Perry, a Kapampangan musical

I wondered a few issues ago why there has lately been no production of soundtrack albums for local musicals. Several people gave me the answer I already knew. There is no market for it and such albums cost a lot of money. One however, did not say anything. Andy Alviz simply handed me the CD titled Perry. It is the soundtrack of a full-length Filipino musical in Kapampangan with an all-Kapampangan cast.

Alviz is the man behind Perry. He is the director, writer, dancer, choreographer, singer and composer, who has made it his life’s work to preserve, propagate and I must say, also bring up-to-date, the culture of his native Pampanga. Alviz worked as the resident choreographer for the musical Miss Saigon in all of Asia. Instead of using that big break to start an international career, he went home to Sta. Rita, Pampanga and has since then divided his time between his farm and Kapampangan music and theater arts.

Alviz has since then organized the ArtiSta. Rita and Teatru ImaARti theater companies and formed a choir. He has masterminded theatrical presentations and produced albums of Kapampangan music. He has cleverly divided his efforts between the traditional as in folk songs like Atin Cu Pung Singsing or O Kaka and new pop compositions in the Kapampangan dialect like the acclaimed Kekaku Kaku Ka, Kaku Ka Keka Ku, by the award-winning jazz artist Mon David.

The musical Perry is his latest effort. It is the story of Perry, a young man who struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming a priest. It tells of how he overcame parental objections and his own doubts about his being worthy of the vocation. The tale takes him through his days with other seminarians, to the suspenseful times of will he or won’t he to the solemn but also joyful moment of his ordination officiated in the original presentation by no less than the Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, who is fondly referred to as Apu Ceto in Pampanga.

Alviz relates this through song in a straightforward manner but thanks to his experience in musical theater and knowledge of his audience, he has come up with an enjoyable musical. The songs are simple but he cleverly uses varied rhythms and perhaps lots of dancing to sustain audience interest. He is also fortunate to have a cast of enthusiastic actors, mostly members of Arti Sta. Rita and priests and seminarians from the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Featured performers in the Perry Original Cast Recording CD are Fr. Ted Valencia, Fr. Aris Maniago, Reinon Tolentino, Agnes Romero, Des Deang, Marsha Nepomuceno, Vina Tayag, Marita Villanueva, Let Panganiban, the Mother Of Good Counsel (MGC) Seminarians, Teatru Ima at Arti and Arti Sta. Rita. They maybe amateurs but they do a very good job.

My knowledge of Kapampangan is limited to a few words and I have not had the chance to see Perry. Still I was able to enjoy the soundtrack. He has comedy, Kawa Kalang Kalderu, drama, Ginu Ika Nang Bata Mother and Son and Ginu Ika Nang Bata Father and Son, what I think is satire, CWL, big production numbers like Pyesta Na, a lovely hymn, Virgen De Los Remedios, and a moving Kordero Ning Diyos, that I suppose is now being sung during Masses in Pampanga.

The other songs are Homily, Muna Ya Ing Barkada, Ing Masanting a Parasan, Iskedyul Seminaryu, Pamangan Seminaryu, E Mu Sa Ali, Slogan Ning Barkada, Madre Kako, Ay Nuko, Angels And Demons, Ordination and Paring Kapampangan. I am sure that the people of Pampanga are very proud of Perry. In fact, the success of the musical has greatly contributed to the huge increase in the number of young men entering the MGC Seminary.

Now, Perry makes me wonder. Are there Filipino musicals being performed in other provinces? Are there old or new musicals in Cebuano, Ilocano or other dialects we have not heard about? Have these been recorded or have the scores, at least been preserved. Such concerns may seem trivial in the light of what is going on around us but how are we to regard ourselves as caring Filipinos when we do not have in us the desire to preserve and nurture our musical heritage?