SARSUWELA IN SARSUWELA: ENDURING STORY OF THE PEOPLE’S THEATER IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Sarsuwela is a meaningful tradition in the Philippine drama. Unfortunately, the contemporary use of the term “sarsuwela” in mass media refers to the antics of politicians that have tainted the word. This paper explores the real meaning ofthe sarsuwela since its separation from the colonial Zarzuela of Spanish origin. The sarsuwela in our setting is not only theater as entertainment and spectacle but theater as a community and expression of the Filipino soul and aspirations. Using the combined power of language and music as well as poetry and footwork, the Philippine sarsuwela continues to be relevant, intense, and resilient as a form of social commentary.