During the early American period, the music of the country was mostly classical due to the influence of

the Europian. This kind of music continued flourishing until lthe 1950s. It was in the 1960s that avant-
garde music emerged. The Philippine music at the time evolved into a combination of classical and
traditional or ethnic music. As time goes by, due to the introduction of radio, film, and other
entertainment.

the

ternative

Folk balladeers in

ipino comp

osed and sung b

ain even up to the present.

l, rock and roll, rap,

rest that later on included

d singers. The OPM was

ized as Western-derived with English lyrics but with purg Filipir spirit. Later on. the

OPM or the Original Pilipino Mus sic became popular. The OPM is a kind of music purel

Filipino and i

followed by another form of popular music calle

fluenced alternative music. This type of music sprouted o

themes like Filipino values, political and environme ental concerns, and other

themes. Some examples of alternative music are Freddie Aguilar's Anak, Herber Bar-

tolome's Tayo'y Mga Pinoy, and Florante De Leon's Ako'y Pilipino.

Philippine music continuously evolved, and Pinoy pop or the Filipino pop music took place.

Pinoy pop covers different forms like jazz, da

tc. With the development of Pinoy Pop, Manila Sound was born. This music is chara

technology, the theater music that ghce flourished gradually declined.

rondallas or th

33r, local festivals like the

At present, different music genre like pop, rock, OPM, indigenous music, jazz, rap,

mixture of different genre like ethnic rock, and many other forms exist in the music in

try. Also, rock bands and pop stars entered the limelight.

In the regional set up, through the establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

(CCP), the Filipino music, as well as the Filipino artists, were given importance. There

were provincial art councils established which preserve the traditional music and innovate

Philippine music. Indigenous music continuously thrives and spread in different localities.

Local composers continuously create vernacular songs. Moreove

Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Festival were established.

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The American introduc ucd the bodibil or dage show. However, the bodabil in the Amer

mce it was composed mainly of songs, dances, and

can period was not a form of stae

skits. It was during the Japanese period the bodabil included shor

melodrama.

555

The educational system established by the American in the country paved the way to the

development of legitimate theater. Through the Western education, production of Shake.

spearean plays and other West contemporary classics entered the scene. In the early

stage of a Philippine theater, Western culture greatly influenced theater production. The

ater artists tend to imitate popular American actors and actresses. The Philippine theater

was Americanized. However, later on, because of the exposure to different theatrical styl

and dramatic theories, the Filipinos were able to expand their horizon and create stage

plays that reflect Philippine realities and set up. Those Filipinos in the field of theater

started to xperiment on traditional theater forms like the sarswela, komedya, and

sinaku Included in the directors who significantly contributed in the progress of the

Philippine theater are the National Artists Lamberto Avellana Severino Montano, and

Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero.

666

ent styles were employed in the Philippine contemporary theater. First is the repre-

sentation style composed of psychological and social realism. Psychologicare deals

with the problems of individuals while social realism deals with the problems of individuals

nsidering their society. An example of psychological realism is the drama Par

ukat by Orlando Nadres and Bayan-Bayanan by Bienvenido Noriega Jr. Social realism,

on the other hand, was reflected in Alberto Florentino's The World is an Apple.

77777

Another is the presentational style which highlights discussion of social

ideas. The people

in was the prohibited. field of theater Presentational mployed style this made during use of the different
Marcos methods regime like since dance, realistic song, portraval mime,

etc. to summon ideas from the audience, An example of this is the Theater of the Opp

by Auguato Boal. Next s the documeniary style which tends to discuss io rical events.

Mayo A-biente Uno of Al Santos is an example of play which used documentary sr

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theater art that emerged like the dula-dula. This is a short drama-

raphy, plays mixing realistic and non-realistic styles, and traditional drama forms

poem. Musicals with contemporary themes, dance dramas employing ethnic musice and
chor

with contemporary messages are also among the different theater art forms today.

In the regional scene, the National Theater Festivals of the CCP involved performances of

dumaans and Dagyaw Theater and Dance Company, and from Mindanao like the Kaliwat

only shows that there are regional initiatives to develop the theater art.

theater arts group established in the regions. These include theater groups from Luzon like

the cultural workers from Bicol, from the Visayas like the Silay City's sarswela group of

heater Collective and Sining Kambayoka Ensemble. The establishment of these groups