“It seems only yesterday that I was asked to design the set of the musical Mabining Mandirigma. I was all at once excited and apprehensive about saying “yes.” While I had some background in film, stage design was a new thing for me.
Indeed, I learned a thousand and one things from the cast and crew of Mabining Mandirigma. As a sculptor and painter, I am used to working with static pieces.
My set design was also static, until the magic of theater breathed life into it. It was made alive by the talented lighting director, projectionist ( Katsch SJ Catoy and GA Fallarme ) and the brilliant performances of the actors while embraced by James Reyes fantastical wardrobe ensemble. I hoped that I gave a setting worthy of the words, movements and music of Nicanor Tiongson, Denisa Reyes and Joed Balsamo, and the creative direction of Chris Millado – my mentors in this newfound craft and medium for storytelling.
Thank you Tanghalang Pilipino for giving me this opportunity. I will never be able to watch a play the same way again.
Friends, I am so proud of this collaborative work, proud not only because it is an aural and visual delight that you will experience – but because, like the hero being portrayed, the artists who worked on this musical were brave enough to invest their talents to tackle elegantly the bitter sweet narrative of Mabini – bring it out from obscurity for today’s generation through a powerful and relevant musical feast that will leave you with a lingering aftertaste called ” love for country””
– – – TOYM IMAO , multi-media visual artist.
“Mahalin mo ang Pilipinas ng higit sa iyong sarili Pamana sya ni Bathala, Pag-asa ng iyong lahi…” from the libretto of “Mabining Mandirigma” by Dr. Nicanor Tiongson
Don’t miss out on this LAST Performances of MABINING MANDIRIGMA!
July 17, 8pm
July 18, 3pm and 8pm
July 19, 3pm
#ToymImao #MabiningMandirigma
Photo credit to Erickson dela Cruz.
Arts and Travel Magazine 