Cultural Extravaganza
Friday, 06 October 2023 | 3PM & 8PM
The Metropolitan Theater
Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita 1000 Manila, Philippines
Rawaten Cultural Extravaganza will feature diverse cultural dance troupes and theater companies from various Mindanao State University System (MSUS) campuses, totaling approximately 150 accomplished performers. The show will spotlight the traditional dances, songs, chants, and artistic expressions of the Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao, highlighting the ethnolinguistic groups within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Prepare to be mesmerized by the rich cultural tapestry of Mindanao.
Directed by Tom Russ
The Performers
Kulintang Masters and Onors
MSU-LNAC, MSU-MSAT, MSU-LNCAT
Kalimulan Cultural Dance Troupe
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Sining Pananadem
MSU-Marawi
Darangan Cultural Dance Troupe
MSU-Marawi
Sining Ghendawan Ensemble
MSU-Buug
Gandingan Cultural Dance Troupe
MSU-Maguindanao
Sulu Performing Artists
MSU-Sulu
Tambuli Cultural Dance Troupe
MSU-Tawi-Tawi College of Trade and Oceanography
Sining Kambayoka Ensemble
MSU-Marawi
The Repertoire
LANGIT: Dalogdog ug Kidlat
The performance will commence with a powerful start in “Roar of Thunder and Lightning,” featuring Kapagonor and Kakolintang, showcasing the mastery of kulintang artists from Mindanao.
ULAN: Gasa sa Langit
Following the captivating opening, “Gift from the Sky” will enchant the audience with Higaonon and Manobo dances, immersing them in a world where mountains and skies meet.
RANAW: Kaanyag ug Kalinaw
As the show unfolds, the stage will burst to life with “Beauty and Serenity,” where graceful Meranaw Dances mirror the tranquil waters, symbolizing the profound connection between these communities and the lake.
SUBA: Tinubdan sa Kinabuhi
Next, we will pay tribute to the life-giving rivers in the dynamic “Source of Life” segment, featuring exhilarating dances from the Subanen and Maguindanaons. Their spirited performances will vividly capture the vitality and resilience of these communities, mirroring the unceasing flow of the rivers that sustain them.
RAGAT: Gakos sa Kinaiyahan
Our journey continues as we join the mimetic and playful dances of the T’Boli and Blaan, symbolically drifting along with the river’s currents in “Nature’s Embrace.” Finally, the fluid and elegant dances from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will bring us full circle, celebrating life and the nurturing embrace of the sea.
ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Si Pilandok
The play “Si Pilandok” unfolds around the central character, Pilandok, a legendary figure from Meranaw folklore hailing from the mythical realm of Agamaniyog. In an unforeseen twist of fate, Pilandok inadvertently liberates three imprisoned tonongs, ethereal fairies encased within stones cursed by the formidable witch, Busaon. As a result, these tonongs become Pilandok’s mystical guides, leading him on a heroic odyssey to unravel the enigma surrounding Potri Pituimanis, the princess of Agamaniyog’s kingdom, who has also fallen victim to Busaon’s malevolent curse.
From the Sky to the Sea
is a celebration that magnifies the profound significance of water in the lives of indigenous peoples in the Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan (MINSUPALA) regions. This theme encapsulates the deep-rooted connection between these communities and the various bodies of water surrounding them. In fact, many ethnolinguistic groups are named after the specific body of water they inhabit, symbolizing its integral role in their identity and cultural practices.
For instance, the Meranaw people, known as the “people by the lake,” find their name inextricably linked to the nearby Ranaw they call home. Similarly, the Maguindanaons, called the “people of the flood plains,” derive their identity from the vast plains transformed into fertile lands during the rainy season. The Subanen, known as the “people of the river,” embrace their name as a reflection of their close ties to rivers and reliance on them for sustenance. The Tausugs, the “people of the current,” recognize the ever-changing flow of water as an embodiment of their resilience and adaptability.
Beyond being a vital source of livelihood, water profoundly influences the expressive movements of these indigenous communities’ traditional dances. Their dances’ fluidity, grace, and rhythmic patterns often mirror the ebbs and flows, the gentle caresses, and the powerful surges of water. These mesmerizing dance movements demonstrate their beauty and reverence for water, paying homage to their ancestral connection with their natural surroundings.
The MSU Rawaten Cultural Extravaganza, through captivating performances, mesmerizing visual displays, and vibrant music, aims to transport the audience into a world where water and indigenous culture intertwine. It seeks to create an immersive experience that highlights the importance of water in the lives of these communities, emphasizing the inseparable relationship between water, livelihood, and artistic expression.
