Philippine Stagers Foundation's KATIPS Is Now A Musical Film!

Now that cinemas are back, it is also a perfect time to revive Pinoy films for the big screen bring back the experience, emotions, and also the jobs that were greatly affected by the pandemic. Theater performances was also greatly affected with a halt with their operation in recent years. But as conditions has now been relaxed somehow, would it be great to have a comeback of cinema and theater?

I was surprised with news that the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) has now invested their talent and resources in making new media. They now created PhilStage Films that will create movies for the big screen starting with a cinematic adaptation of their play  “Katips: Mga Bagong Katipunero” which won the 2016  ALIW Awards for Best Musical Performance.

Now simply titled "KATIPS", they now brought the PSF energy and story to a new platform and possibly a more wider audience. KATIPS in summary is a story of friends and lovers  during the time of Martial Law. With the main characters like Panyong, Greg, Alet, Art, and Estong are activists protesting against "Apo", it also shown the powerful police and military that can commit atrocities as they please. We also have Lara who is an actress who went to Philippines to search for his activist father.

ART IS A BANG: Bonifacio Isang Sarswuela Kicks Off

After the nationwide success of Joe: A Filipino Rock'sical by the Philippine Stagers' Foundation (PSF), they kick off their new season with another homage to another Filipino hero who led the people to a national revolution that led to the independence of the Philippines. BONIFACIO ISANG SARSWELA is a timely musical about the life of the Supremo Gat Andres Bonifacio and the network of colorful characters that revolves with the brotherhood of the Katipunan. 

With 2013 as the year for the 150th birth anniversary of Bonifacio, the play will bring awareness to who the supremo really is and how controversial was his life and his battles until his death. Written and directed by Palanca Awardee Atty. Vincent Tanada who plays the role of Andres Bonifacio, makes it a play to indeed watch out for not only for its historical value but also with the meticulous material in making it a Sarswela, which makes its more Filipino in nature. 

ART IS A BANG: Joe A Filipino Rock'sical

I do admire theater companies that create their own original stageplays which truly show talent and originality of Filipinos on stage. And with though many people particularly students would consider Philippine History as a boring subject, it great to see it alive and somehow makes us think about the happenings and even the controversy that made them very interesting.


Philippine Stages Foundation (PSF) staged recently their new offering for the opening of their 11th Season with JOE: A Filipino Rock'sical. Seeing the play itself was an eye opener even for a history enthusiast like me about the other side of Rizal. With the past and present weaved together with each character plays an important role in making a tribute show for the National Hero.

And what I also admire about this play is the original music which amplifies the feel of the play. Though it might overpower the feel of the rock musical, but still blends well just the like past-present plot. It was a very fun play with characters which each audience may find themselves to be part of the play. Highly recommended for students and students-at-heart who loves to know more about Jose or Joe.