Addressing contemporary struggles faced by marginalized communities, the DULAYAN Theater Organization Inc. staged ‘Kunswelo,’ a musical adaptation of Paul Dumol’s ‘Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio,’ during its sponsors and press preview night at Event Theater, Pacific Mall, Lucena City, November 13.
Directed by Dr. Marco Antonio Rodas, creator of ‘Na’ay Po: Lambanog,’ with Associate Creative Director Lenard Casiño, the musical reimagines Serapio not as timid or helpless but as a figure of resilience amid social repression.
Rodas explained that the production aimed to ‘liberalize’ Serapio’s character to mirror the desire of marginalized communities to break free from systems that constrain them.
“Napagod na kasi akong maging duwag si Serapio. Lahat ng versions na napanood ko, maliit lang si Serapio; duwag, mahina, tatanga-tanga. Sabi ko, it’s time that the poor people become more educated than themselves,” Rodas shared.
“Si Serapio, hindi siya utak-mahirap. Lagi siyang may pangarap. Lagi siyang lumalaban sa gusto niyang ipaglaban. And I think that’s how I designed the play,” he added. “At kahit dumating sa sukdulan na siya’y nabulag na, lalaban pa rin siya.”
Casiño affirmed this direction, emphasizing that while Dumol’s work was written decades ago, its themes of poverty, repression, and survival remain highly relevant to the country’s current social conditions.
The preview night gathered sponsors, theater artists and critics, media organizations, and school publications across Quezon Province.
As Rodas closed the event, he urged collaboration among cultural groups and called for more opportunities for local theater, expressing, “Magiging malakas lang ang teatro kapag magtutulungan tayo. We will help you, you help us. That’s what a community is all about. ‘Yon ang hinihingi sa’tin ni Serapio. Abutin niyo ang kamay ng mga taong nasa malayo pa, at hilain sila papunta sa liwanag.”
‘Kunswelo’ is set to open from November 16, 21-23 at Pacific Mall Event Theater following its preview run.
