As a lifelong lover of Broadway musicals, I was excited to watch Pingkian: Isang Musikal. It’s what I consider my first official foray in Philippine theater. Technically speaking, I’ve seen many great shows – university productions, the widely popular Ang Huling El Bimbo, and a local staging of Waitress. I even have the most vivid childhood memory of watching a local production of High School Musical Live with Sam Concepcion. I count Pingkian as an “official” introduction, as it’s no jukebox musical and no rehashing of a Western story – completely original and all Filipino.
Following the rise of historical retellings in the eyes of lesser-known heroes, Pingkian explores the story of Emilio Jacinto – nicknamed Pingkian within the Katipunan – in the fight for independence against our Spanish colonizers.
Related posts:
The first song, Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Laban, sets Pingkian’s recurring motif and introduces a strong cast of performers who, like the Katipunan, are stronger together. As early as this starting song, every ensemble section gave me goosebumps as it echoed within the walls of the Blackbox Theater. Each musical piece that followed was quintessentially Filipino in that it loves a great birit moment. Definitely a vocally challenging task, as Pingkian almost never left the stage for the entirety of the show.
Among the songs that followed, one number was arguably the musical’s strongest song. When it was time for Pangarap Ko’y Kalayaan, I was ready for it to cut to the intermission. It would’ve been the perfect climax to Act 1, like how Wicked ends the first half with Defying Gravity or how Dear Evan Hansen cuts after You Will Be Found. Although formulaic to how these musicals go, maybe it’s a formula for good reason. It’s the song that leaves you wanting more, the song that you can’t stop singing in your head while in line for the bathroom during intermission. Instead, it ends with Kasalanan ni Cain, which is an amazing showcase of why Jacinto indeed deserved the title “Utak ng Katipunan,” but was a more somber end to the first act.
The somber shift wasn’t completely out of place as an important theme of the story is Emilio Jacinto toggling between life and death. Although the real tragedy of his death happened at the hands of malaria, the story was creatively focused on him getting shot in battle and reframing the story through the lens of the what-ifs and could-bes. The story jumps from reality to make-believe scenarios that were easy to follow. Certain creative decisions – like adding echo to their voices, shifting to wave-like graphics, and showing the symbolic red lamp – guide you through the story’s fictional purgatory. Important dates and keywords also appear in the projections to ground you in the scene’s reality.
The 360-degree stage, although normally a limitation or a hurdle, plays to the show’s advantage and sets an immersive scene. With background chatter and cast members scattered in conversation, it feels as if you are in the room where it happens. No seat will leave you feeling disadvantaged by their staging.
Beyond staging, the production also isn’t afraid to take bold creative risks with its characters. I appreciated their creative take on Jose Rizal, where they cast a woman to play the part. Where they needed to take care with the facts of Emilio Jacinto, Jose Rizal is well-known enough to take creative liberties, and having a female Rizal felt like a refreshing redirection.
Originally introduced in 2024, this rerun comes at a very timely moment with the recent issues of corruption, the anger of the people, and the continuous abuses of power by those who hold it. The show does not live in its own bubble and nods at these issues in their short yet sweet encore in the theater lobby.
In hindsight, Pingkian – meaning stones that ignite a fire when struck – is an apt title not only for the young general but also for the show itself. The show leaves you with a spark of renewed hope in being Filipino – and a deeper pride in Filipino theater. Whether it’s your first musical watch or your one hundredth, you can never go wrong choosing this show as part of your journey with theater.
Stay locked in to PalabasTayo.com for your daily dose of film, TV, music, art, fashion, food, and all things lifestyle and entertainment like this. You may also follow and subscribe to our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Kumu.
