On the 30th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, Ballet Manila celebrates the spirit of People Power with the world premiere of Rebel – a full-length ballet by British choreographer Martin Lawrance. Although based on Spartacus, Rebel derives characters and situations from the historic Philippine event. In this series, the dancers taking on the lead roles share their thoughts on the characters they are playing, what they have learned about the People Power Revolution and what they hope to convey to the audience in Rebel.
Where were you in February 1986 when the EDSA Revolution unfolded?
Rudy De Dios (RD): I was still a baby. I was born in 1985.
Mark Sumaylo (MS): I was born in 1987.
What did you know of the revolution and of Benigno Aquino Jr. when you were growing up?
RD: One thing I can’t forget about elementary school was the flag ceremony. There was this one song after the National Anthem and the Panatang Makabayan that we also sang: Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo. I used to think it was just part of the routine in elementary school. When I reached high school, it was already part of my system but it took a while before I understood the lyrics – that it told the story of what happened in EDSA. That was my memory of the People Power Revolution when I was growing up.
MS: The only thing I remember from what was taught to me was Martial Law. Growing up, I was told that they killed Ninoy and they blamed the Marcoses. But because they said – until now – they don’t know who killed Ninoy, I’m in the middle. I don’t want to blame the Marcoses. If you watch the video of Imelda Marcos saying hindi nila magagawa ‘yun and then if you watch the side of the Aquinos, it’s very hard to tell who is saying the truth.
How do you feel about portraying this role?
MS: I am nervous and excited because being Ninoy is very hard. It’s not that he has multiple characters but he is brave and soft at the same time.
RD: I feel so honored because the role I am portraying is someone real. He was a hero of our country. We’re used to portraying roles like Basilio, Sigfried – classical characters who are fictional. This is very challenging and a bit scary because I need to show to the audience someone that they know with the characteristics that they expect.
What do you think was his weakness? What humanizes him?
RD: Based on his history, on why he returned to the Philippines, it’s his love for his country. Even if he feels that there is a possibility that he will be killed, he preferred that than to rot in the States. He said that Filipinos are worth dying for. He was ready to face that. He wasn’t thinking of himself. His weakness was his love for his country.
Photo credit: Benigno Aquino Jr. photograph sourced from The Official Gazette of the Presidential Communications Group