgust over what has come to pass in his beloved King's colony.
 Synopsis:
• Act 2
• Scene 1 - Town Plaza
• A religious demonstration procession is in progress against the injustices imposed by the new
governor who has ordered various state and religious officials, including the Archbishop of Manila,
jailed in Fort Santiago for offenses against the King of Spain. The demonstration is dispelled by the
Governor's soldiers. But after the departure of the Governor's messengers and soldiers, the crowd
resumes the invocations to the Saints to free the prisoners.
• Scene 2 - Cathedral Interior
• The priests are now out in full-force to plot the extermination of their most hated enemy: Governor-
General Bustamante. Amidst a backdrop of evil conspiracy in a "Mass" without a service, where the
altar was a symbolic coffin covered by a black cloth, draped with a Spanish flag topped by a huge
crucifix, Fray Totanes exhorts the gathered hooded priests to rid the community of Bustamante, be it
by sword or by poison. "Muerte, Muerte Para El Traidor Bustamante" (Death, death to the traitor
Bustamante) is chanted by priests as they exit on their way to the governor's office.
• Scene 3 - Palace's Living Room
• Bustamante is getting ready for an early mass. Before they leave, a messenger comes to warn of the
Governor of the impending assassination plot. Bustamante tells Luisa about their situation as the
assassins close in on the palace. Luisa witnesses the brutal killing of her son Jose and her husband
Fernando. As she prays to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary asking for redress of the crime committed
on her loved ones, her mind snaps. She evokes the Aztec god Huitzilipochtli to assist her in avenging
the killings that have taken place. With inhuman scream of pain, she rejects her Christian background.
 Synopsis:
• Act 3
• Scene 1 - Church Interior
• Luisa, now the La Loba Negra, commences on her avenging mission amidst elaborate Palm Sunday
rituals.
• Scene 2 - Town Plaza
• La Loba Negra's fame has spread for and wide. Both clergy and lay people live in daily fear of where
she will strike next. Conchita, in mourning attire, was mistaken for La Loba by Padre Sevilla, a new
Friar. He tries to kill her but other friars come to her rescue laughing at Padre Sevilla. Luisa, watching
the scene, moves together with Dolores (now called Florentina), to begin yet another orgy of killing
friars. Unknown to her, Macatangay, now a rebel leader, is also on the scene with his band of followers.
Macatangay and Luisa meet. Upon hearing of the reason of Luisa's legendary massacre of priests of
her own race, he asks a plea to Luisa for her to join him not to avenge her husband and son's
assassination but to free the country of its oppressors. Enlightened, Luisa joins forces with them.
• Scene 3 - Mountain Hideout
• The scene is carried back to the Prologue with Luisa castigating the Friar responsible for her daughter's
seduction and rape. All emotions of revenge for revenge's sake has been purged out of Luisa - she is
now one with the indios of her adopted country.
• The wedding of her daughter to Sandugo ensures her and Macatangay's mission in life - and death.
• Before Luisa dies, she speaks of a bright tomorrow after the long night, "Napakahaba na ng Gabi" ( The
Night is so long) her spirit lives on in "Sulong, Mahal kong Kababayan" (Advance, my beloved
countrymen) sung by the entire chorus.
 Noli Me Tangere
• The three act-opera Noli Me Tangere was composed by
National artist Felipe Padilla De Leon with Libretto by
National Artists Guillermo Tolentino.
• It premiered in 1957 at FEU Auditoriom.
• Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) is said to have originated
from the Latin version of the words from the Bible verse
John 20:17.
Noli Me Tangere
 Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin (Ibarra)
 María Clara
 Father Dámaso
 Elías
 Father Salví
 Captain Tiago (Don Santiago de los Santos)
 The Ensign
 Old Tasio (Don Anastasio)
Act 1
At the spacious sala of Kapitan Tiago's house in San Diego
At the house of Kapitan Tiyago, a reception is held to celebrate the return of
Crisostomo Ibarra after a 7-year stay in Europe. Among the guests was
Padre Damaso, who denounced the character of the Filipino people (Indio)
derisively. During a much heated conversation among the guests Crisostomo
Ibarra arrives accompanied by Kapitan Tiyago. Unaware of the situation,
Ibarra approached Damaso, only to be rebuffed. The sudden death of
Ibarra's father continues to puzzle him, and the news of Maria Clara coming
to the house mitigates his deep thoughts. Ibarra announced that he is going
to build a schoolhouse to honor his father's memory.
The guests move to the dining room as Maria Clara arrives to the scene
accompanied by Tiya Isabel. Ibarra rushed to welcome them. The lovers now
alone reminisce on sweet memories spent together. The act ends with Ibarra
remembering that All Souls' Day is nearing, and leaves to pay respects to his
late father
Act 2
Scene 1 - A street on the outskirts of San Diego
At the cemetery, two grave diggers were resting. One of them tells a story of
how he exhumed a grave that is barely a month old on a stormy night. Ibarra
then enters and asks for the grave of his father. One of the diggers replied
that he dug the grave to put it to the Chinese Cemetery (a cemetery for
heretics) by orders of a priest. This enraged Ibarra and the digger eventually
told him that he had thrown the body to a river instead to the Chinese
Cemetery. Ibarra leaves enraged as Pilosopo Tasyo enters, happily waiting
for the upcoming storm. As the rain started to fall Pilosopo Tasyo noticed
Basilio and Crispin. He said to them that they should go to their mother's
house as she has prepared a wonderful dinner. However, shortly after this
Crispin gets accused of theft by one of the priests and both of them are
punished. Basilio escaped but is injured by a gunshot wound. Meanwhile,
Sisa gets abused by two Guardia Civils.
Scene 2 - A part of the woods near the lake
Young people of San Diego were happily having a picnic by the shores of a
lake to celebrate the return of Ibarra. During the celebrations a crocodile
was spotted by the fishermen. The news caused panic among the people.
Elias attempted to drive away the crocodile but is endangered. Ibarra saves
him and kills the crocodile. Elias thanks Ibarra for saving him and he also
warned him to be careful of his enemies. During the picnic Sisa wandered
around, lamenting and finding her lost children.
While Ibarra elaborates on his plans to build a schoolhouse, Padre Damaso
joins the scene and ridicules Ibarra's plans. Ibarra, greatly enraged,
grabbed a knife, and approached the priest. The interference of Maria Clara
and other guests stopped Ibarra from doing further injuries to the priest
Act 3
Scene 1 - Maria Clara's bedroom
Maria Clara is seen in her bedroom depressed. The news of Ibarra getting
excommunicated and banished from San Diego greatly saddened her. Tiya
Isabel, Sinang and Andeng consoles her. Kapitan Tiyago enters and
announced in a woeful tone about Padre Damaso's order to break the
engagement between Ibarra and Maria Clara, and instead making her
marry with a young Spaniard named Alfonso Linares. Ibarra meanwhile
talked to the governor-general to clear his name. He went to Maria Clara's
place and proposed marriage. The rejoicing of the couple is interrupted as
the Alferez arrests Ibarra for allegedly inciting a rebellion. Maria Clara is in
great despair and prays to the Virgin Mary for help.
 El Filibusterismo

