When then five-year-old Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) journeyed on its first road show to Silliman University in 1981, little did its artists expect that this trip would signal IPAG’s debut into the competitive world of the performing arts. A string of acclamations followed and consequently, Sarimanok became the Guild’s signature production highlighting IPAG’s international repertoire in festivals in Europe and Asia, and receiving more rave reviews from critics like National Artists Leonor Orosa-Goquingco and Lucresia Kasilag, Basilio Villaruz, Doreen Fernandez, among others.
Composed in 1980, inspired by J. Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, its local premiere had to be cancelled because the Iligan plaza was bombed claiming several lives. The year after (August 1981), it took the Silliman audience by storm receiving acclaim from noted critics.
Floods and fear greeted its succeeding performances in Dipolog (January 1982) as our vehicles had to slosh through deep-running waters.
UP Diliman’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1982 featured Sarimanok with National Artist Lucresia Kasilag and IPAG Honorary Chairman (Advisory Council) Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa in the audience.
Going full-circle, Sarimanok headlines IPAG’s 50th Year (2027-28) not only defining the challenges the Guild have gone through but mirroring the same experiences saved by divine interventions that have kept us soaring.
𝘉𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸 / 𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸, 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘮 / 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘣𝘪 𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘬𝘪𝘯
The Play
Inspired by the M’ranao pseudo-bird icon of wealth and prestige, the musical narrates of a legendary bird whose responsibility is to feed the flock. Learning how to fly through a vagabond Ibon who accidentally stumbles on their land of Bayang Lawa, Sarimanok oversteps tradition. The harsh laws deal her the ultimate punishment for her transgressions.
Featured in the U.P. Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Diliman, 1983. Sarimanok earned for its playwright a fellowship to the 1986 U.P. National Writers Workshop, which play subsequently, won a U.P. Likhaan in 1986. The CCP awarded it with Production and Touring Grants in 1988 and 1989 performing in the Visayas and Mindanao. The first version has been published in an anthology by the UST Publishing House through Arthur Casanova’s ‘Mga Piling Dulang Mindanao, Unang Aklat.’
Creative and Production Team
Book and mise-en-SceneSTEVEN P.C. FERNANDEZ Choreography (2013 remount)LEILANI M. FERNANDEZ MELVIN PASCUBILLO Original ChoreographyJULIET CELESTE F. MALIT (Additional ChoreographyNOLLY CEBALLOS LOVE JOY ORBE-BROWN ARCHIBALD PACANA) MusicSTEVEN P.C. FERNANDEZ DesignsHERMI DICO and JEFF UMBAY Digital RecordingIAN CUTAB Technical DirectorMARK SAURA
REVIEWS
“… a ‘coup d’ theatre’…” ALBERT FAUROT
“…strong and definite directorial vision … complete and whole.” DOREEN G. FERNANDEZ, Theatre Historian
“…so spontaneous, freed by a mastery that easily engaged the audience…” ESTEBAN BASILIO VILLARUZ, Philippine’s foremost dance scholar
“Kulay. Tunog. Galaw. Kung paanong ang mga ito’y mapatatagos sa puso at papagaspas isip, iyon ang nagawa ng IPAG sa SARIMANOK.” – GERMAN V. GERVACIO, multi-awarded poet
photo credits: JEZ ORBE and RONALD ALLAN SALAZAR
original showsign and logo: DENNIS ORELLANA