“PAANO ba maging mabuting Pilipino?”
Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), the resident drama company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), will try to look for an answer to this question after launching its 39th theater season on Wednesday, July 16, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez in Pasay City.
Titled “TP39 – IGNITE,” this year’s season will feature three musical productions about three Filipino heroes who fought for the country’s independence from the centuries-long Spanish colonization: Emilio Jacinto, Gregoria de Jesus, and Apolinario Mabini.
The musicals are “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” “Gregoria Lakambini, A Pinay Pop Musical,” and “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical.”
During the question-and-answer portion at the 39th season’s launch, Associate Artistic Director Marco Viaña told republicasia how they came up with three musicals for the 2025 slate. He shared that they have already identified their goals for each theater season, starting from “UNFILTER!” in 2023, to “REVOLT” in 2024,” and “IGNITE.”
“Dapat this year, sabi namin, ‘Oh, mag-musical naman tayo.’ Tapos sakto, nung nag-audition kami ng Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company new members, ang dami sa kanila powerful singers,” he said.
“So sabi namin, ‘Gamitin natin ‘yang kapangyarihan na ‘yan at isalang natin sila dito sa mga musical na ‘to,’” he added.
Through these musical productions, TP intends to spark transformation and continue the Filipino heroes’ fight for justice and freedom by showcasing the outstanding Filipino artistry on the theater stage.
About the musicals
“IGNITE” will bring back two of TP’s previous and award-winning musicals: “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” which was staged in 2024 as part of TP’s 37th season, and “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical,” which was last staged in 2015.
Written by Juan Ekis, “Pingkian: Isang Musikal” tells how Jacinto, also known as Pingkian in Katipunan, fought for Philippine independence at a young age, from the end of the Philippine Revolution in 1898 to the start of the Philippine-American War in 1899.
Returning to the theater stage are theater stars Vic Robinson and Gab Pangilinan, who will reprise their roles as Jacinto, or the “Brains of the Katipunan,” and his wife, Catalina de Jesus, respectively.
Meanwhile, “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical” will mark its 10th anniversary with a “braver and more intimate” staging this season.
The production, written by Nicanor Tiongson, centers on the life of Mabini, known as the “Utak ng Himagsikan,” and how he called on Filipinos “to rise above class, region, and self-interest” to build a nation. Mabini played a vital role in the revolution and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, serving as the chief adviser to Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Revolution, and later became the country’s first prime minister.
Shaira Opsimar will play the role of Mabini, while Arman Ferrer and David Ezra will alternate for Aguinaldo’s role.
Many theater fans are also excited about the debut of “Gregoria Lakambini, A Pinay Pop Musical” on the stage, featuring theater actress Marynor Madamesila as Gregoria de Jesus.
Written by Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc, the pop musical centers on the transformation of de Jesus, from a spirited girl in Caloocan to the “Lakambini of the Katipunan.” She was married to Andres Bonifacio, the Supremo of the Katipunan, and later to Julio Nakpil.
Nicknamed “Oryang,” de Jesus served as the keeper of Katipunan’s important items such as seals, documents, and weapons. She also sewed the Katipunan flag with Benita Rodriguez.
Speaking to the audience, Madamesila admitted that she feels the pressure of playing the role of de Jesus in the musical.
“Lagi naman akong nape-pressure, pero good pressure naman lagi lalo na sa Tanghalang Pilipino, they’re like family to me. Nung sinabi pa lang na P-pop music [sabi ko], ‘Go, sige! Let’s try to audition,’” she shared, adding that she was grateful to be entrusted with the titular role.
“Definitely a lot of pressure pero sobra akong in awe. I’m a fan of the team, of everyone, especially Tanghalang Pilipino. There’s pressure, but also there’s excitement,” she continued.
What’s new
TP’s 39th theater season is certainly something viewers should watch out for, from the award-winning musical productions to the newest original pop musical.
Creators of “Pingkian: Isang Musikal” and “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical” said there will be adjustments for their 2025 staging, but did not go into specifics as they want to “surprise” the audience.
“Definitely, there will be adjustments on certain scenes, on certain songs, and some tweaks here and there, [which is] normal for any musical kagaya ng mangyayari sa ‘Pingkian’ na may adjustments,” Joed Balsamo, composer of “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical,” said.
“Nothing is set in stone yet, so abangan niyo na lang ang new staging for ‘Mabini,’ aside from smaller cast [and] smaller stage. Magiging ibang-iba talaga ’to from the 2015 up to 2019 stagings,” he added.
However, Balsamo said that the core of the story will still be highlighted in these past productions despite the changes.
While they are pressured yet excited, Delphine Buencamino, the director of “Gregoria Lakambini, A Pinay Pop Musical,” said the team will do their best to stage the pop musical, which will feature the songs written by Nica Del Rosario and Matthew Chang.
“Pingkian: Isang Musikal” will be the first production to be staged at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, from September 12 to October 12. This will be followed by “Gregoria Lakambini, A Pinay Pop Musical,” from November 14 to December 14, and “Mabining Mandirigma, A Steampunk Musical,” from March 6 to 29, 2026.
