Rizal X

In lieu of our national hero’s 150th birthday, Dulaang UP’s Rizal X is an attempt to showcase different facets of Rizal’s life and works. It aims to reintroduce, and rediscover Rizal to the times we live in, making him more relevant to our generation. However, the play is not just about him but it is also about the characters he brought to life, the people he has changed and the lives he has inspired.

Since it consists of fragments of stories related to Rizal and his works, there were different messages conveyed all throughout. The apparent main message, however, is that through Rizal’s life and influences, we, the youth, should always remember who we are as Filipinos. We should stop being blind and apathetic to the ills of the society because we are the hope of our country. As Rizal’s inspiration and as a people with vision and capable of doing something for our beliefs and ideals, we should continue dreaming and aspiring; we must never forget our roots.

The collection of stories was presented through various media - monologues, dance, music, film, visual arts and vignettes, which I think was helpful in achieving its objectives. Moreover, what made it more successful was the flavor of popular culture, such as the “conyo” and famous trends and songs. Personally, it has convinced me to rethink Rizal and his ideals and what my generation is doing about it.

Although I was able to understand the general theme and message of the play, there were scenes that left me confused. I don’t think there was anything wrong with the concept itself. However, I must say that the flow was messy (either it was intentional or not); the scenes and scenes were somewhat cluttered because it had too much ideas. Thus, it was a bit ineffective in clearly delivering messages; unless, you analyze the scenes closely and replay it in your mind over and over again. The idea of “fragments” must have been tied neatly into a whole or at least needed to be powerful individually. For instance, the scene “La Deportacion” where Rizal’s realizations in Dapitan was presented through a song and dance number did not have much impact.

Moreover, some dialogues are too compressed that it was difficult to grasp everything the actors are trying to say. In the scene where literal performance of activism and fighting to the death for one’s beliefs was illustrated, the progress of their lines were too fast that one will forget what the previous actor said. Although the scene was artistically depicted, I noticed it ended the audience thinking: what was it about?

However, there were scenes that I appreciate, like the monologue of Rizal’s women. It helped the audience to understand the scene with the variety of their costumes and the actresses’ distinct and clear use of diction. More than that, the execution of scenes was also made more effective by the music and its lyrics. If it weren’t for the music, I don’t think it i wouldn’t be able to understand the entirety of the play.

What caught my attention most was one of the actresses that played the role of the modern “Sisa.” She was one of three women who portrayed the real lives of three mothers who made the headlines in the tabloids for heinous crimes done to them in the course of their work. Personally, I think she stood out among the rest because her acting was believable and realistic. It seemed effortless and her face was very expressive. There was a distinct variety in her expressions, which I think is an important skill in acting. Her diction was very clear and was very colorful. Since she did not only play the role of an abused woman, she had to use different “deliveries” which she was able to pull off. No wonder she easily caught my attention and I was able to connect with her.

Ultimately, Rizal X is a great artistic piece that brings life to our generation. I hope that this production has refreshed dreams and has stirred up the nationalism of young men and women, as it did to me.