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HERELIESLOVE

A REVOLUTIONARY MUSICAL EXPERIENCE

from david byrne and fatboy slim

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Here lies love

Education programs at Seattle Repertory Theatre are generously supported by:

The Chisholm Foundation | Washington State Arts Commission | Nordstrom | Kenneth and Rosemary Willman

U.S. Bank Foundation | Horizons Foundation | Loeb Family Charitable Foundation | Macy’s

Moccasin Lake Foundation | Muckleshoot Charitable Contributions | Theatre Forward

Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund | KeyBank

Contents

History of the Philippines

Recent Past and Present of the Philippines

Act it Out

Character Breakdown

Song Breakdown

Colonization and Culture in the Philippines

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Dear Theatregoer,

I am so excited that you are joining us for the last play of our 2016/17 season. Here Lies Love, the biggest and most unique show Seattle Rep has ever produced, presents the audience with an unexpected combination: a highly political and conflicted period of history relayed in the setting of a glamorous discotheque party.

We hope the originality of this production will inspire you to think about the many different lay-ers inherent in the stories of the Marcos regime and the 1980s People Power Revolution in the Philippines. As an audience member, you are not only a spectator, you are fully immersed in the story. Here Lies Love also features exclusively Filipino characters onstage, something rarely seen in American productions. Lastly, the music and scoring has been created by two incredible music legends: David Byrne of the band Talking Heads and DJ Fatboy Slim.

Here Lies Love presents a truly unique opportunity for our theatre and audiences alike. This Play Guide aims to introduce the facts and historical details behind the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines and the People Power Revolution that will enhance your understanding of this story. We hope your experience with Here Lies Love will inspire you to seek out more artistic experiences that shatter your expectations and bring you closer to history.

Sincerely,

Arlene Martínez-VázquezEducation DirectorSeattle Repertory Theatre

note from oUr EDUCATION DIRECTOR

HISToRy ARTS LITERAcycIvIcS

P.S. Teachers, look out for links between each section of this guide with EALR & Common Core standards!

GEoGRAPHy

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The Philippines is an archipelago country, which means it is composed of islands. There are about 7,600 islands in the Phil-ippines, of which about 2,000 are inhabited. These various islands are sorted into three groups: Luzon, the northmost, Visayas, the center, and Mindanao, the southernmost.

The Philippines is situated between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. Before the Spanish colonized the land in the 16th century, it was home to a diverse population that immigrated from other parts of Asia. In 1896, the Philippine people attempted a revolution against their spanish colonizers, which was unsuccessful. The U.S. stepped in and brought back one of the rebel leaders, Emilio Aguinaldo, who then proclaimed Philippine independence in 1898. However, through collu-sion between U.S. armed forces and the departing Spanish colonial authorities, the Philippines was surren-dered to the U.S. for a price of $20 million USD. When the U.S. did not grant independence to the new republic, the Philippine army took a stand. This was eventually unsuccessful as well. The U.S. then intro-duced a form of democracy, but because they mandateed that only English-speaking Filipinos could take office, the power remained entirely with the Filipino rich and elite. The people began to speak out in desire of land reform: most people who worked the land had no ownership or control over it. This system was quasi-feudal: both in the lack of ownership and the unlikely ability for upward social or economic mobility. As the citizens began to organize against this, the focus of the Nationalist party shifted to the patriotic goal of independence, in order to forestall this outcry. In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing com-monwealth, with a 10-year plan in place to grant the Philippines independence. This plan was disrupted when Japan took over rule of the islands in 1941 during World War II.

In 1941, Japan occupied the Philippines, and though they declared the Philippines independent two years later, the Filipino president ostensibly became a puppet for Japan. The elite, used to frequent power shifts, changed easily to Japan’s desires. Two-fifths of Congress and most of the Senate worked under the Japanese without duress.

In 1944 and 1945, Filipino and U.S. forces fought to regain control of the territory, and the Philippines was granted independence in 1946. Between 1946-1964, The Philippines had six presidents. While socio-economic challenges persisted, the country began to move away from its colonial history by engaging more actively in the international arena.

CCSS ELA-LitErACy rH 9-10.6 &10.9

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINESthe basics

EALr HiStory 4.1, 4.2

EALr CiviCS 1.2

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In November 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected as President of the Philippines.

Ferdinand ran for the presidency under the Na-tionalist party, beating out the incumbent from the Liberal party. He ran his campaign on the basis of representing the “the ordinary man,” relying on his spurious past as “the most decorated war hero of the Philippines,” as well as the exceptional beauty and charm of his wife, Imelda Marcos. His platform promised to end rice shortages and importation, reduce graft and corruption, and implement faster land reforms. Like his predecessors, in office, Mar-cos ended up fulfilling none of these promises. In fact, the Marcos administration faced grave economic prob-lems that were exacerbated by corruption, tax evasion, smuggling, and a movement from an economy of importa-tion to exportation, which exposed the Philippines to foreign competition that they were unequipped to handle.

In 1969, Ferdinand became the first elected president of the Philippines to win reelection, despite the fact that vi-olence and fraud were associated with his campaign. It is also believed that his campaign was illegally funded from the country’s coffers. Another source of funds was the $50 million USD he received from his American supporters. His campaign platform included the renegotiation of major treaties with the United States, the halting of trade with communist countries, and again, emphasizing the importance of land reform, which he ignored once back in office.

Fueled by their suspicion of fraud in his re-election, primarily college-age students began protesting en

languages:The Philippines has two official languages and eight major dialects. Its official languages are Filipino (which is also called Pilipino and is based on Tagalog) and English. There are 18 major dialects spoken in the Philippines. The most common are: Tagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya, and Bicol.

religions:Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ: an international Christian church that originated in the Philippines) 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

the marcos regime

tagalogilocanobisaya/binisayabicol/bikolother local languages/dialectsother foreign languages/dialects

Catholicmuslimevangelicaliglesia ni Cristoother Christian otherunspecifiednone

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masse against the Marcoses. At his State of the Nation Address, students showed up in droves to rally against Ferdinand and Imelda. Kabataang Makabayan, the main student protest group, regularly had 50,000-100,000 students show up for weekly mass actions against the Marcoses.

As Marcos approached the end of his constitutionally delimited eight years in office, he pressed for the adoption of a parliamentary style of government, which would allow him to remain in power.

At this time, the Philippine people were becoming disenchanted with First Lady Imelda Marcos as well. When in charge of building the Cultural Center of the Philippines, she ended up spending $50 million Philippine pesos, which was a 333.33% increase of the original budget. Her trips to foreign countries and her expensive taste in the shopping she did there were mocked and spoken out against by citizens. Most infamously, Imelda took a 90-day trip to New York, Rome, and Copenhagen, where she spent $7 million dollars. In a single day in New York on that trip, she reportedly spent 3 million dollars. After Ferdinand’s affair with an American actress was publicly exposed during his first term, Imelda gave Ferdinand an ultimatum: he could give her more power, or he could try to run for a second term alone. Since Ferdinand suspected that the latter option would prove damaging, in his second term, he gave her control over the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. She used her new power over Manila to leverage gains for herself across the country, and to control other government offices as well as the capital. Her growing prominence and accumulation of power led analysts to believe that she was seeking to follow Ferdinand's presidency.

