Musical Theater

1. TOPIC:
Philippine
Musical Theater

2. LEARNING COMPETENCY
Describe how specific idea or
story is communicated
through music in a particular
Philippine Musical
Theater. (MU7FT-IVe-h-6)

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, learners
will be able to:
1. To describe how specific idea or
story is communicated through
music in a particular Philippine
Musical Theater.

4. LET US TRY
Watch the following
videos and answer
the following
questions.

5. 1. KOMEDYA DE BALER (MORO MORO) - BALER FIESTA
2012: GABI NG KULTURA.
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=F79RBOJDJQC

6. 2. WATCH THE VIDEO OF “WALANG SUGAT PART 1” BY
TANGHALANG ATENEO.
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=1CM_AWB73LC

7. Guide Questions:
1. Among the recorded sample of theater
performances, which of the following videos
did you like most? Explain your reason of
liking the video.
2. Based on the video clip Moro-moro on
Komedya de Baler (Moro-moro),
what is Moro-moro?

8. LET US STUDY
Timeline of Philippine Musical Theater
1. Pre-colonial time – consisted of three elements – myths, mimesis, and spectacle.
These mimetic performances mostly dramatized primitive rituals and epic poetry
about deities and mythical legends, where the spirit of the deities would seemingly
possess a catalonan (priest) or babaylan (prietess).
2. Spanish Regime – they used dramas such as zarzuela as pedagogical tool to
influence the pagan tribes and teach them about Christianity and religion.
Zarzuela – it portrays the typical Filipino realities and stories and social relations
which viewers can relate in their lives.
Comedias (Secular & Religious) were normally performed in pueblos or village
centers to attract more people to the foundation of its regime. The comedia can
last from 3 to 15 hours through a series of performances. The first Filipino comedia
was performed in latin and Spanish by Fr. Vicente Puche in Cebu 1598.

9. 3. American colonization - apparently influence Philippine theatre
through the bodabil (vaudeville). Bodabil is not straight-up play. The
theatrical performance is, in fact, a mix of songs, dances, comedy skits
and even magical performances. In the 1930’s, the country was
introduced to Broadway theatre.
4. The Japanese occupation – by the the 1940s, when the Japanese
took over the Philippines from the Americans, movie actors and
actresses could no longer appear in films, as the Japanese confiscated
all film equipment. However, the comedia, zarzuela, and bodabil
remained in the country as forms of entertainment and expression.
Eventually, bodabil evolved to become stage shows or variety with
short melodrama at the end to accommodate the actors and actresses
who moved their craft bodabil and theatre. Venues such as the Grand
Manila Opera House and the Savoy Theatre became homes of bodabil.

10. Viewing activity
INSTRUCTIONS: The video consists of a short documentary
of a particular theatre.
Watch the video and describe the musical characteristics,
features of the theatre
and how specific idea or story is communicated through
music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAyxX8tDWHI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79RBOJDJqc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM_AwB73lc

12. LET US PRACTICE MORE: CONCEPT MAP
Instruction: Choose only one Philippine Musical Theater.
Make a short sentence in defining each word inside the
map.

13. Let Us Assess
Direction: Write the correct answer on your paper
1. It is a collaborative form of theater, music, dance and literature that portrays day to
day struggles and triumphs of common Filipinos.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
2. What theater timeline mimetic performances mostly dramatized primitive rituals and
epic poetry about deities and mythical legends, where the spirit of the deities would
seemingly possess a catalonan (priest) or babaylan (prietess).
a. Pre-colonial period b. Spanish regime c. Japanese occupation d. American colonization
3. It is one of the colorful theatrical traditions in the Philippines used by the Spanish as a
method to spread Christianity.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
4. What known theater in the Philippines changed and become burlesque and strip
shows held in cheap theaters around American Military bases a decade later during the
Japanese occupation in the Philippines?
a. Sarsuela b. Komedya c. Bodabil d. Moro-moro

14. 5. It is a type of stage performance that portrays the clash between Muslims and
Christians.
a. Bodabil b. Komedya c. Moro-moro d. Sarsuela
6. Who is the first Filipino who performed a comedia in latin and Spanish in Cebu
during 1598?
a. Fr. Vicente Puche b. Fr. Pedro Penduko c. Fr. Agustus Caesar d. Fr. Harman Arpon
7. What is the name of the venue which is considered to be the house of Bodabil
in the Philippines?
a. La Carmella de Opera c. Grand Manila Opera House
b. Marco Polo d. Grand Men Sing
8. During what period in Philippine history was Bodabil introduced in the
Philippine theaters?
a. Pre-colonial period c. Japanese occupation
b. Spanish regime d. American colonization

15. What are the two types of
Comedia/Komedya?
9.________________
10._______________

16. LET US ENHANCE
When music and the theater performances are
heard, these signals a celebration (in a story), an
intense feeling of happiness or sadness in the event
happens in a storyline inside a theatre house. In your
own opinion, state a different reason why music is
important in communicating a specific idea or story
in Philippine theater?