Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Carlo Vergara explores Filipino political fandoms

- Www.facebook.com/ benildethe­aterarts).

award-winning Carlo Vergara, creator of Zsazsa Zaturnnah, explores the influence of social media in Filipino political fandoms in the full-length production entitled Indayugang Banal: Isang Superpower­ed Komedya.

A study on Filipino political fandoms, it inspects the platform of entertainm­ent, politics, and propaganda and how online presence shapes the mindset of Filipinos towards idolizatio­n of public figures.

The two-hour hybrid play transports the audience into a fictional city with growing fanbases for Philippine gods and goddesses. It follows the adventures of the masked hero Buana, who is out to cleanse the metropolis of criminals and supernatur­al creatures, particular­ly aswangs; the young Lourdes Remedios, who dreams of becoming a successful vlogger and content creator; and her supportive boyfriend Paolo, who keeps with him a strange and unsettling truth.

The two-hour hybrid play transports the audience into a fictional city with growing fanbases for Philippine gods and goddesses.

Indayugang Banal: Isang Superpower­ed Komedya is directed by Gawad Buhay Philstage awardee and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Theater Arts Program chairperso­n Tuxqs Rutaquio with dramaturgy by performanc­e scholar Dominique La Victoria. It is produced by Maiba 18 Production­s and Teatro 77, two groups of young thespians from the Theater Arts Program of the School of Arts, Culture, and Performanc­e, with the support of fellow studentart­ists from the Music Production, Multimedia Arts, Production Design, and Architectu­re programs.

Indayugang Banal is open to the public. It will be on view live at the DAC Theater of the Benilde Design and Arts Campus on 10 and 17 November at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 24 November at 10 a.m. The pre-recorded performanc­es will likewise be available for streaming from 7 to 21 November at 7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Live performanc­e tickets are available for P300 at bit.ly/3eOaPFU, while online show tickets are at P280 through ticket2me. net/e/35929. For more informatio­n, visit the official Facebook pages of Maiba Production­s (www.facebook.com/maiba18pro­d) and Benilde Theater Arts (

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BENILDE THEATER ARTS ?? ‘INDAYUGANG Banal: Isang Superpower­ed Komedya’ follows the story of Buana, a masked hero who is out to cleanse the metropolis of criminals and supernatur­al creatures.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BENILDE THEATER ARTS ‘INDAYUGANG Banal: Isang Superpower­ed Komedya’ follows the story of Buana, a masked hero who is out to cleanse the metropolis of criminals and supernatur­al creatures.

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