‘Abtik Pa’s Kilat’ play, album pay tribute to Bisaya hero Leon Kilat

CEBU, Philippines — As April rolled in, a heritage hotel in Cebu marked more than their second anniversary. Aligning their celebrations with the 121st anniversary of the historical Battle of Tres de Abril, Palm Grass Hotel ushered in a new year with a tribute to Cebuano heritage.

Apart from the usual gimmicks, Palm Grass Hotel brought their “Abtik Pa’s Kilat” movement with not one but two tributes – a musical and an album – both in celebration of Bisaya hero General Pantaleon Kilat who led the revolution against the Spanish in Cebu on April 3, 1898.

Brought by the Bag-ong Teatro Junquera production, the “Abtik Pa’s Kilat” stage play centers on two Cebuano kids Mabel (Maybelle Sortones)  and her brother Lino (Brandon Sutter), hailing from Kamagayan, and doing their best to get by in the streets of Colon.

Mabel, a cheerful young lady, is frustrated with her boyfriend Noel (Jed Nicole Alerta), who actively protests against the government for the people. After arguing with Noel for his cause, Mabel meets with Lino, a closet gay, who encourages her to join him in a mural contest about Leon Kilat for P10,000.

After bickering with each other, the two are struck by lightning and they wake up in 1898 Cebu, eventually witnessing and taking part in the 1898 revolution led by Leon Kilat.

Written by Decelle Marie Suarez, “Abtik Pa’s Kilat” was directed by Clouie Monsanto and Jed Nicole Alerta.

This is the debut production of Bag-ong Teatro Junquera, a collaboration among Palm Grass Hotel, the University of San Jose-Recoletos, University San Carlos, University of the Visayas, and barangays along Junquera Street namely, Kamagayan, Cogon Ramos, Kalubihan, Santa Cruz, and San Antonio.

“Abtik Pa’s Kilat,” which features original music, showed on April 1 and 2 at the Fr. Albert Van Gansewinkel Hall of the University of San Carlos Main Campus.

A grassroots movement aimed at rebranding the reputation of Gen. Junquera St. – notorious for its red light district tag – and promoting history and heritage, Bag-ong Teatro Junquera also aims to launch diversion activities for indigent and at risk youth.

The community likewise pays homage to the Governor General Inocencio Junquera who first began the legacy of theatre in Cebu back in 1985. The first theatre, Teatro Junquera, was known to show patriotic plays by Don Vicente Sotto in the 1900s.

Supported by the Cebu City Historical Affairs Commission, the play consulted theatre veterans such as Mario “Norrie” Apostol, Miguel Bolo Jr., Eugene Ramirez, Corina Encabo, Expedito Taghap, and Malou Alorto.

Monsanto and Alerta,” “Abtik Pa’s Kilat” directors, shared their experience of helming the project despite still being students.

“It really is a heavy responsibility. We have to think of the historical facts and the musical aspect aside from the comical factor,” said Monsanto, a 21-year-old Advertising Arts major from USC who also portrayed Constancia Alaura, a member of the revolution who had feelings for Leon Kilat played by Angelo Seismundo.

“History is really important because if you don’t look back…What happens today is the result of what happened in the past. Now we have new channels to educate the youth. It’s important to know our heroes because we relate to them. This is a story close to home.”

Alerta, a 19-year-old Physical Education student from USC, recorded and played the musical’s sountrack. Aside from portraying Noel, he also played Florencio, Leon Kilat’s killer.

“These are amateur actors but we consider them professionals because they have the passion for it,” said Alerta.

On April 3, apart from a talk by National Artist for Literature Dr. Resil Mojares about the Cebu Freedom Fighters, Palm Grass Hotel launched the “Abtik Pa’s Kilat” album featuring songs of battle, romance, and history – some of which were used in the play.

The album, available for P200 at the Palm Grass Hotel Sinugatan souvenir shop, includes the songs “O, Pilipinas” by Iris Aliño Fernandez and Aggressive Audio; “Kinasing” and “Paglangyaw” by Joannah Sy; “Kuyogi Ko” by Gerlyn Abaño; “Hugot Pa’s Huot”, and “Batang Colon” by DJ Mae Dante and rapper Asser; “Gugmang Kilat” by Naomi Rosales; “Alerta Katipunan” by Bag-ong Teatro Junquera; and “Gugmang Gihandom” by Gerlyn Abaño.

Taking pride in being Cebu’s only heritage hotel, Palm Grass Hotel is a project of the Guivelondo-Blanco family. It is their tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of all Cebuano ancestors “who dared to dream and dared to fight for a free Cebu and free Philippines.”

The whole concept – from the interior, to the uniforms, the food, and the activities – are inspired by the rich Cebuano history, embracing the legacy of Don Isidro Guivelondo, said to have hosted a significant meeting on April 2, 1898 where Katipunan leaders from all over Cebu province were gathered. They were said to have welcomed Leon Kilat who spent the night and had breakfast in the house.

“We thank everyone who has contributed to our lofty vision of promoting Cebu heritage. We are most grateful to the local and foreign historians who tirelessly researched on Cebu’s brave past, our local artists, architects, engineers, suppliers, construction workers, employees, descendants of Cebu Katipuneros, and everyone who shared their time, talent and sweat,” Serafin Guivelondo-Blanco said in a speech during the anniversary celebrations in behalf of the Guivelondo-Blanco family.

“May all of us continue the vision of the greening of a brave, heritage-conscious and ecologically-conscious Cebu.”