“Words in poems can be
interpreted and performed.”
The Integrated Performing
Arts Guild (IPAG) is one of the MSU-IIT’s prides and is known for its
astounding and international performances. They had already collected many
awards inside and outside the country. Local and international viewers had fallen
in love to the outstanding skills and talents of the performers. IPAG members
perform with heart, mind and soul. They were not just skilled and talented but
they are also flexible enough in doing different types of performances. They
can do musical and other theatrical presentations. These theatrical
performances which are seldom recognized in our country were made known to
Filipinos from these kinds of performers.
Last February 8, 2014, I
had witnessed another astonishing performance brought by IPAG. It is called
SugaTula. SugaTula was said to be one of IPAG’s best repertoire that was
presented in Taipei and achieved some awards. SugaTula is composed of poems
that has been interpreted and performed through dancing. These poems were
written by well-known poets like German Gervacio, Marjorie Evasco and many
others. In their music, they were using instruments played by talented
individuals who were able to synchronize with the fast movements of the
dancers. At first, I was confused to what they are doing. Later on, I was amazed
that they were explicitly interpreting the poems that flash in the wall. The
poems were read fluently before they start dancing. As I had observed, some of
the poems that they interpreted are related to the real happenings in our country.
I was moved by their interpretation to a poem about the condition of the
Filipinos during the Spaniard colonization. They act like reality and they even
cry with real tears falling. They also talk about the “third sex” which is true
in our country. That show brought me to the history up to the present and
opened my eyes to the myths, beliefs and realities in our country.
It was my first time to witness
that kind of presentation and it was really worth watching for. Honestly, all
of the poems were explicitly interpreted and performed. IPAG performed it
through dancing without passing the borders of its true meaning. Performers
make sure the consistency of the author’s purpose in writing the poem. It made
the audience understand the whole point of the poem without leaving them in
vague. All of the people behind that one hour performance had made the best of
their part. If I were to rate it, it
would be perfect.
