SLU Drama Festival 2023: A Stage for Aspiring Actors to Raise Social Awareness

Contestants for the Drama Festival performing their pieces in Prince Bernhard Gym

‘Zero Hunger and Sustainable Development’, a theme that is evident all throughout this year’s contest of plays that is the SLU Drama Festival 2023. The SLU Drama Festival is part of the many events for the annual Arts Festival wherein students from every department compete to unleash their passion for two types of performances, namely, the Tula Dula and the One-Act Play with the help of Tanghalang SLU under the Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA). The contest was held in Prince Bernhard Gym last Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 8:00 A.M.

Opened by an intermission number, the program began at nine ‘o’clock with a prayer through the execution of interpretative dance followed by the singing of the National Anthem and other opening rituals that is in line with the university’s traditions.

Awarding Ceremony of the winning acts. Taken by Tanghalang SLU.

Furthermore, the Drama Fest officially started with the hosts mentioning that this was the first time ever since the pandemic that the Arts Festival had a face to face comeback. The hosts also did a roll call for the participating departments in order to grab the attention of the audience with assigned theme songs for each one, the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) being one of the participating departments erupted in their official school cheer ‘STELA! STELA! Tara Hoo Ha! Arangkada!’ as their assigned theme song ‘Bakit Papa?’ by Sex Bomb Girls boomed through the speakers.

After the entertaining roll call from the participating departments, Mrs. Normita Bing Rio-Pablico, the Head of the SLU CCA, delivered a message of gratitude to the Louisian Community for making this competition possible as her opening remarks.

“Today, we shall witness another talent unfold before us as we watch Louisians express themselves through improvisation, spontaneity, and imagination. Again, sincere gratitude to our university president, President Rev. Fr. Gilbert Sales, for his unwavering support as well as to all those who made this possible. Thank you very much. We should not keep them waiting, right? We now welcome you to the Drama Festival 2023, thank you,” Mrs. Normita stated during her opening remarks.

For the criteria of performances for the Tula-Dula segment, a total of three judges are looking for performances that are either in English or Filipino, have no use of props or background music, and many more. The judges for both the Tula-Dula and the One-Act Play include Improv Actor Francis Jasson Villanueva, a member of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Lhorvie Nuevo, and ‘Mula sa Buwan’ director Pat Valera.

Moreover, the total six entries for the Tula-Dula are “Happy Birthday” by the Basic Education School (BEdS), “LAYAW” by the School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS), “MAGUTOM AY ‘DI BIRO” by STELA, “Ang Kuto sa Anit ni Anita” by the School of Medicine (SOM), “SIETE” by the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing, and Information Studies (SAMCIS), and lastly “ENCHUNGER” by the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA).

Most of the entries, particularly the performance of STELA’s “MAGUTOM AY ‘DI BIRO” started off with songs known by locals such as “Magtanim Ay ‘Di Biro” by Felipe de León, referencing the hard work of farmers to the country but their entry highlights no matter how much sacrifice the working class of a society makes, if corrupt politicians will still remain in power, they will continue to struggle.

After an hour of entertaining contest pieces, special awards in the Tula-Dula were given to the SAMCIS Department for Best Costume Design, SEA for

Best Ensemble, STELA for Best in Narration, SOM for Best Script, and STELA student Leigh Penullar for Best Director.

SEA emerged as the champion in Best Overall Performance for the Tula-Dula after revealing the realities of the country’s system with STELA being second place for advocating equal rights for land, and SOM being the third place for criticizing those in position through their performance.

After a two-hour lunch break, the second part of the Drama Fest welcomes the new set of audiences and actors with the anticipated One-Act Play following the theme of sustainable cities consisting of four contingents with the exception of SONAHBS for being unable to perform.

This segment’s four entries showcased plays that included “YUGTO” by the SAMCIS Department, “Si Kapitan Susan at Ang Mga Huling Aswang” by SOM, “Vaklang Toh!” by the School of Law (SOL), “PAANO PATAHIMIKIN ANG PANAGHOY NG ASO” by STELA, and with the last play being “UGONG NG PANAGHOY” by SEA.

This time around, the stage allowed its actors to perform with lighting, music and striking set designs especially for STELA’s “PAANO PATAHIMIKIN ANG PANAGHOY NG ASO” that took half a month for its incorporation of fairytale-themed stories mixed with historical influences to be executed.

Efforts were not wasted as the special awards for the One-Act play were earned by SEA for Best Stage Design, SOM Student Felix La Peña as “Lala” for Best Actor in a Male Role, SOM Student Alizza Memita as “Kapitan Susan” for Best Actress in a Female Role, SOL for Best Script, and STELA Student Sky Ochave

for Best Director.

SOL as a first time contender in the SLU Drama Fest dominates the award for Best Play 2023 after encouraging students to support the rehabilitation of Balili River of Baguio City through a stylistic performance, with SOM for second place leaving the audience in awe of their rendition of mythical creatures and STELA for the third place who represented the oppressed and the aristocrats in their

play.

Both awards for the two segments were presented by the three prestigious judges, making it more memorable for the contestants to be given a recognition by them.

The SLU Drama Festival was successful not only in the way that it had many onlookers or that the program was followed smoothly without any major difficulties, it was also successful because it was able to get its theme’s main point across while not completely forgetting the beauty of performing dramatic arts. In a way, this festival is the sole reminder that the arts can indeed be a significant part of fighting for one’s advocacy that no tyranny can ever bring down.

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