Iconic ‘Walang Sugat’ zarzuela goes onstage for four shows in UP

From top to bottom: Daniella Silab and Lis Fortun, who will play the role of Julia; and Al Gatmaitan and Diego Alcudia, who will play the role of Tenyong. Photos by Kevin Christian Roque, UPMPRO.

The University of the Philippines will stage the classic Filipino zarzuela “Walang Sugat” on November 28 and 29, 2024 at the Benito Sy Pow Auditorium, UP College of Architecture in UP Diliman. There will be 3 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. gala shows for both playdates.

A production of the UP College of Music’s Abelardo Hall Concert Series In Transit, the zarzuela will be presented by director Alegria O. Ferrer in the traditional concept of the masterpiece written by Severino Reyes in 1898 and set to the original music of Fulgencio Tolentino.

For the UP production, Professor Emeritus Josefino “Chino” Toledo is the musical arranger and also wrote additional music. Pianist Michelle Nicolasora and Padayon Rondalla are the assisting artists.

“Walang Sugat” is set during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and highlights the injustices Filipinos faced under Spanish rule, including the oppression of Filipino prisoners for expressing their patriotism. It premiered in 1902 at the Teatro Libertad in Pasay.

The zarzuela, a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre which encompasses music, singing, and poetry, became a powerful medium for expressing Filipino nationalism. The play also faced challenges during the American colonial period, as it was considered too subversive by the authorities, leading to the imprisonment of its author.

The original music for the play was lost during World War II when the National Library of the Philippines was bombed. In 1971 the music was reconstructed by a team led by Dr. Herminio Velarde Jr., who conducted interviews with people who had seen the original productions.

“Walang Sugat” remains one of the most popular zarzuelas in the Philippines, celebrated for its powerful storytelling and its role in promoting Filipino cultural identity.

A young cast of recent graduates of the UP College of Music voice program will essay the main roles. The lead female protagonist Julia, who is pressured to marry Miguel while waiting for news from her true love, Tenyong, will be played alternately by Daniella Silab and Lis Fortun. The role of Tenyong, a member of the Katipunan who
leaves Julia to join the revolution, will be shared by Al Gatmaitan and Diego Alcudia.

Walang Sugat is also the love story of Julia and Tenyong, whose relationship is tested by the political turmoil and social pressures of the time.

Tickets are available for P300 at the theater entrance or can be purchased online through https://form.jotform.com/242678559803470

Walang Sugat is co-presented by the Office of the UP Diliman Chancellor, UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, UP College of Architecture, UP Center for Ethnomusicology, Friends of Abelardo, Kayserburg Pianos, and UCC Coffee.