OICA-UPLB

HETEROSIS
Agri x Arts
GRACETINE D. MAGPANTAY
Geneticist/Artist
Secretary-General (YPARD-Ph)

University of the Philippines Los Banos

May 2018
Agriculture x Musical
Theatre
- Science - Arts
- Objective, technical - Subjective, emotional
- rational - Easily relatable
 OUTLINE
I. Agra and its roots
II. The musical
III. Impact and Future Plans
AGRA AND ITS ROOTS
YPARD is an international movement for Young Professionals
FOR Young Professionals for Agricultural Development.
Est. 2015
 WHY AVERAGE AGE OF FILIPINO

THE FUSS?
FARMERS

47-57 y/o

Agriculture-related
courses: UNPOPULAR
CHOICE AMONG THE
YOUTH

!!!FOOD SECURITY!!!
http://www.agricultureph.com/2016/06/w
anted-filipino-farmers.html
?

U
– Uninterested
– Uninformed
– Uninviting for them

INFLUENCE
Media – can have positive and negative impacts
 WHY MUSICAL THEATER?
CORRELATION: attitude & emotional
response to the production
MUSICAL THEATRE
can promote attitudinal change

(Heide, Porter, and Saito, 2012)

Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts
OBJECTIVES
Practice Arts +
Science Fusion
Advocate for
Agriculture
Promote
musical theatre
Evaluate
effectiveness of
theatre as a tool
for advocacy
THE MUSICAL
 PLAYWRIGHTS

MS. JESSA JAEL ARANA MS. GRACETINE D. MAGPANTAY

UPLB- Office of Public Relations International Rice Research Institute
BA Communication Arts Major in BS Biology Graduate
Writing Graduate MS Genetics Student
 CONSULTANTS
MS. CHERRIE ANG MR. JOSHUA ROCO
Content Writer Maynilad
BA Philosophy grad BS ChemEng grad

MS. MAXINE RAMOS

MR. MARK SALAS Writer and Director
Ugnayan ng Pahinungod BA ComArts grad
BA ComArts grad
POLITICS FINDING
PURPOSE
IRONY

YOUTH SCIENCE

FAMILY
 THE STORY

Synopsis
Agra, a princess of Farmaya, is torn between her strong-willed radical
sister Sonia and her dominating conservative father Ekono. To create
a compromise, she invents SIPORIA, an enhanced rice species, in the
hopes of restoring her family and her kingdom’s old greatness. All the
while the land of Lakapati braces itself for the coming onslaught of a
deadly pest.
 THE PLAY
• LANGUAGE: Tagalog, Batangueno, Gay Lingo
• MUSIC: Hip-hop, Pop, Showtunes,
– Magtanim ay Di Biro
– Sitsiritsit
• CHOREOGRAPHY: Hip-hop, waltz
• SET AND COSTUME: Fantasy
 SETTING

PITONG LUPAIN NI
 THE COUNCIL

Banok Mang Gustin Palais Rosa Dalagang Bukid

HAYUPAN GUBATAN HALAMAN KAGANDAHAN ISDAN

“Kapag sila’y pinupuri, walang hanggang tuwa. Kapag naman sila ng mali,
turua’y kalikaliwa” - Sonia
THE PROTAGONIST: AGRA
Plant breeder
Bred SIPORIA
Symbolizes the
YOUTH

“Walang nakikinig sa akin.”

 SIPORIA and DIVERSITY
“Nagkalat ito sa paligid. Mga kayamanang
tinatago ng kalikasan.” - Agra
 EKONO SONIA

Traditional Radical
Symbol for: Symbol for:
Philippine presidents Youth Activists
FAMILY ISSUES
 PINAGBABAWAL

YIRO,
Offers The trigger
adventure
 HENER

THE VILLAIN
Improper usage of technology
 THE CONFLICT
• AGRA’S NEED TO BE HEARD
• HENER’S PEST AND PESTICIDE
 PINAGBABAWAL

SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY

 TURNING POINT

DEATH OF A SISTER, A FRIEND, AND A LEADER

AGRA’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

“TAMA NA ANG PAGTAKBO. ORAS NANG MAKIPAGBUNO”

A parent’s grief
 MUSIC
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Darwin Landicho (BS AGRI grad)
ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR: Jane Nabong (Agribusiness)
COMPOSERS/MUSICIANS: Jim Cano (Agri Teaching Associate)
Kian Beltran
Nel Oclinaria
Jewel Macalos
Bern Panaflor
Dedong Marcelino
AK Merep
Iana Moran
STAGING AND PRODUCTION
 LEADERS
Project Manager Production Manager
MS. GRACETINE MS. ALMEERA
MAGPANTAY DOMINGO
BA Communication Arts
MS Genetics
UPLB COMASS Founder
BS Biology
APM of Hiyas and Hanimus
UPBC Executive Director
PM of When Dolls Move their
Researcher at IRRI
Strings

Director Project Supervisor

PROF. AILEEN MR. JIM CANO
MS Agricultural Economics
DELA CRUZ BS Agriculture
MA Theater Arts YPARD Country Representative
Capacity Building and Policy Officer –
BA Music YPARD Asia Pacific
OICA, DHUM Club President at IRRI Toastmasters
Club
IMPACT AND FUTURE PLANS
 OBJECTIVES RESULT

Advocacy to the youth ~2500 audience

Promote musical Diverse production staff

theatre (from different colleges)

A play that tackles:

 Science
 Politics
Arts + Science
 Family
OICA - UPLB  Individuality and
Purpose
 Impact to the youth: Survey
Main audience High school students around Los Banos
Sample size 55
Age range 14-18 years old
Is Agriculture
important?

Do you consider Agriculture as a

YES future career?
No
100
% 6%
6%
Yes/Yes
18% 44% No/No
No/Yes
Yes/No
Undecided
26%
 How did you find the play?
0%

Entertaining
35% 36%
Informative

Entertaining and
Informative
Boring

29%
 REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS

“…so on point…”
“It tells us that we really need to take a serious stance on agriculture for it gives
life. It is necessary for our sustenance and survival.” – Josh Mercado

“Being able to inspire others is Agra’s greatest achievement.”

 REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS

• Artistic Execution

• Future Monitoring and Evaluation

RESTAGING

Mentor: Prof. Dennis GUPA

 Expected Results of the
Mentoring Program
• Evaluation of AGRA
1

• Production Plan (Target audience:

2 localities, family background)

• Redefining of objectives and

3 expected results; monitoring
 Theatre Research
• Autoethnography is an approach to research
and writing that seeks to describe and
systematically analyze personal experience in
order to understand cultural experience.
• Collaboration
• Audience response
• Artistic evaluation
 Who else is doing it?
• WhyFarm
 CURRENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Mentoring Program
Building networks
Agriculture x Arts Fusion
Legislative, Policies and Advocacies

Advocating Agriculture to and enabling the Youth through:

Board Exam Reviews
Career Orientation
AgriCoolCamp
Professional Development
 THE YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE.
THE YOUTH SHOULD HAVE A VOICE
TODAY.
- Jim Cano, YPARD-Philippines Representative
 JOIN YPARD-Ph!

Visit ypard.net/country/philippines

Contact me at gdmagpantay@gmail.com