University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The Special Program in the Arts (SPA) of UST-Legazpi conducted its annual recital entitled “Bahandi” (a Bicol term that means treasure). In its 16th season, the SPA class of 2023 staged Madre Tierra – a neo-ethnic musical about Mother Earth’s havoc on the planet.
Set locally, Madre Tierra is a prophetic-cautionary tale dedicated in memoriam of the victims of different natural calamities that hit the Bicol Region including the devastating Typhoon Reming, Mayon Eruption, El Niño, and even the likes of Typhoon Yolanda – a reminder of what the human race may face in the future should wrongdoings to nature continue. The play also narrates the seven-day destruction of the planet Earth as stated in the poem “Genesis in Reverse” furtherly equipped with the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ.
The 16th edition of Bahandi was spearheaded by SPA’s Program Chair Marie Veronique Berdin, MAEd, who also served as the Production Manager. Madre Tierra, on the other hand, was written and directed by Jobert Landeza (Theater Arts Teacher), with choreography by Ghynelle Joy Baronia (Dance Teacher), and visual direction by Magno Rey Cordovilla (Visual Arts Teacher).
Highlighting this year’s SPA recital is the music created from the world-renowned prayer Oratio Imperata, a prayer from the Roman Catholic Church recited during times of crisis including natural disasters. Bringing this as live music is the SPA Rondalla Majors with musical direction by Aljon Mejillano (Rondalla Teacher) together with Rochelle Briones (Vocals Teacher).