In 1971, there was a mass bombing at the Liberal Party’s campaign rally, kill-ing nine people and injuring 95. At first, Ferdinand was suspected, but now historians believe it was actually the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), who wanted to goad Ferdinand into instituting martial law. Martial law is when the highest-ranking military official is imposed as the head of the government, removing all power from the other branches. The CPP believed that this extreme would allow for their party to gain long sought-after power. Their goal was not achieved, but the bombing gave Ferdinand the excuse he was looking for to revoke the writ of habeas corpus that the American colonizers had installed, meaning that anyone could be arrested without trial and held without proof of guilt. Two years before he instated martial law, Ferdinand wrote in a personal journal discussing his options for what to do against the rising civic action, no-tably suggesting that, “[w]e could allow the situation to develop naturally then after massive terrorism, wanton killings, and an attempt at my assassination and a coup d'etat, then declare martial law or suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus—and arrest all including the legal cadres.”

This, of course, was the action he took, ordaining martial law in September 1972, and shifting from President of the Philippines to dictator. However, he didn't flaunt this, continuing to say he was on the side of the people.

As student demonstrators became more violent, Ferdinand claimed that martial law was the last defense against the rising disorder caused by the alleged threats of communist insurgency by the new CPP and the Muslim sep-aratist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). One of his first actions was to arrest opposition politicians in Congress and the Constitutional Convention: one of whom was rival Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

martial law order 1081Proclamation 1081 was the order that created martial law. It consisted of six General Orders, which have been summarized here.

The President will direct the entire government.

The Minister of National Defense will arrest a specific list of people, as well as anyone who commits crimes described in this order.

All government agencies will continue to function as usual.

There will be a curfew throughout the Philippines from midnight until four a.m.

All rallies and demonstrations will be prohibited. Any group of more than five people is an illegal assembly.

No person will be permitted to carry firearms except military members.

1.2.

3.4.5.6.

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MARTIAL LAW IN NUMBERS

20 YEARS Marcos remained in power

(1965-1986)

14 YEARS Martial Law

(1972-1986)Although Marcos

technically lifted martial law in 1981, the

suspension of civil rights and the use of violence to enforce civil control

continued until the end of Marcos’ dictatorship.

12AM - 4AM Curfew HoursAccording to General Order No. 4, following the declaration of martial law, curfew was imposed between midnight and 4:00 a.m. Between these hours, no person in the Philippines was allowed to leave their residence unless authorized to do so—making nightlife, like that portrayed in Here Lies Love, a subversive act. Curfew was lifted on August 22, 1977.

70,000 DETAINEES Named “Enemies of the State”

Appr

ox.

398 FORCED DISAPPEARANCES

Secret abductions or imprisonments by the regime.

Appr

ox.

34,000 VICTIMS of torture

Torture included confinement, isolation, beating, electric shock,

rape, and molestation.

Appr

ox.

3,240 VICTIMS of “salvage”

“Salvage” became the term for extrajudicial killings.

Appr

ox.

66 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

7 MAJOR ENGLISH DAILIES

3 FILIPINO DAILIES

7 TELEVISION STATIONS

292 RADIO STATIONSwere shut down in 1972.

28% 70%

Percentage of population living in poverty19851965

395.51BILLION

National government debt, in Phillipine

pesos, at the end of Martial Law. Nearly

59%OF THE GDP.

ances, were never met.

In 1973, as he approached his eight-year term limit, Ferdi-nand created a referendum that allowed him to stay in power indefinitely.

General disillusionment with martial law and with the consolidation of political and economic control by Marcos, his family, and close associ-ates grew during the 1970s. Despite growth in the coun-try’s gross national product, workers’ real income dropped. The precipitous drop in sugar prices in the early 1980s coupled with lower prices and less demand for coconuts and coconut products—tra-ditionally the most important export commodity—added to the country’s economic woes; the government was forced to borrow large sums from the international banking com-munity. Also troubling to the regime were reports of wide-spread corruption beginning to surface with increasing frequency.

Besides this, there were also restrictions on the press; at first, only government-run press was allowed and those who disobeyed faced harsh consequences. Filipino citizens were repeatedly told “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan,” which means “For the nation to prosper, discipline is necessary.”

Initial public reaction to martial law was mostly favorable, or at least not outright rebellious. People were essentially too stunned to resist. The exception was in Muslim areas of the south, where a separatist rebellion, led by the leading Muslim insurgency group, broke out in 1973. Despite halfhearted attempts to negotiate a cease-fire, the rebellion continued to claim thousands of military and civilian casualties. Communist insurgency expanded with the creation of the National Democratic Front (NDF), an organiza-tion embracing the CPP and other communist groups. Ferdinand’s army had also been asking for im-provements to their gear, weapons, and bases for years, but these changes, despite Ferdinand’s assur-

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Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino Jr. and his wife Corazon (Cory) Cojuangco were the thorns in Ferdinand’s side. Aquino was meant to have been at the Liberal Party bombing in 1971, but as it was, he was one of the few surviving and uninjured members left in his party. This meant he was the foremost Liberal speaking out against Ferdinand, and also one of the first people jailed when martial law came into effect. Ninoy began a 40-day hunger strike to protest his lack of a trial, which gained worldwide atten-tion, but did not change his situation. Ninoy spent seven years in jail.

During that time, Ninoy still advocated for political change. As the Liberal Party boycotted the 1978 par-liamentary election, Ninoy created a new party called the People’s Power, to run against Ferdinand’s party. He was not allowed to campaign, aside from one news interview, so his family campaigned for him. It was very successful: he was incredibly popular, but when the votes came out, suspiciously, the People’s Power party had won no seats, and Ferdinand’s party had won 150 out of 165 available seats. Thus, the results were widely believed to have been doctored.

Ninoy remained in jail until a series of heart attacks allowed him to be sent to the United States for treatment. Ninoy refused to go under the knife in the Philippines, citing that Ferdinand would have him killed, and that he would rather die of natural causes. He was exiled to the United States, along with his family in 1980.

Despite speaking out against Ferdinand’s politics and methods, Ninoy stated in America that he would have also instated martial law: he believed it to be the only way to enact change in the country. While in the U.S., Ninoy was tormented by his supporters in the Philippines who said that by leaving, he was betraying them and all he had fought for. Due to this, Ninoy decided to return to the Philippines. He carefully chose the time: Ferdinand’s health was especially bad, and Ninoy thought it might be possible to quietly stage a coup. Using a fake I.D., he traveled back to Manila in 1983. Directly upon stepping off the plane, he was assassinated. The gunman who shot him was immediately shot as well, some say to protect the chain of where the order came from. His death was immediately blamed on the Marcoses, but has since been attributed to others within the Philippine government.

