ILOILO CITY – A musical reminded Ilonggos of the heroism of Graciano Lopez Jaena who played a pivotal role in the Philippine revolution.
The Uway Theater Company held several showings of Ciano, the Hiligaynon musical directed by Geoffrey "Papang" Obe, at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Cultural Center here over the weekend.
‘CIANO,’ a Hiligaynon musical honoring the legacy of Ilonggo hero and foremost journalist Graciano Lopez Jaena, was held at the West Visayas State University Cultural Center in Iloilo City on Saturday night, Nov. 23, 2024. The university’s alumni theater association, Uway Theater Company Inc., partnered with the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc. for the fund-raising to support the maintenance of Centro de Graciano as well as programs in history, journalism, and social sciences. (Tara Yap)
The musical opened with the storyline of "Fray Botod," one of the works of Lopez Jaena criticizing the Spanish clergy, as well as his romance with Elena Fajardo.
It pivots to his life in Spain and how he became the first editor of the La Solidaridad, the newspaper of the reformists in Spain.
Lopez Jaena was unable to return to country as he died in Spain in 1896.
One of the screenings was conducted in partnership with the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc. (DGLJF).
Proceeds of the musical will go to maintenance of the Centro de Graciano which stands at the hero's birthplace. The shrine is envisioned as a learning hub for Ilonggos.
Proceeds will also be used for programs of DGLJF for programs on history, journalism, and social sciences as well as archival work on Iloilo's prominent hero.