Monday, April 14, 2008 Costanilla: ‘Kadaugan sa Maktan’ as stage play? By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
THE now globally popular Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center dancing inmates continue to fascinate the general public with their splendid presentations, bringing so much pride and honor to Cebu and the Cebuanos.
What we are seeing is actually the fruit of the culture of discipline that Gov. Gwen Garcia has imposed inside the jail facility through her brother Byron, her consultant on security and jail matters.
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ONE of the dancing inmates’ latest numbers is a protest presentation against a Manila-based opposition-backed whistleblower whose tirade against Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal angered them. The dancing inmates idolize the Cebu archbishop, so when the whistleblower, in a brief visit to Cebu, called the cardinal the head of the Archdiocese of Malacanang, the inmates — just like the rest of us — strongly assailed the Manila guy. The inmates asked Byron that they be allowed to stage a noise barrage inside the jail facility to express their anger at the whistleblower. But Byron instead encouraged them to express their sentiment by — what else? — dancing. He told them that street protests and shouting slogans are not the only means of expressing disgust and disagreement.
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IT didn’t take long for the dancing inmates to learn new dance steps and movements to the tune of Laura Branigan’s Gloria, thanks to the patience and effort of choreographers Gwen Lador, Roger Madera and Glen Mayol. Now, the celebrity dancers are already very good in doing this particular piece, which can now be seen worldwide via the internet. Simply access through YouTube then type gloria/cpdrc and click “search.” Don’t forget to use a headset. Right there and then, you will see and hear how impressive and expressive the dancing inmates are in rendering this act. Just try.
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TWO Sundays ago, yours truly and the rest of the Cebu United Radio and TV Artists, Corp. (Curta) had a grand afternoon of songs and fellowship at the Cordova gymnasium. We were invited by town mayor Adelino Sitoy who is a Curta member, too. After a sumptuous lunch of Cordova’s popular eel called bakasi and other tasty sea foods, boiled banana, sweet potatoes, etc., we had an unscripted program to the delight of all those present, including club officers Tatay Emil and Nanay Rose Rizada, Susan Aliño, Ma’am Ginnie Vamenta and Tony Rabanes among others as well as some Cordovanhons who were allowed entry into the gym. Eking Fernandez, Mario Jadraque, Ester Alferez, Cora Rosales-Jayma, Angeling Yburan, the Dos Machos and Dos Hagakhak comic duos, Nick Ampatin, Baby Condeno and Candy Borces-Pros performed those unforgettable selections down memory lane. Mayor Sitoy’s own version of a classic Cebuano love song was a revelation. Yes, the lawyer-mayor can sing!
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WITH the annual Kadaugan sa Maktan reenactment approaching, some friends of mine have been suggesting that a musical or a simple stage play on the historic event be staged right on the shores of Mactan, the actual site of the bloody Lapu-Lapu-Magellan battle in 1521. The idea is doable but I think the problem is the budget. Staging such production entails a substantial amount, otherwise it becomes a mediocre presentation. We do not want to see an amateurish effort involving the reenactmnent of a major historical event.
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A SELF-PROCLAIMED radioman here is literally losing hair over the prospect of eventually becoming “powerless” with the recent political development in Manila. His political boss is no longer holding a top position in government.
