#ibalong

Before Alliance

The warrior Handiong's encounter with the seductive serpent Oriol. From Bicol, Philippines' Folk Epic Ibalong

It’s 1059. You are children of the great warrior Handyong and his wife Oryol. Your father is aging and your mother disappeared shortly after you were born; as such, it is up to you to lead your community in the land of Bikol. Civil disputes need resolving, merchants are turning up on your shores, and a series of storms have destroyed your people’s crops and homes. Then there’s that upstart Bantong, a young general serving under your father, who says he’s going to slay the werebeast Rabot by himself. Doesn’t he know you have enough problems already?

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This is one of the story hooks found in Swellbloom Kids, my ttrpg about superpowered individuals blessed by the gods of Philippine mythology. Check it out here!

An Interview with D. A. Xiaolin Spires, Part 2

Today, we're completing our interview with author D. A. Xiaolin Spires, whose story "The Weeping Bolo" will appear in Battling in All Her Finery. The first half of her interview is here.

T A K E     T I M E     T O    R E A D !

 Are you ready for the year’s most jam-packed feast of senses? Want to have some really good eargasm to be given by the some of the country’s best musical singers? Are you dying to watch your favorite TV and movie actors live, on stage? Want to witness the excellency and extravagance of one of the country’s leading theater company?  

WITNESS THE TANGHALANG PILIPINO’S 30TH THEATER SEASON!

 1) Tanghalang Pilipino's VIRGIN LABFEST which opens TP's 30th Season will also feature, not only the most outstanding playwrights and directors, but, also the best THEATER ACTORS in the country. Festival Director: Tuxqs Rutaquio.

VLF is a 12-year old collaborative project of CCP, Writers Bloc and TP under the leadership of Chris Millado, Nikki Torres, Rody Vera.

 2) JOHN ARCILLA, known as Antonio Luna in the film, Heneral Luna, will play Handyong in TP's Ibalong which will be TP's contribution to Legazpi City's celebration of the 25th year of the Ibalong Festival. Script by Rody Vera. Direction by Tuxqs Rutaquio.

The other actors essaying the lead roles are Delphine Buencamino as Oryol, Remus Villanueva, and Cheeno Macaraeg as the younger Handyong, May Bayot as Gugurang, Jonathan Tadioan as Aswang,

 3) AUDIE GEMORA, a 2016 PhilStage GawadBuhay Awardee for Best Male Performance in a Musical, will play Oberon and LIESL BATUCAN will be Titania in Tanghalang Pilipino's 2nd offering for our 30th Theater Season, "Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tagaraw", National Artist Rolando Tinio's translation of William Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream. Dramaturg is Rody Vera Direction by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.

 4) LIESL BATUCAN, Tanghalang Pilipino’s new Associate artistic director and an Aliw Awards Hall of Fame Best Actress, ANTONIO “ARMAN” FERRER from the University of the Philippines College of Music a Philstage GawadBuhay Awardee as the Best Male Featured Performer in a Musical, DAVID EZRA, an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music and and Aliw Awards Best New Male Artist Awardee in 2015 and CAROL BELLO, the vocalist of Kalayo also known as the Pinikpikan Band, lead the powerful ensemble of the steam-punk musical, Mabining Mandirigma in its 3rd rerun in December, 2016, winning 12 major awards in the recent PhilStage Gawad Buhay Awards. Libretto by Nic Tiongson. Direction by Chris Millado.

 5)  NONIE BUENCAMINO, a nationally renowned actor and theater artist, will play Euridice's father in Guelan Luarca's version of Sarah Ruhl's Euridice. Direction by Obie Awardee Loy Arcenas.

 For information and inquiries and reservation, please contact JAE ESPINOSA, our Marketing and Sales Associate in his contact number, 09053052117 or email, [email protected] .