History boys
On Apolinario Mabini’s sesquicentennial, Dulaang UP turns its eye to history’s biggest unsung hero.
MANILA, Philippines - In history, much has been written to lionize about Rizal and Bonifacio. But never Mabini. In fact, our only recollection of him is his portrait on the P10 bill, now reduced to an embossed likeness on a two-toned P10 coin. So of all the historical figures to commemorate and crystallize through a musical, why him? Why the Sublime Paralytic?
“It is easy to see why a work dedicated to Mabini is a rarity, even during the celebration of his sesquicentennial,” shares Floy Quintos, creator of the upcoming Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini which will be staged by one of the Philippines’ leading university theater groups, Dulaang UP.
“To the public mind, there are no great bravura moments, no dramatic battles or acts of extreme heroism that can be associated with Mabini. Hopefully, this musical reflects that very stoic and selfless character that has made Mabini the most underappreciated of our revolutionary heroes.” In short, it’s high time we gave power to the underdog.
“We wanted a musical that would reflect Mabini’s character, his introspection, his statesmanship,” says Quintos. But the group’s overarching goal is to restore dialogue about Mabini’s True Decalogue, a code of personhood for the Filipinos during the revolution which has since been omitted from the Philippine curriculum. “Reading it again, I could not help but think that this was the very moral compass that young Filipinos so lack in these times.”
Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini re-imagines the hero’s exile in Guam and the painful conditions that allowed for his return to the Philippines. Set to original music by Krina Cayabyab and direction and choreography by Dexter M. Santos, the musical hopes to explore the private pain of this great thinker in the face of betrayal and the failure of the Revolution he dedicated his life to. 
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Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini runs from Oct. 1 to 19 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For tickets, sponsorships and show buying inquiries, call Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevara 926-1349, 433-7840, 981-8500 local 2449 or email dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com. — Toff de Venecia
