THE tale of Tamblot, the pagan high priest of Abatan comes to life in songs through an original musical play set last night, October 24, 2009 at the Antequera Cultural Center.
Produced by Centro Boholano (SB) for the Local Government of Antequera, the musical uses original music by Boholano composers and was also commissioned for the main cultural menu for the Antequera stop of the newly launched Abatan River Community Life Tours, Gardy Labad, SB artistic director said.
Tamblot, the legendary pagan priest who was the historically referred to as the initiator of the country’s first serious religious revolt against the Spaniards in 1620 was so successful in his initial months of revolution that he dealt so much embarrassment on the Spanish forces.
Sidled out from his wide sphere of religious influence after Sapaniards took their residence in Loboc, Tamblot moved out and claimed the civilization of river side Malabago as his seat of power.
Officiating over the religious rituals of the community in the upper tributaries of the Abatan, Tamblot was relentlessly pursued. His Spanish foes traced him finally in the far away Malabago where he was again forced to flee to Tupas, on the other side of the riverbank.
Doing precision ambushes against the abusive Spaniards, Tamblot’s fame soon caught like wild fire, until he completely engaged communities to an uprising, when Spanish authorities were in Cebu in 1622.
Because of such shame he and his men gave to the superior armed Spanish soldiers, his name could seldom be seen in historical records, opines historian Jess Tirol in his writings.
Perhaps another victim of the slanted annals by biased writers detailing Spanish conquests, the Tamblot victories against elements of the Spanish garrisons remain as footnotes of the records a student can glean from research sources.
Now, using the artistic elements of story-telling through songs, Antequera Cultural Collective, a gathering of community based amateur artists aided by Centro Boholano artists present a fast paced action account of the life and exploits of Tamblot through an hour-long musicale.
Playing major roles are students and villagers also put up exemplary performances, shares play director Jun Camacho after the play.
The play also includes a rare ribbon and fire dance using trained local stage artists who underwent workshops.
The Abatan ni Tamblot musicale is also sponsored in part by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Information Agency, Teatro Bol-anon, local government of Antequera and well-meaning Antequeranhons. (PIA)
