Ilustrado: Ang Buhay ni Rizal (The Musical)

Synopsis:

The musical revolves around three crises in the life of Jose Rizal, the Filipino novelist and hero.

The first occurs sometime in July 1883; the second occurs in the first quarter of 1891; and the third occurs on the eve of his execution in 1896.

The names of the characters from Rizal's novels are the titles of the three acts.

The first act is entitled Ibarra, the protagonist of the novel Noli Me Tangere.

The act centers on Jose Rizal's outrage over a letter from his older brother, Paciano. Rizal is already studying in Spain when Paciano informs him that the regional vicar of Laguna visited the town of Calamba to collect parish funds. Since the parish cash box was locked, the vicar demanded that Jose and Paciano's father advance the money. The vicar threatened to reveal some embarrassing details "involving a member of the family." This event triggers a chain of decisions: Rizal decides to renounce his faith and write a novel that would expose the friars as the root of the cancer in Philippine society.

This act begins with some crucial events in Rizal's youth that would somehow contribute to his 1883 crisis. It ends with the toast at a banquet in honor of Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, who have won prizes in a painting competition. In his toast, Rizal praises the Filipino genius, which excels in spite of the corrupting influence of the friars.

The second act is entitled Simoun, the protagonist of the novel El Filibusterismo.

A convergence of events leads to Rizal's nervous breakdown. He forms deeper insights into the problems of the Philippines and writes a second novel. He withdraws from politics and returns to the Philippines.

This act depicts Rizal's return to Calamba from Spain to rally his townsmen to sign a manifesto questioning the Dominican Order's claim to ownership of the Calamba hacienda. His novel, Noli Me Tangere, is banned by the censors in Manila. His brother-in-law writes to him from exile in Bohol: some friars, the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil, and some Filipinos have plotted against him. When Rizal returns to Spain, he runs for election as the leader of the Filipino community. He loses several rounds of elections. He accuses Marcelo del Pilar of plotting to embarrass him. Leonor breaks off their engagement. Finally, colonial government troops burn some of the houses in the Calamba hacienda.

The third act is entitled Isagani, one of the characters in El Filibusterismo.

Rizal's execution is approaching. He has been accused of masterminding the revolution in the provinces around Manila and has been imprisoned in Fort Santiago.

Rizal requests to go to confession and be married to Josephine Bracken. The Archbishop of Manila stipulates that Rizal must sign a retraction of all his actions and beliefs against the Catholic Church before he can receive any sacrament.

Rizal discusses his profound problems of faith with Fr. Vicente Balaguer.

Doña Teodora, Rizal's mother, asks the Governor-General for clemency, to no avail. The townsfolk of Dapitan and Calamba call on Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio to save Rizal. Religious communities, Rizal's mother and sister, and the townsfolk of Dapitan and Calamba pray for Rizal.

Theatre Productions:

First produced in 1996 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines, by Tanghalang Pilipino.

Director: Nonon Padilla

Music: Ryan Cayabyab