Pinoy superheroes battle socio-political ills in Ballet Philippines’ Manhid

February 20-March 8, 2015

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

A new generation of Pinoy superheroes and supervillains are set to punch, kick and battle it out on stage through song and dance as Ballet Philippines presents Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical to close out their 45^th Anniversary Sapphire Season this February 20-March 8, 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Sandino Martin

Inspired by superhero comicbooks, Manhid is set in an alternate reality where the 1986 EDSA Revolution failed. In this world, 99 children who were born right after the Masaker ng Taong Bayan were named after the gods and heroes of the Philippine myth as a sign of protest. This in turn gave these children super powers and they grew up into forming into two warring factions: the heroic Maragtas and the villainous Tulisan ng Bayan.

Mark Anthony Grantos and Teetin Villanueva

The Maragtas is led by Bantugan Buenaventura played by Sandino Martin with BP apprentice Mark Anthony Grantos alternating the role. Martin recently won the Best Actor award for the film Esprit de Corps at the Cinema One Originals this year. Joining Bantugan in his quest is lady activist Lam-Ang Panganiban portrayed alternately by Teetin Villanueva who was recently seen in Maxie: The Musical and Ang Nawawalang Kapatid, and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Regina de Vera, a Gawad Buhay awardee for Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play for Der Kaufmann. The evil Tulisan ng Bayan, employed by Mamalahim-ma, a demonic Minister of Humanity, is led by General Apolaki Regalado. Mayen Estañero, who starred in the rock opera Lorenzo plays Malamihm-ma while BP Principal Dancer Richardson Yadao dances the role of General Apolaki.

The rest of the heroes and villains populating the world of Manhid are guest artists Fred Lo and Ricardo Magno alternating the role of Radya Indarapatra Evangelista, Gold Villar as Allunsina Albano, KL Dizon as Urduja, Jean Judith Javier as Dilim, and Ronah Rostata as Lagrimas. Ballet Philippines dancers taking on the roles of the various heroes and villains are Jean Marc Cordero, Katherine Trofeo, Earl John Arisola, Cyril Aran Fallar, Emmanuelle Guillermo, Timothy Paul Cabrera, Rita Winder, Karmela Cortez, Gillianne Geguinto, Kazier Policarpio, Victor Maguad and Erl Sorilla.

Fred Lo

Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical is written by Kanakan Balintagos, directed by Paul Morales, and choreographed by Alden Lugnasin. The music was composed by Vincent de Jesus, Carina Evangelista, Kanakan Balintagos and the Eraserheads before they became THE Eraserheads. In all the shows for this current production, Radioactive Sago Project will provide live music accompaniment. Radioactive Sago Project's Francis de Veyra is the musical director and music arranger.

Ballet Philippines held a press conference for Manhid which featured several numbers from the show. I noticed that the singers/actors’ and dancers’ parts are more interwoven in Manhid compared to Rama Hari in which the singers were mostly detached from all the dancing action. Some months ago, Kanakan Balintagos told me that during the auditions for the leads of Manhid, he was very moved by one particular performance: that of Sandino Martin. And his solo number at the press conference just showed everyone the moving performance that bagged him the lead role.

Jean Judith Javier

I cornered music director Francis de Veyra to ask him how Radioactive Sago Project where he plays bass will tackle the music of Manhid since the sound of his band with the brass section is very different from the sound of the Eraserheads which is basically a guitar driven rock band. He told me that he heard an audio recording on cassette tape (meaning a not so good audio quality) of the original staging and he decided to go from there. He retained the melody and the chords but tinkered with the arrangement utilizing the brass section of Radioactive Sago Project. De Veyra mentioned that Diego Mapa of Tarsius joining them for a dash of electronic music and synth effects provided by the production’s vocal coach TJ Ramos will lend more texture to the overall music of the production. He expressed his excitement as he and the band will be on stage instead of being at the pit during the show.

Ricardo Magno and KL Dizon

The original 1991 production of Manhid by UP TROPA was created during the height of the US bases issue. It was first staged at the Palma Hall Lobby and then at the CCP Little Theater. During that time, choreographer Paul Morales was still a scholar of Ballet Philippines. Almost 24 years later, Morales is now the company’s artistic director going back to this musical now staged at the CCP Main Theater.

Looking back, 1991 saw the height of popularity of the X-Men line of comics namely X-Force by Rob Liefeld, the new X-Men series illustrated by Jim Lee, and Uncanny X-Men by Filipino artist Whilce Portacio which was a huge deal for Filipino comicbook fans, including myself, back then. Now, the superhero genre has gained immense mainstream popularity thanks to the recent critical and commercial successes of films like Batman, The Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy to name a few.

The Cast of Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical

The comicbook geek in me can’t help but smile since Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical is a combination of some things that I am passionate about: music, comicbooks and culture.

Ticket prices:

P1500 Orchestra Center (Row K, L, M, N)

P1200 Orchestra Center (Other Rows), Parterre Box

P1000 Orchestra Side, Lower Box

P700 Upper Box

P600 Balcony I Center

P500 Balcony I Side

P300 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

+applicable service charges

For inquiries:

Ballet Philippines 551-1003

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999