Rock Supremo

Richardson Yadao

One of my most highly anticipated productions of Ballet Philippines 44^th Season IllumiNATION was Rock Supremo that was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). This was one of those shows this season commemorating the 150^th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the Filipino hero who led the Katipunan in revolting against the Spanish colonizers towards the end of the 19^th century.  What really made me look forward to this show were the songs by noted Filipino music acts like Ebe Dancel, Gloc-9, Radioactive Sago Project, etc. that were commissioned for this project. And this made me do something which was very unusual for me: I didn’t listen to any of the songs prior to the show so that everything will be new and fresh to me by the time I see it.

Jean Marc Cordero

Blurring the lines between contemporary times and the past, Rock Supremo showed, deconstructed and imagined how Bonifacio formed and led the Katipunan, fell in love, and eventually fell out of favor through contemporary dance and a bit of theater while being accompanied by a rocking soundtrack. A Historian, portrayed by Paul Morales, was a window to the past by interacting with the historical figures like Gregoria de Jesus (Carissa Adea) who was searching for her husband Andres Bonifacio (Richardson Yadao). It was also through the Historian that significant moments from Bonifacio’s past was unearthed like his alliance with Emilio Aguinaldo (Victor Maguad) and the blossoming of his romance with his wife through the younger incarnations of the couple (Jean Marc Cordero and Katherine Trofeo). And while the Historian dwelt into the past, the Youth (Cyril Fallar/Emmanuelle Guillermo) reflected on the future as he was challenged into action by the Historian upon learning all that had happened to Bonifacio.

A great majority of the songs in Rock Supremo are too Bonifacio specific to work outside the context of the show like Pedicab’s Ang Dakilang Duwag ng Katipunan and Gloc-9’s Itak ni Andres. But Kai Honasan’s exquisite Iyong Liwanag and Ebe Dancel’s sublime Lakambini are a couple of songs that could possibly have legs beyond the show. It was also during these two numbers that the audience finally warmed up and spurred them to applaud every number until the end. I did find it a bit odd that Rico Blanco’s contribution, Yugto, was the only previously released track while all the other songs were previously unreleased and were written specifically for Rock Supremo. After watching the show, I started to guess that most Bonifacio themed shows would show how he felt short in achieving his goals, how he became a victim of politics within the Katipunan, how his death was under mysterious circumstances and possibly under the orders of Emilio Aguinaldo, and lastly, how different these new insights are compared to what I learned back then.

Emmanuelle Guillermo

Looking back, I think that I would’ve appreciated the choreography by Paul Morales, Aden Lugnasin and Dwight Rodrigazo a lot more had I allowed myself to listen to the entire soundtrack a few times before watching. The lyrics told a lot and had I known and understood them already, a lot of the dancing would’ve made more sense to me, considering that I still do find contemporary dancing a bit difficult to grasp.

Rock Supremo was presented by Ballet Philippines, Rock Ed Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. A few tracks from Rock Supremo can be downloaded in here.

Rock Supremo

Tracks:

1. Overture

2. Sintensya

3. Casadores

4. Yugto

5. Ang Dakilang Duwag ng Katipunan

6. Iyong Liwanag

7. Lakambini

8. Itak ni Andres

9. Balintawak

10. Aling Pag-Ibig Pa?

11. Hoy Emilio!