Regardless, at the time, thousands of people came out into the streets to mourn Ninoy’s killing. Yellow confetti rained down from buildings in remembrance.

the People Power revolution

the aquinos

Corazon (Cory) and Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino.

Ninoy’s untimely death became the focal point of a renewed and more heavily supported opposition to Marcos’ rule.

By late 1985, Marcos, under mounting pressure from the citizens and the U.S. government, called a snap presidential election for February 1986. It was meant to assuage the citizens, but as it was so obviously

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rigged, it did the opposite. Ballot boxes disappeared and people were intimidated.

Furthermore, his opponent was Corazon Aquino, Ninoy’s widow, who was running in the PDP–Laban party (Philippine Democratic Party-Power of the People), a new conglomerate consisting of the party Ninoy had created and the existing Democratic party. She had been gaining massive popularity with the public since Ninoy’s murder, and billed herself as a down-to-earth, regular woman and mom, always dressed in yellow to evoke Ninoy’s memory.

Ferdinand attacked her inexperience, and she responded in agreement, saying that she had "no experience in cheating, lying to the public, stealing government money, and killing political opponents.” Despite huge support for Corazon, Ferdinand won the election—he is believed to have again used extensive voter fraud to accomplish this. The country split at this point. Even the military was disillusioned with Ferdinand, and people were no longer willing to follow his orders.

When the result came out, action rose to a head, and from February 22-25, 1986, over two million Filipino citizens engaged in mass protest against the Marcos regime: the People Power Revolution. This protest is famous for being non-violent. Citizens lined up in the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, which stretches for 33.6 miles. (For context, that is nearly 591 football fields in a row full of people.) Involving many religious groups, the streets were full of prayer and music. Military troops showed up with tanks, demanding people move out of the way, but the Filipino citizens lined up in front of them, linking arms, and the tanks were unable to move. Other military groups, ordered to attack, instead landed and joined the crowds.

The standoff ended when the Marcoses left the country. Airlifted out by American helicopters, they took refuge in Hawaii.

On the third day of the revolution, Corazon Aquino was sworn in as the 11th President, and first female President, of the Philippines.

american involvementThe U.S. maintained a good relationship with the Marcoses throughout nearly their entire time in power, despite the many questionable practices of the Marcos government. Ferdinand was friendly with the Nixons and the Reagans in particular, actually donating money to Nixon’s reelection campaign. Ferdinand report-edly had two phone calls with Nixon before instituting martial law, which Nixon is reported to have re-sponded positively to, apparently saying that he was fine with a Marcos dictatorship as long as it furthered American interests.

However, the snap election and the People Power Revolution took place during Reagan’s presidency, and officials in Washington did not take kindly to Ferdinand’s new power grab. After Ninoy's assassination, many U.S. officials lost faith in Ferdinand's ability to maintain power, and began working against him. Rea-gan, as a friend of Marcos, was loath to believe that he would falsify election results and did not agree to help in convincing Marcos to step down until it was confirmed by inside sources. During the People Power Revolution, the U.S. communication devices used by the Filipino military began to malfunction, leaving what was left of Ferdinand’s army without orders.

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Seattle Repertory Theatre dramaturgical protocol compiled by Sara Keats.Kasaysayan: The Story of the Filipino People. Vol. 9. New York: Reader's Digest Association, 1998. Print.Katsiaficas, George. Asia's Unknown Uprisings. Vol. 2. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2013. Print.Kingsbury, Damien. South-East Asia: A Political Profile. Oxford, NY: Oxford U Press, 2001. Print.; news.abs-cbn.com/focus/02/21/17/timeline-edsa-people-power-revolution www.biography.com/people/ferdinand-marcos-9398625; nymag.com/thecut/2013/04/5-shopping-sprees-so-wild-they-made-history.html; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_Philippines; biography.com/people/ferdinand-marcos-9398625; philippinediaryproject.wordpress.com/about/about-the-diary-of-ferdinand-e-marcos/

Sources:

RESEARCH AND REMEMBERA. Different Points of View: When studying history, the reliability of sources is an important factor to take into account. The point of view of the writer deeply affects the way the story is recounted. In a small group, think of a past event that each group member can remember. One at a time, without the other members listening, record a short video of how you remember the event hap-pening with as much detail as possible. Compare these videos. You might be surprised!

B. “Real” vs. “Fake” News: Some news sources are more credible than others. In this recent viral image, copyright lawyer Vanessa Otero ranks news sites on a scale of complex to sensational and liberal to conservative: imgur.com/gallery/1tGj6 (For more information on how she created this breakdown, please visit her blog: allgeneralizationsarefalse.com)

Media and historical accounts can be biased, and the period of the Marcos regime and People Power Revolution was a particularly tumultuous time. Pick an event in the play and fact-check it. Be sure to reference several sources (at least 3-5, but you can refer to more if you like). Often-times, the more dramatic the event, the more differing accounts there are.

Some ideas of events include:1. Imelda and Ninoy’s romantic relationship 2. Imelda and Ferdinand being airlifted out of the Philippines 3. Ninoy accusing the Marcoses of sending soldiers to attack students during Ferdinand’s state of the nation address

After the protests of the People Power Revolution began, the U.S. government told the Marcoses they would help them escape if they willingly stepped down and went into exile. Ferdinand reportedly called Ronald Reagan and Imelda called Nancy—both asking if this was true—and the Reagans gently confirmed that they needed to leave, simultaneously assuring them that they had a home in America.

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reCent Past and Present OF THE PHILIPPINES imelda on trial and in PoliticsFerdinand Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 and his remains were returned to the Philippines, where he was enshrined in his home province of Ilocos Norte. Imelda Marcos was investigated by the U.S. and the Philippines in the early 1990s, but returned to the Philippines in 1991, with the permission of Cora-zon Aquino. She remains a public figure in the Philippines today, celebrated by some and reviled by others.Upon her return to her home country, Imelda ran for president after Corazon, finishing fifth out of seven candidates. She ran again in 1998, dropping out midway through to support the eventual winner.

Scholar and Imelda Marcos biographer Carmen Pedrosa writes: “Some Filipinos, especially the young, are not aware that Imelda Romuáldez Marcos was tried and acquitted in a New York Court. That was in 1990 (…) When critics ask why she had escaped answering for the crimes committed during the Marcos dictatorship, she has a ready answer: ‘I was acquitted. And that’—she proudly adds—‘was in America where justice cannot be bought.' In reality, the U.S. court cases could only pertain to illegal activities in the U.S., which for Imelda meant could only be incidences that pertained to RICO, or the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, meant to fight organized crime. Despite “some 360,000 documents and dozens of witnesses,” the prosecution was unable to sufficiently prove that the money Imelda moved into the U.S. was ill-gotten in the Philippines. Since then, the Philippine Supreme Court has found Imelda guilty of funneling $659 million to private Swiss bank accounts and awarded the entire amount to the government. In 2010, Imelda was ordered to reimburse the nation for $300,000 siphoned from the National Food Authority during the Marcos regime. In 2016, she was ordered to auc-tion off $21 million worth of her jewelry.

