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?
Michael Divinagracia (MD): I was still a baby. I was 2 years old.
Rudolph Capongcol (RC): I wasn’t born yet. I was born in 1992.
What did you know of the revolution when you were growing up?
RC: From what I’ve read, the EDSA Revolution was a protest movement against Ferdinand Marcos especially when Ninoy Aquino was killed in 1983. And because many civilians, the military and members of the church participated, it caused the downfall of Marcos and the rise of Corazon Aquino.
What is the challenge in portraying a role that is not a historical figure in a ballet that is telling the story of a historical event?
MD: Juan represents the masses. He is every man. The role is really difficult because in order to get the character, I have to ask people who were there what they felt and experienced during the EDSA Revolution. Then I have to change my character to this person – to me, to her, to him – because I am representing the different people who were there in EDSA. Not all of them are pro-Aquino. Not all of them are pro-Marcos. So I really don’t know where my character should stand, especially with how digitally-connected the current generation has become. So many things about the Marcoses and the Aquinos are popping up online. I’m watching both sides and I see myself in the middle.
RC: To be Juan Dela Cruz is very difficult because not everyone sided with Marcos, and not everyone sided with Aquino. But in the choreography, there are moments when I feel that Juan is leaning more towards the Aquinos.
How are you approaching your role? What are you infusing into your character?
MD: Personally, with regards to the EDSA Revolution, a lot of Filipinos had enough. A lot of Filipinos got angry. But also, a lot of Filipinos held back. Personally, for me, I would prefer to have freedom as a Filipino to express what I want to happen to myself, to my country, to my fellow Filipinos. So for now, I’m still researching as to what approach I will use with this character.
RC: I try to keep in mind that I represent the masses – the people who want to know what was really happening to the country and to these two families. For me, it’s about the ordinary Filipino who sacrificed during the EDSA Revolution because of the quarrel of two families.
Photo credit: Fist photograph sourced from Ibai Lemon