• The three act-opera El Felibusterismo was composed by

National Artist Felipe Padilla De Leon in 1970 with Libretto
in Filipino by Anthony Morli.
• El Felibusterismo (The Felibuster) is a novel by Dr. Jose
Rizal written as sequel to the earlier Noli Me Tangere. It
tells the continuing struggle of the Filipino people to
achieve freedom from Spanish rule.
• The Fili was later used as a major piece of evidence in the
subversion charges against Rizal.
El Felibusterismo
 Simoun
 Basilio
 Kabisang Tales
 Juli
 Isagani
 Tandang Selo
 Paulita
The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a jeweler named
Simoun. He is the new identity of Crisostomo Ibarra who, in
the prequel Noli, escaped from pursuing soldiers. It is
revealed that Crisostomo dug up his buried treasure and fled
to Cuba, becoming richer and befriending Spanish officials.

After many years, the newly fashioned Simoun returns to the

Philippines, where he is able to freely move around. He is a
powerful figure not only because of his wealth but also
because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor
general.
A man of wealth and mystery, Simoun is a very close friend and confidante
of the Spanish governor general. Because of his great influence in
Malacañang, he was called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”.
By using his wealth and political influence, he encourages corruption in
the government, promotes the oppression of the masses, and hastens the
moral degradation of the country so that the people may become
desperate and fight. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a
rich Chinese merchant, Quiroga, who aspires to be Chinese consul of
Manila. His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize
because at the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in
the nunnery. In his agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the
signal for the outbreak of hostilities.
 Group Activity

PICTURE PARADE
 Process Questions:
1.How was the life in the 2Oth century
reflected in the different Philippine opera?
2.Discuss the characteristics of the following
Philippine opera:
a.La Loba Negra
b.Noli Me Tangere
c.El Felibusterismo
 ASSESSMENT

Direction: La Loba Negra

• Classify the
following item to
what type of Opera Noli Me
Tangere

they belong to.

El
Felibusterismo
 Noli Me El
La Loba Negra
Tangere Felibusterismo

1.Dona Luisa 6.Dolores

2.Crisostomo Ibarra 7.Isagani
3.Maria Clara 8.Padre Salvi
4.Padre Damaso 9.Jose
5.Basilio 10.Elias
 Watch an excerpt of the three
(3) Philippine opera discussed.
List and listen to the songs
used in the three operas.