Current President rodrigo duterteThe current Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was elected in 2016 and represented a fresh start for Filipino politics: unlike other Filipino presidents in recent memory, he is not the descendant of a former president, he was not educated in the U.S., and he is tough in his words and deeds. Commentators have called Duterte “the Donald Trump of the East.” Both are perceived as powerful outsiders who can do away with long-standing corruption at the federal level. Trump spoke with Duterte in early December 2016, and though Trump has not officially commented, Duterte assured the press that Trump endorses Duterte’s central policies. In his campaign, Duterte promised a brutal crackdown on drugs, vowing to “kill 100,000 criminals in his first six months.”

Earlier in his career, Duterte served as mayor of Davao, a coastal city on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, for two decades. His legacy in Davao, which was posed as a central argument for his later presi-dential campaign, was his success in rapidly reducing crime, particularly drug-related crime. In Davao, a

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CCSS ELA-LitErACy rH 9-10.3

EALr: HiStory 4.1,

4.2 & 4.4

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group of masked vigilantes called the “Davao Death Squad” murdered thousands of drug users. Though Duterte never publicly claimed authority over the group, “he didn't publicly condemn them, either.

In June 2016, after taking his oath of office, Duterte delivered his first public speech as president to a crowd of about 500 people in Manila. He addressed the War on Drugs and threatened drug dealers direct-ly: “These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don’t go into that, even if you’re a police-man, because I will really kill you,” the head of state warned the audience. “If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful. Do it yourself if you have the gun. You have my support.”

Duterte also repeated a popular campaign bit, encouraging citizens to invest in funeral homes. “I assure you, you won’t go bankrupt,” he said. “If your business slows, I will tell the police, ‘Do it faster to help the people earn money.'

Duterte’s War on Drugs—recently rebranded as the Crackdown on Corruption—is supposedly meant to tar-get drug lords. But, similarly to what critics say happened in Davao, it is not the leaders of organized crime or even dealers who are being targeted. Most of the killings have been drug-addicted young men in the slums of Manila. Currently, the drug most plaguing to the Philippines right now is shabu, or meth. “Stimu-lants like shabu are often used by poor people to work longer and harder as well as to suppress appetites for food they often can't afford,” says Sanho Tree, the director of the Drug Policy Project, which is part of the Institute for Policy Studies think tank. Duterte’s War on Drugs has resulted in more than 4,000 killings since June 2016.

Despite the widespread violence and extrajudicial killings—murders which are committed by an official without a trial—many Filipinos remain optimistic about President Duterte’s administration. Ronald dela Rosa, director general of the Philippine National Police and Duterte’s second-in-command on the War on Drugs, is a figure of national fame, “treated more like a rock star than a policeman.”

Affectionately nicknamed “Bato” (The Rock), dela Rosa comes across as authentic and amiable. “He’s super approachable, honest, and real,” said Mariz Umali, a journalist for Philippine news network GMA. People scream or cry out when they see him, he is mobbed on the streets to the point that his men need to protect him. The appeal of dela Rosa is in part what he represents: quick and efficient punishment for criminals. “Our justice system is very slow and riddled with corruption. That’s why others subscribe to this kind of retribution and circumventing of due process,” said Budit Carlos, spokesperson for the Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement.

Duterte swings back and forth between announcing support for the extrajudicial killings while he has been in office and denying any responsibility for them. Notably, Duterte has repeatedly confirmed that while in office as mayor, he shot three men to death who he claims were committing a kidnapping. He also stated that he shot another student at law school, but then refused to answer any further questions about the topic. Also as mayor, he reportedly used to cruise on his motorcycle looking for people breaking the law “Just to show to the guys [police] that if I can do it why can't you.”

Furthermore, he was previously prescribed opioids for back pain and headaches and purportedly became

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addicted. His doctors began giving him less at a time due to his overusage, however, he denies that he was ever addicted.

the marcos family todayImelda and Ferdinand had four children during their marriage, from oldest to youngest: Maria Imelda (Imee), Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong), Irene, and Aimee (who was adopted). Imee and Ferdinand Jr. are both active in politics today, Irene is a socialite, and Aimee is a musician.

The remaining Marcoses have somewhat of a monopoly on the position of Representative for Ilocos Norte’s 2nd District. Their father served two and a half terms in the role. More recently, Ferdinand Jr. held two separate terms, Imee served three successive terms, and Imelda herself is currently serving her third term in the position.

Ferdinand Jr. ran for Vice President in 2016 and came in second in the highly contested race, losing by less than 270,000 votes.

In November 2016, President Duterte secretly approved plans to bury former President Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the Philippine state cemetery for presidents, heroes, and national artists. Imelda spoke to supporters at a service preceding the burial on November 19. The following weekend, 20,000 people gathered to protest the secret burial, including celebrities and political figures. The anti-Marcos showing was particularly pertinent “because suddenly the prospect of having another Marcos at the highest position in government has gotten very very real,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes.

Notably, many of the anti-Marcos protesters voted for Duterte. Frustrated with widespread corruption, pov-erty, and lack of labor rights, citizens turned to a Manila outsider. “For them, Duterte represented a fresh change, even if he did threaten to deprive people of their rights,” law student and activist Kathryn Leuch tells TIME, but now “people are saying that this isn’t what we signed up for because it seems that he’s still abiding with these major political personalities."

Seattle Repertory Theatre dramaturgical protocol compiled by Sara Keats.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongbong_Marcosen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imee_MarcosKasaysayan: The Story of the Filipino People. Vol. 9. New York: Reader's Digest Association, 1998. Print.Katsiaficas, George. Asia's Unknown Uprisings. Vol. 2. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2013. Print.Kingsbury, Damien. South-East Asia: A Political Profile . Oxford, NY: Oxford U Press, 2001. Print."Philippines President Duterte admits killing suspects". CNN. December 14, 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016."Duterte's painkiller too strong to prescribe, says medical specialist". GMA. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_parliamentary_election,_1978nytimes.com/1989/03/19/magazine/reagan-and-the-philippines-setting-marcos-adrift.html?pagewanted=allndfp.org/historic-role-and-contributions-of-kabataang-makabayan/hawaii.edu/cps/filipino.html

Sources:

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ACt it oUt When you are in a position of power, to ensure that you accurately share the story of an oppressed group, it is important to let people tell their own story. Pretend you are a famous artist of any medium. Using this text from the final song in Here Lies Love, which is created from the words of participants in the aftermath of the People Power Revolution, create a short performance that showcases these people’s story.

