Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio
National Artist for Theater (2018)
Birthday: 4 April 1930
Known as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian children’s theatre, Tita Amel is the founder and playwright-director of the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, which has placed the Philippines on the artistic map of world theater. She has written most of the plays performed by the group based on materials culled from painstaking researches. She has also been involved in the production and design of puppets. All in all, what she has achieved is an indigenous fusion of puppetry, children’s literature, folklore, and theater.
Notable Works:
- 6 na Dulang Filipino Para Sa Mga Bata, 1976
- Tat-lu-han (Three Plays), 1975
- Ang Paglalakbay ni Sisa: Isang Noh Sa Laguna, 1998
- Isang Kyogen sa Pritil, 1977
- Sepang Loca, 1957
- Papet Pasyon, 1985
- Abadeja: Ang Ating Sinderela, 1977
