Reinvention in Theatre
It is surprising to realize that even indigenous peoples them- selves continually
reinvent their own culture. A prominent example of this is the Talaandig
tribe of Lantapan, Bukidnon. The dugso dance teacher Bae Magila has actually
added dance steps to the traditional steps that were taught by their an-
cestors. Even their drumming is no longer traditional. Going
back further, the «ahongan» among Manobo tribes is actually
a reinvention from the traditional «agongan.» Even traditional
gong artists have composed their own contemporary musical motifs with the
«ahongan.» The T'boli got their kulintang from neighbor Maguindanons.
And still further, the gongs are actually brought
by the Chinese to Mindanao through the galleon trades.
In mythology, the Manobo-Tinananon have a tale about a colossal flood that
wiped out the entire world much in the tradition of the Christian Bible's
Noah's Ark. The Bagobo and Manobo goddess Mebuyan's thousand breasts is
told to be an interpretation by
a visual artist way back, a concept that was soon as- sumed to be the original
version. And who is to know how different the tales of Tuwalang and Bantugan
were in the 15th century compared to today's version? [more]