“Well there’s so many people- ev’rybody is here

I saw the girls from the office

I saw the men from the street

You might think you are lost- but then you will find

That God draws straight- but with crooked lines

I saw a matron in white- Her face lifted to heaven

I saw nuns on their knees- And some who were weeping

Saw a middle aged man- and a government clerk

An afro mestizo- held his rosary up

I saw nobody leave- I didn’t see fear or terror

It felt like a movie- like the end of an era

Nobody got hurt- and nobody died

I’ll remember this day- I’ll remember this time”

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EALr ArtS 4.4

activity!

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CHArACtEr BrEAKDoWNimelda romuáldez Marcosthe rose of taclobanBorn into a prestigious political lineage, Imelda’s family experienced great poverty upon her mother’s death due to her father’s declining law practice. In 1947, Imelda was crowned “The Rose of Tacloban” in a beauty contest taking place in her home city of Tacloban. She began to be interested in music and won a scholarship to study voice. Her teacher believed she had talent and arranged to continue teach-ing her for free. But shortly after that, Imelda decided to begin work-ing as a model and participating more seriously in beauty pageants.

the loveFerdinand Marcos, a congressman with ambitions to become presi-dent, noticed Imelda after seeing her beauty pageant photos in a newspaper. He began courting her immediately, calling her inces-santly and sending numerous presents. After 10 days, he presented her with a marriage contract—she signed it and they were married the next day before a judge. Ferdinand thought that with Imelda at his side as a potential first lady, his presidential campaign would be far more successful. True to his hopes, he and Imelda became media darlings and this public attention undoubtedly contributed to the success of his future campaign.

the Campaign strategizerDuring Ferdinand Marcos’ campaign for the presidency, Imelda used her looks and charm to her advantage: but she also used her voice. She would sing on the campaign trail, and she and Ferdinand would often per-form duets at the rallies. She also led a group called the “Blue Ladies,” a coalition of women initially com-posed of wives of the men in their party, which swelled to hundreds of women who aided the campaign by adding a personal publicity touch by going out and meeting or having events with voters.

the first ladyImelda and Ferdinand had three children at this time. At the beginning of their new careers, Imelda was assigned to typical first lady duties, which included hosting events. She soon also began a new project, a cul-tural center, which she hoped would be an international beacon for great artists. Many criticized this particu-lar project as fiscally irresponsible; the project cost three times the original budget and she is also believed to have pilfered money from the project. Imelda was also infamous for her expensive tastes, most particularly in designer shoes. Both she and Ferdinand were purported to have embezzled from the Philippines government.

the steel butterflyImelda referred to herself as a “butterfly coming out of a cocoon” after her three-month stay in hospital for mental health concerns. However, it is more likely that the butterfly part of her nickname derived from the traditional dress she often wore, a “terno,” which had short, wide, stiff sleeves resembling a butterfly’s wings.

Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.

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the exiled Eventually, the citizens of the Philippines could no longer accept Marcos’ rule, and on the third day of the People Power Revolution, the Marcoses were airlifted out of the Philippines to safety in Hawaii. Contrary to much of the regime, the revolution was mostly bloodless: the people protested with their rosaries, songs, and their peaceful mass presence. This presence in the streets kept soldiers from being able to use their weapons and tanks.

the CongresswomanAfter her husband’s death in Hawaii, Imelda was acquitted of her crimes that took place in America, which had allegedly included buying property with embezzled money. She returned to the Philippines, triumphantly utilizing the acquittal to declare her innocence in all crimes. Imelda ran several unsuccessful presidential campaigns, but eventually won a seat in Congress where she remains today on her third term.

Ferdinand Marcosthe Husband/the President It is presumed that Ferdinand Marcos intentionally married Imelda as he knew it would advance his political career to have a beautiful and charming woman from a good family by his side. His father was a politician as well, and just after he graduated law school, Ferdinand was charged with assassinating one of his father’s political opponents. However, he argued his own case on appeal and was acquitted. Much of Ferdinand’s presidential campaign was based on his reported prowess in the military. Self-proclaimed as the most decorated Filipino of WWII, his actual service record shows that he was never in combat and in fact served as a liaison between the army and civilian authorities.

the dictatorIn 1972, Ferdinand imposed martial law in the Philippines, shift-ing from president to dictator. He maintained that this action was necessary due to a supposed communist uprising. He then imbued himself with extraordinary powers and in particular, suspended the writ of habeas corpus, which protects individuals from being detained or impris-oned without a trial. Extrajudicial killings, imprisonment, disappearances, and torture were all common under Ferdinand’s regime. While numbers are hard to pinpoint due to careful cover-ups, the number of extrajudicial killings is reported to be somewhere between 1,500-3,257 people. At least 800 people were never found.

When the civil resistance movement known as the People Power Revolution restored democracy to the Philippines in 1986, Ferdinand and Imelda were evacuated and airlifted to safety by an American helicopter and spent several years in exile in Hawaii, where Ferdinand eventually passed away after succumbing to his lingering health problems.

Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino Jr.the exBenigno (Ninoy) Aquino Jr. was the grandson of a Filipino general and the son of a well-known politician and landowner. Ninoy and Imelda dated in their younger years, but eventually broke up, Ninoy spitefully telling Imelda that she was too tall for him. Ninoy started out his career as a photographer for a newspaper with a keen interest in politics, and his first political post was as mayor of Concepción. In the same year that he won his mayoral slot, he married a woman named Corazon (nicknamed Cory); this marriage made him extremely wealthy.

Ferdinand Marcos.

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the opponentNinoy spoke out against the Marcoses for the duration of Ferdinand’s presi-dency. He had planned to run for president against Ferdinand Marcos in 1973, but was thwarted when Ferdinand declared martial law and had him imprisoned. As portrayed in the musical, Ninoy fell ill and moved to the Unit-ed States for surgery and recovery. He was assassinated upon his return to the Philippines, where he had hoped to wrest control from an ailing Ferdinand.

Estrella Cumpasthe surrogate motherBefore her death, Imelda’s mother struggled with her mental health, so Estrella Cumpas acted as the primary caregiver to Imelda and her five younger siblings. They lived in a garage at one point, sleeping upon wood-en boards. The two lost touch when Imelda began to gain fame and power, but Estrella reportedly believed in their lasting friendship. She began to influence Imelda’s life again when at the height of the Marcos’ power, she started telling news outlets about Imelda’s impoverished upbringing. Imelda did not take kindly to this. She attempted to bribe Estrella, and when that failed, had her put under house arrest. Historically, nothing more was heard about Estrella after that point.

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., age 27.

