The University of the Philippines Los Baňos Department of Humanities-Division of Speech Communication and Performing Arts under the College of Arts and Sciences announces the Philippine premiere staging of “Banwa!”--a play written by Om Velasco and directed by Joey Ting. “Banwa!” is inspired by Edward Mast’s “Jungalbook,” which in turn was based on the original novel “Jungle Book” by Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kipling.
In the Visayas region, “banwa” means “town.” The play’s Filipino adaptation revolves on the Philippine concept of community and related issues such as territoriality, culture, folklore, ritual and the laws that bind the town's resident. The central child character Kawayan, raised in the thick jungle full of wild animals, is torn between choosing to live with these creatures or to go rejoin the human community.
UPLB student-actors playing multi-dimensional animal characters are Christian Alfajora, Brylle James Galang, Kristofer Abe Pojas, Mark Salas and Lester Avan, also a film actor who recently attended the Korean horror world premiere of “The Flu,” a film where he plays a significant role. Trevor Lim, Gife Laforteza and Ronald Paolo Luna play the lead role of Kawayan.
Joey Ting, an established television-theater director and film-theater critic, directs and leads the artistic team with Jeremy Dela Cruz (movement); Janelle Cabrera and Renz Nollase (set design); Maria Carina Quintos and Alecx Bagotsolon (costume design); Ma. Angel Dayao (music consultant); Alfred Dalisay (original music composition and arrangement); Karla Napay (light design); Julio Luna (sound design); Ivan Malaluan, Dave Soltura and Mylene Mamalias (student director apprentices); Nilo Berdin III and Arby Duero (student choreographers) and production team with Jea Agnes Buera (managing director); Charissa Caňeso and Keira Eco (production managers); Nashla Locsin and Bianca Veluz (stage managers); Harold Medina and Nikki Villaluna (technical directors).
“Banwa!” opens on September 25-28, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Senior Social Garden (SSG), UP Los Baňos, Laguna.
For inquiries and ticket reservations, call Chachi Caňeso 0916-3390541 or Keira Eco 0906-8785837. Visit and like the “Banwa!” Facebook page.
