The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Antique Integrated Area Development (ANIAD) with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda present Pista ng Komedya in San Jose, Antique on April 23 to 25, 2019. Planned within the Buwan ng Panitikan, Pista ng Komedya 2019 is a component of NCCA’s Institute of Living Tradition (ILT), also called the Linangan ng Likhang Bayan. Komedya is a traditional play in verse in three or more parts with a convention of marches, stylized movements and delivery of verses, and choreographed fighting and is often accompanied by a live music of a marching band.
Antique’s role in upholding komedya tradition is evident in the number of komedya troupes that remain active in different barangays in Municipalities of San Jose, Laua-an, Barbasa and Tibiao. Pista ng Komedya will feature 4 komedya troupes from Antique and will be joined by Komedya ng San Dionisio of Parañaque and Comedia de Baler of Aurora Province. .
Pista ng Komedya 2019 is the 3rd gathering of the komedya troupes in the Philippines. Significantly, the 1st festival was organized by the Binirayan Foundation of Antique in 2006. It was followed by Komedya Fiesta in 2008 in UP Diliman, initiated and implemented by the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) as its contribution to the centennial celebration of UP Diliman, through the leadership of its former dean, Virgilio Almario, National Artist for Literature, and currently the Chairman of the NCCA.
Pista ng Komedya in Antique 2019 features lecture-workshops on komedya, which includes sharing of skills on stylized movement and performance and verse recitation; colloquium, conversation and sharing of komedya practitioners, scholars, researchers, teachers and students. The highlight of the 3-day Festival is the komedya performances which will be held at 7:00 pm at the EBJ Freedom Park on April 23, 24 and 25. Pista ng Komedya 2019 is envisioned to increase awareness and deepen understanding on komedya, an important living tradition in the Philippines that pulsates with several communities since it was first performed in 1600 in Bohol.
For more information, email pistangkomedya2019@gmail.com.