Sources: nymag.com/thecut/2013/04/5-shopping-sprees-so-wild-they-made-history.htmlen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imelda_Marcos#Ferdinand_Marcos.27s_campaign_and_Imelda.27s_contributionsphilippinediaryproject.wordpress.com/about/about-the-diary-of-ferdinand-e-marcos/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos#First_term_.281966.E2.80.931969.29www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-E-Marcosbooks.google.com/books?id=F3hE-3lDNQgC&pg=PA502&lpg=PA502&dq=eleven+days+courtship+imelda&source=bl&ots=zpwObzCqfX&sig=2U5hu0V7ldpsuZY1_3ljlaW82ms&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV58vjm-bSAhVIwFQKHQn8BcYQ6AEIMTAD#v=onepage&q=eleven%20days%20courtship%20imelda&f=falsesearch.proquest.com/openview/1f66dfe4fefaa2c9c5e9c9f712c2e318/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819646theconversation.com/how-the-philippines-incomplete-people-power-revolution-paved-the-way-for-rodrigo-duterte-65972www.fragmentsweb.org/TXT2/philiptx.htmlnews.abs-cbn.com/focus/02/21/17/timeline-edsa-people-power-revolutionwww.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-12567320www.philippine-history.org/edsa-people-power-revolution.htmen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_People_Power_Revolutionen.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Power_Revolution

compare & ContrastImelda and Ferdinand's marriage was very much a political match; they only courted for 11 days before they married. It is thought that the most concrete reason that Ferdinand courted Imelda so seriously and quickly is that he thought a relationship with her would help his political career. She came from a family with a good lin-eage, was charismatic, extremely beautiful, and had already acquired some fame from participating in beauty pageants. She had a good singing voice as a young woman, and she and Ferdinand would often sing together on the campaign trail: youtube.com/watch?v=lLYNNW80jsA (Singing starts around 1:42)

Since politicians are in the public eye, they have to be careful of how they present themselves. But if they “act” too much, they are in danger of seeming fake, and thus untrustworthy. What do you think is the ideal way for a politician to approach being in the public eye? Research our two most recent presidents and com-pare how they each balance publicity with politics.

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EALr ArtS 4.2, 4.3 & 4.4

SoNG BrEAKDoWNHere lies love: the showThe title of the show is taken from a comment Imelda made upon seeing her husband’s embalmed body; she decided that she wanted the phrase “Here Lies Love” written on her tombstone. The disco theme of the show derives from Imelda’s passion for the disco scene; she even went so far as to install a dance club in one of her homes and a mirrored disco ball in another.

american troglodyte This song takes us back to the 1960s, a time when disco was just gaining popularity. The song references many positive cultural moments for Americans in the time period, but juxtaposes it with several negative points: referring to the unattainability of the “American Dream,” ineffective democracy, and referencing the racism inherent in America. The word “troglodyte” refers to a hermit or person living in solitude, and seems to reinforce the idea that Americans may not have it as good as they think.

Here lies loveThis song provides some background on Imelda’s upbringing, when she lived with her siblings and nanny, Estrella, in poverty after her mother’s death and as her father’s law practice declined. The song also in-troduces the idea that Imelda is a passionate person. Throughout the show, she continues to say that her primary motivator is to do things “for love.”

Child of the PhilippinesIn this song, Ninoy Aquino is introduced. He tells us about his affluent upbringing, but how he realized that life was about more than wealth. Ninoy begins to discuss his dreams for the Philippines and expresses his love for his country...and Imelda.

opposite attractionThis song refers to the relationship troubles Ninoy and Imelda begin to face. Ninoy is focusing on his political career and Imelda wants him to focus on their relationship. She thinks they can make it work, but Ninoy spitefully tells her she’s too tall, and ends up breaking it off. A short while later, he marries the very wealthy Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco.

rose of taclobanDisheartened by the breakup, Imelda can’t believe that Ninoy left her for such petty reasons. She decides to look at it as a learning opportunity for her future. She enters a beauty pageant in her home city of Ta-cloban and is crowned the “Rose of Tacloban.” She continues to enter pageants, most famously the “Miss Manila” pageant. Upon losing to Norma Jimenez, Imelda is miserable, as this means she cannot advance to the next stage, “Miss Philippines.” She goes directly to the Mayor of Manila, and cries, pleading her cause, until he invents a new title for her. This reflects the advent of Imelda’s fame as a great beauty, but more significantly, the beginnings of her prowess in persuasion.

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a Perfect HandEnter Ferdinand Marcos. He claims to be “the most decorated war hero of the Philippines” of World War II, and uses this to help keep citizens on his side in his position as a congressman. He looks forward to his hopes for a successful political career, but knows he will need a perfect wife in order to win elections. He states that women have more knowledge about relationships and how to "get things done."

eleven daysFerdinand first notices Imelda from her beauty pageant photos in a newspaper and they are married within 11 days of meeting: it is dubbed the "invisible courtship." Their first meeting occurs when she arrives at the courthouse to pick up a relative after work, and they meet while she snacks on watermelon seeds in the cafeteria. Ferdinand begins courting her immediately, but not in person; he calls her incessantly and sends a number of presents, most notably two roses: one open and one closed (“One is the future/One is my love”). On the tenth day, she tells him she is going out of town. He presents her with a marriage contract and she signs it. The next day, they formalize their marriage before a judge. The ring he gives her has 11 diamonds to symbolize their whirlwind (and fantastical) 11-day courtship, and is appraised at one point as being worth at least $300,000. Notably, though he is not mentioned in the song, Ferdinand’s journalist friend is present throughout nearly their entire courtship and Ferdinand and Imelda swiftly become media darlings. Sometime later, they have a large celebration.

When she Passed byEstrella, Imelda’s former nanny, still cares deeply for Imelda. After all, Imelda’s mother hadn’t been able to pay her for her labor, but she had always told Estrella that her children would pay her back when they achieved greatness. But on this day, Estrella sees Imelda drive past in her wedding procession, and discovers that she has not been invited to the celebration. However, Estrella does not think that Imelda would ever betray her and holds out hope that they will become close again. This song also demonstrates how Ferdinand and Imelda’s relationship has already taken on a fantasy, storybook-like aspect for the people of the Philippines.

sugartime babyIn this song, Ferdinand and Imelda celebrate their honeymoon. Imelda begins to convert to Ferdinand’s overindulgent lifestyle. Notably again, their honeymoon is heavily documented by the press, who liken them to Jackie and John F. Kennedy.

Walk like a WomanImelda discovers her wedded life is not the picturesque dream she imagined, and her past begins to catch up to her as she spirals into depression. Ferdinand wants her to get better, and quickly, so she can become sophisticated enough to be a useful political wife. She has a nervous breakdown and is sent to a clinic for three months. The doctor tells her that “the cure was simple, and that it lay in herself…she must embrace her husband’s life, without reservation, not only accept, but love it and yes, enjoy it.” In time, she is able to function again, and reenters her life with this new perspective.

don’t you agree?/Pretty faceWith Imelda’s help on the campaign trail and their media billing as a beautiful couple working tirelessly for the people, the Marcoses make a big splash. Ultimately, Ferdinand is elected the 10th President of the Philippines.

