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Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio: Afar culture, enthused principles

Our (Hi)story (This part is included in Tabak-Baguio’s album, “20uno.”)

The peoples’ struggle re-awakened in the difficult times of the Marcos Dictatorship. Despite the suspension of the Writ Of Habeas Corpus, the nation was never voiceless. The movement of the masses was strengthened and became more organized.

January 1985. “Hangga’t May Tirano (Under The Tyrant),” a play depicting the period of Martial Law, stirred up the consciousness of Baguio’s youth and to participate in the expanding mass movement through arts. Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio (TABAK-Baguio), an organization bearing the principles of nationalism, scientific, mass-oriented and creative culture (NSMOC) was formally established.

Decade ’90. 1986 borne the People Power. Anew was the desire of the people. First years of the ’90s, poverty escalated in the ‘new’ Aquino Regime. The government continued to abandon the needs of the masses. The struggle is perpetual.

Decade 2000. January 2001. People Power II took its shape. Despite the Regime Estrada’s claim that it is genuinely for the people and of the people, a ball of masquerade has been set up for the masses to succumb. Estrada stepped down from the palace due to the instigating peoples movement. Estrada’s then-vice president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) is now the president.

July 2005. Birth of the “Hello Garci Scandal.” An electoral fraud during the 2004 National Elections maneuvered by the President herself. Suppression of the peoples’ rights didn’t impede the rising spirit of nationalism. The dismissal of the impeachment complaint only intensified the belief on street parliament. Protest rallies continued to nurture.

Back to the future

January 27. Tabak-Baguio celebrated early its 21st anniversary (the group’s founding date is January 30, 1985). Vocas, La Azotea Bldg. filled up with well-wishers to congratulate these young cultural workers for accomplishing a musical album for the very first time.

Different organizations all over Baguio celebrated Tabak’s first attempt to venture in their musical prowess. The organizations University of the Philippines Baguio’s Alliance of Concerned Students (of which Tabak is a member, together with SCMP, Anakbayan, LFS, Sigma Kappa Pi, Sigma Delta Pi, Palaris Confraternity), Northern Media Information Network, and the UPB student council joined in.

UP Tayaw Dance Troupe, Outcrop (UPB’s official student paper), Pi Sigma Delta, Tau Gamma Phi and Sigma, Beta Sigma, Sigma Beta, UP-based bands, Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK – Salidummay), PAGTA and PIGSA (school-based indigenous students’ organizations), Cordillera Peoples Alliance and its youth center, Cordillera Women’s Educational and Resource Center, among other groups that watched the anniversary presentation.

The First Quarter Storm of the 1970s was also commemorated in the same venue. It was Tabak’s tradition since 2002 to organize “Sigaw ng Sigwa” (“Strife of the Rife”) as they perform issues of oppression during the Martial Law, invite groups to read poetry, sing songs of freedom, and draw lines of the struggle.

To create a warp for the guests, Tabak members fashioned the casual groovy clothing of the era. And they have managed to instill political issues amid their fashionista looks. As if an old professor from then-UP Diliman commune came to grace the occasion. Dressed as old love teams (Ate Guy and Pip), hippies, old pinoy rock bands (think Juan dela Cruz band cum Beatles look), and political detainees ushered the guests.

Despite all the praises, members of Tabak-Baguio never put the glory solely above their heads. They share their achievements with the people who have helped them all through the years. An alumnae told of the hard stories she went through her years in Tabak.

It was in 1997 when Tabak had more difficult conflicts assessing its principles. Members fought over which guiding principles they must follow. Some lied-low; some expressed inactivity until two were left – the chairperson and the vice-chairperson.

Confusion prevailed over the organization. The path to improved aesthetics suddenly became all too blurry. But they never stopped finding ways to intensify their once-strong beliefs. Tabak recovered in 2000. New members emerge. Renewed principles and aesthetic values formulated.

The political turmoil in then-Estrada presidency took a huge swerve for the new Tabak members to create more street plays, poems, improvised acts, songs, artworks and other forms of art with progressive political, social and cultural inclination.

Tabak has never slept with their heads crammed with questions of anxiety which principle to follow. They have united under the national democratic line – to serve the masses. As their tag line always says, “Sining para sa Masa” (Art for the Masses).

New wave changes

The pools of writers, visual artists, musicians and singers, and movers and dancers intensified raising their standards in performances.

They never forget their “scientific” principle in doing artistic acts. They integrate with the basic masses for them to see the reality of farming, harvesting sugar canes, hammerring steel, fetching water, among other real duties of the common people.

They participated in several basic masses integration (BMI). They marched with then-on-strike unions of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. They spent weekends in mining communities, demolition areas, picket lines of workers, urban poor communities; involved themselves in protest rallies, mass actions, and all other venues they could actually feel the oppression either experienced directly by them or the people they symphatize with.

And this year, they have seen their potential to nurture their music. They will launch their musical album on February 1 at the UPB Bulwagang Luna auditorium. Its title “20uno” claims their two decades of organizing, and their first success of gathering their original compositions.

Their songs are already aired at Campus Radio Baguio 92.7 FM. Their album, “20uno” is the Album of the Month for the station’s program “Fresh Play” that gives Baguio’s musical artists a chance sharing their talents.

First month of the new year. The country’s economic crisis worsens, the political arena never quieted down. People reaffirm their voice in quest for truth and freedom. Beyond any doubt, TABAK will never cease to arouse, organize and mobilize the masses towards national democracy and freedom. # Pink-Jean Melegrito for NORDIS

Next week’s issue: Review of Tabak’s album “20uno”.

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