SEVEN TYPES OF

PLAYS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
MARY ANN R. MORA
SUBJECT TEACHER
1. Epic poetry

Epic poetry is considered the highest point of Filipino folk literature, and
dates back to the pre-colonial period. These epics, usually of romance or
adventure, are commonly presented during festivals and gatherings such
as weddings, baptisms, and wakes. Singers have been known to perform
for hours at a time. One of the most famous epic poems is Biag ni Lam-
ang, the national epic of the Ilocano people, and notable for being the first
folk epic to be recorded in written form after being passed on from
generation to generation.
2. Duplo

The duplo is a poetic debate presented through song and dance,

which originated from indigenous courtship customs. Poets used
proverbs and riddles to present their suit to the woman of their
choice. This ultimately evolved into a more formal debate on
issues, and started to be called the balagtasan.
3. Moro-moro

For a time, one of the most popular types of theater in the Philippines was the Moros y
Cristianos, which is not surprising for a country that was under Spanish rule for 300
years. Commonly called moro-moro, it is a street drama that usually lasted for several
days, and presented both secular themes like love and vengeance, and the Spanish-
influenced religious theme of the conflict between Christians and Moors. The moro-moro
only survives in isolated towns today, and though an integral part of Filipino art history,
it may not bear too much close scrutiny these days with its less than admirable depictions
of intolerance.
4. Senakulo

Another performing art stemming from religious custom is the senakulo

or Passion Play. This is the dramatization of the life and death of Jesus
Christ and is usually presented as a community activity during the Lenten
season. This still endures to the present, ranging from simple productions
to more technically sophisticated and modernized versions.
5. Traditional Folk Dance

With its varied cultures and communities throughout its 7000 islands, the Philippines has
a diverse collection of folk dances. Some of the most popular folk dances are the Singkil,
a folk dance that originated from the Maranao people of Lake Lanao in Mindanao, from
the epic legend Darangen; the Itik-Itik, which originated as an improvised dance in
Surigao del Sur and was discovered by National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes-
Aquino; and the Tinikling, which is similar to Singkil with its use of bamboo poles that
dancers must weave through. It is supposed to mimic the movement of the local tikling
birds.
6. Bodabil

It sounds like “vaudeville”, and it is. This form of theater was an American import
in the pre-war era, but became uniquely Filipino with the indigenization of the
name. Like its American counterpart, bodabil featured a variety of musical numbers,
comedic and dramatic skits, and song and dance numbers. Popular Filipino
performers such as Dolphy, Anita Linda, and sarsuwela legend Atang de la Rama got
their start in bodabil. It has since died out with the rise of cinema, but its influence
can still be felt in television variety shows.
7. Sarsuwela

The sarsuwela is a type of melodrama, usually in three acts, that uses alternately
spoken and sung words. It was the Spanish influence that started the sarsuwela, but it
was also this colonization that led Filipinos to incorporate nationalistic overtones in the
art. This resulted in the arrest of several prominent writers such as Aurelio Tolentino
and Pascual Poblete, and eventually, the shutdown of sarsuwela companies during the
American occupation. As proof of its importance in Philippine culture, in 2011 the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts designated the sarsuwela as a nominee
for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.