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dancing together Life as the President’s wife is going well for Imelda. She attends her first parties as First Lady with other powerful people from around the globe, and can barely believe the excess she is seeing. She recalls how Ferdinand had taught her how to be the type of person who could gracefully handle all the opulence and glamour of their life.

fabulous oneNinoy doesn’t approve of the Marcoses’ choices. He is Ferdinand’s polar opposite and wants more for the Filipino people. Ninoy takes this out on Imelda, pointing out her extravagance in the face of the people’s poverty. The song is based off of Aquino's real speech to the senate, "A Pantheon For Imelda" criticizing her liefestyle and her spending on the Cultural Center.

men Will do anything Ferdinand has been publicly outed in at least one of his affairs, and a chorus of women representing Imelda's inner conscience urge Imelda to use this for her gain. Though she is driven into a deep misery by this betrayal, she resolves to do so.

star and slaveThis song is derived from a dream it’s purported that Imelda had. In a Greek myth, Pygmalion refers to a carver who falls in love with a statue he has carved. Imelda likens this to her own situation in which she has created a version of herself for her people, and because she loves them, she knows she must continue to serve them.

Poor meIn "Poor Me," Imelda is fully realized. She tells Ferdinand that she’ll stay in the marriage (which is a pow-erful threat, because without her, he’ll almost certainly lose the next election) if she is granted full freedom to pursue her projects without his interference. He agrees, and they stay together. He ends up making her the governor of the city of Manila as she maintains her role as First Lady. She takes near-full control of the country while her husband suffers from lupus and his kidneys begin to fail, and doesn’t feel any shame for this wresting of power.

Please don’tDespite the helpless attitude Imelda adopts for this song, it is apparent that she knows full well what she’s doing. She understands that other world leaders won’t take her seriously because she’s a woman and because she’s not white, so she emotionally manipulates them to get what she wants, dubbing this her "handbag diplomacy." Unfortunately for her, Aquino is speaking out against the Marcoses due to the extremely violent military response to the 200,000-strong student protest against Ferdinand’s state of the union address. And at the same time, Estrella is engaging in TV interviews where she is refuting Imelda’s carefully constructed backstory of her delicately put-together public persona.

solano avenueImelda needs Estrella to stop talking about her past when things are in such a state of political upheaval, and attempts to bribe her. Estrella refuses the bribe—she hasn’t lied, she hasn’t done anything wrong, and she reminds Imelda of their past bond. But Imelda only cares about the present, not the past, and when Estrella won’t stop, she puts her under house arrest.

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order 1081The protests against Ferdinand’s presidency are growing stronger. He uses this as an excuse to institute martial law and a series of cruel restrictions against his people. Ferdinand has also begun extrajudicial kill-ings of people who oppose him. Aquino is arrested for speaking out against him.

seven yearsAquino has been in jail for seven years. He goes on a hunger strike to protest his unjust imprisonment, which gains worldwide publicity. He is begged to stop after 40 days by his loved ones, who point out that even Christ only fasted for 40 days. He does, but despite the media attention, nothing comes of it—he remains in prison. Several years later, he has a series of heart attacks. He refuses to go under the knife of Filipino surgeons, fearing that Marcos will have him killed. With Imelda’s help, he and his family receive transportation to the U.S. for his treatment.

Gate 37Ferdinand’s health is worsening, so Aquino decides it is time to try to go back to restore democracy to the Philippines. He says goodbye to his wife and children, knowing Marcos’ men might await him at the airport when he lands. Aquino is assassinated upon his arrival back in his home country.

Just ask the flowersPeople all over the country mourn Aquino’s loss; he was their hope for a new Filipino democracy. At his fu-neral, his mother says “tama na, sobra na,” which means “Enough! It’s too much already!” This becomes the campaign slogan for Aquino’s wife, Corazon “Cory”, who runs against Ferdinand and becomes the 11th President and first female President of the Philippines.

Why don’t you love me? The People Power Revolution is under way. Imelda mourns the loss of her people’s love while Estrella and Ferdinand mourn the loss of Imelda’s love.

God draws straightIn this song, the Marcoses are gone; American helicopters have airlifted them to Hawaii. The show refo-cuses on the people, showing their reactions to the revolution and their freedom from dictatorship.

Sources: The Seattle Repertory Theatre dramaturgical protocol compiled by Sara KeatsThe Here Lies Love scriptbiography.com/people/imelda-marcos-21062601biography.com/people/ferdinand-marcos-9398625

WRITE A SONG ABOUT ITPick a political event from the last 50 years that you have studied in your history class. Write a song that tells this story. Pick the type of music genre to relay this particular event. Why do you think that specific genre is the best vehicle to tell your chosen event?

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ColoniZation and CUltUre in THE PHILIPPINES

EALr ArtS 4.1 & 4.4

EALr HiStory

4.1

EALr GEoGrApHy

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The modern history of the Philippines has been defined by the domination of outside powers and the coun-try’s resistance to them. The Philippines became a formal Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898, then a de facto colony of the U.S. until the middle of the Second World War, then a temporary territory of Japan until the end of WWII, and was finally granted independence by the U.S. at the end of WWII. Suffice to say, Spanish and American colonization had a large impact on many aspects of Filipino life:

spanish influence on life in the Philippines• Perhaps the most enduring legacy of Spanish occupation is the institution of Catholicism. King Philip II of Spain sought to spread Catholicism around the globe. During the 333 years of Spanish rule, Catholicism became the primary religion practiced by the majority of the country. Today, the country enjoys freedom of religion, and lays claim to the title of “largest Catholic country in Asia.” 86% of the populace is Catholic.• The Spaniards had a huge impact on the Filipino language as well. About 40% of the Tagalog language is either directly pulled from or a derivative of Spanish.• Spanish cuisine became a staple of Filipino culture. Popular dishes adopted by Filipinos include paella, picadillo, kaldereta, and leche flan.• The Spaniards also introduced currency to the Philippines. Prior to Spanish occupation, the indigenous people engaged in a barter economy.

american influence on life in the Philippines• The Spaniards introduced the idea of formal education with the establishment of schools, and the Ameri-cans implemented a government-run free public education system.• English became the primary language used by teachers in schools, and is now the second national lan-guage. Many English words have made their way into the Filipino language.• The notion of partisan politics and democratic elections was brought to the Philippines by Americans.

Ferdinand Marcos’ rise coincided with a period in Filipino history in which the country had very few estab-lished traditions of its own that weren’t filtered through the interests of an occupying country.

dance and music of the PhilippinesDavid Byrne’s choice to set the play in a discotheque and use disco music as the means in which to tell the story is rooted in the fact that he wants the audience to feel the “intoxication of power that Imelda must have felt.” He wants audience members to lose themselves in the energy, mood, and rhythm of the show. The story of political corruption, personal trauma, and widespread tragedy in some ways contradicts and juxtaposes the vibrancy of the music.

Although Here Lies Love employs Filipino performers to portray a significant story in modern Filipino history, there

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is a surprising shortage of cultural references to the Phil-ippines. The play does not deliberately attempt to shed light on Filipino culture and since the story is told entirely through music and dance, it makes sense to examine Filipino culture within these two contexts, and where ap-propriate, highlight colonization’s impact on them.

Performance venuesThe Cultural Center of the Philippines, developed by Imelda Marcos, is the national center for the performing arts. It is the primary hub for perfor-

mance art and houses several venues for the arts as well as areas for both permanent and changing exhibits. It serves as a home for the country’s premier performing arts groups, such as the Ballet Phil-ippines, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Tanghalang Pilipino, and others.

danceDancing plays an important role in Filipino culture, relaying their history and preserving traditions. Here is a list of a few Filipino folk dances:

• The Tinikling is characterized by movement that imitates that of the tinikling bird. It resembles jump rope, except dancers perform the steps around and between bamboo poles.• The Binasuan is usually performed at festive social occasions like weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads and hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground.• The Singkil is a dance traditionally performed by sin-gle women to attract the attention of potential suitors. Fans and scarves are often used to enhance the dancers' movements. Like many traditional dances, it recounts a story. This dance tells the story of Putri Gandingan (Sita) as she was saved by Rajahmuda Bantugan (Rama) from crashing rocks, represented by bamboo poles.• The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly prized food. The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted to the reconciliation. The men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes and they slap them in rhythm with the music. • The Cariñosa (meaning "loving" or "affectionate one") is the national dance. A courtship dance, it is notable for the performers’ use of a fan and handkerchief.

folk music of the PhilippinesUnlike folk music in many other countries, traditional music in the Philippines has never reached wide-spread popularity. One reason for this is a lack of uniformity in the Filipino language. Every region of the Philippines has its own language, and as a result of colonization, there is a lot of variance within the

The Tinikling, a traditional Filipino folk dance.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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languages themselves. People tend to remember the songs that are written in the language of the region in which they grew up. The prevalence of television in the latter half of the 20th century made popular cul-ture from Europe and the United States easily accessible to Filipinos, and in turn, diminished the appeal of learning and appreciating traditional folk music.

Though not as popular as American or European music, traditional music still holds a space in the hearts of many Filipinos. There were many different songs that addressed different aspects of life and culture in the Philippines. In 1872, Joaquín de Coria wrote Nueva Gramática Tagalog Teorica-Práctica—a Tagalog book which lists the names of the most important folk songs in the Philippines:

• Diona and Talingdao: songs in the home and in ordinary work• Indolanin and Dolayin: songs in the streets• Soliranin: boat songs• Haloharin, Oyayi, and Hele-hele: lullabies• Sambotani: songs for festivals and social reunions• Tagumpay: songs to commemorate victory in war• Kumintang and Kundiman: love songs

originsIt is impossible to separate traditional Filipino music from the country's history as a melting pot of differ-ent cultures. To be sure, Filipino folk music has been superseded by the influence of Western pop culture, but it still has a presence in the country. The colonial influences of Spain and America have intermingled with the East Asian foundations established before 1521, when Magellan first arrived on the island. The result is that the music cannot be classified neatly into the categories of “Western” or “Eastern.” Rather, it’s more accurate to classify the music according to climate and geography. In cooler regions, the beat of the music is slower, while in warmer areas it is quite fast. The origins of the various musical forms can be identified because the indigenous, Spanish, and American traditions that comprise Philippine music are concentrated in specific regions of the country. The indigenous musical traditions are practiced by about 10% of the population. These people can be found in the mountains of northern Luzon and the islands of Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan, and Mindoro in the southern and western Philippines rural areas. Muslims from Mindanao and Sulu also practice traditional indigenous music. Music influenced by Spain and America can be found in the urban areas of the country with dense population centers.

indigenous traditionsIndigenous music is classified as having originated prior to the onset of Spanish colonization. This music is characterized by narrative-based lyrics and the use of instruments made from bronze, wood, and bamboo. These include various gongs, drums, flutes, zithers, lutes, clappers, and buzzers. Vocal genres include epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs related to plant-ing, harvesting, fishing; ritual songs to drive away evil spirits or to invoke blessings from the good spirits; songs to celebrate festive occasions, particularly marriage, birth, victory at war, or the settling of tribal disputes; mourning songs for the dead; courting songs; and children’s game songs. Sadly, under the 400 years of Spanish colonization, no collection of indigenous music was ever made. It exists solely because it was passed down through oral tradition.

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spanish-european influenced traditionsWhen the Spaniards arrived, Filipino music underwent a massive transformation. The Spanish brought Catholicism to the country and set about the business of converting the natives. Over time, the Filipino peoples’ musical thinking changed and what emerged was a hybrid expression of secular and religious music.

The band tradition in the Philippines began during the Spanish period with the introduction of the rondalla. These are instrumental ensembles where all of the instruments can be plucked or picked. There is a thriving rondalla tradition to this day.

american influenced traditions The Americans brought their taste for classical music to the region. More than a cultural legacy, music became an official field of study during the American regime (1898-1946). It was incorporated into the curriculum of the public education system, and music conservatories and colleges were established. To this day, a vibrant classical music tradition exists in the Philippines as a result of the establishment of these institutions.

Along with classical music, a broader category of music came about and is known as semi-classical music. A lighter form, it includes stylized folk songs, theatre music, and instrumental music. The sarsuela tradition—a lyric-dramatic genre that has both spoken and sung scenes—was created under the umbrella of the semi-classical movement. Imelda Marcos was a fierce champion of sarsuela and supported it financially while she was First Lady. It is characterized by operatic arias and short instru-mental overtures and interludes.

Pinoy Pop is music created by Filipinos that is directly inspired by American pop culture and music. It in-cludes a wide range of genres: folk songs, dance tunes, ballads, showtunes, rock ‘n’ roll, disco, jazz, and rap.

THINK ABOUT IT»WRITE ABOUT ITCulture is an extremely broad term encompassing various aspects of human life. The Cambridge English Dictionary states that culture is "the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time." Consider a culture that is important to you. It could be American culture, your family culture, your school culture, or any culture that has person-al significance for you. Write a journal entry that reflects on why you value this particular culture. What are its traits that you feel like you’ll value for the rest of your life? Imagine that this culture was under threat. Without resorting to violence, what would you do to preserve this culture?

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Philippines#Original_Pilipino_musichttp://dance.lovetoknow.com/List_of_Philippine_Folk_Dancehttp://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/music/philippine-music-a-historical-overview/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundimanhttp://www.himig.com.ph/features/3-music-of-indigenous-southeast-asian-filipinoshttps://colonialph.wordpress.com/http://www.fifthinternational.org/content/philippines-history-colonialism-and-oppression