Sindak 1941, the 18th Season Offering of Philippine Stagers Foundation.

The Cast of Sindak 1941(Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz)

On the celebration of its 18^th year as a theater company, Philippine Stagers Foundation rewrite and reproduce their old piece “Filipinas 1941” into a whole new musical combining efforts from other theater luminaries and experts, making it the only theater musical experience about the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.

Sindak 1941 written and directed by Vince Tanada is a story of two brothers Felipe and Nestor who stand still in the darkest era of invasion, war, and injustices, all fighting to survive through hope and love, for the country and for oneself.

Vincent Tanada is Nestor in Sindak 1941 (Erickson Dela Cruz)

“I have decided to come up with a very educational, highly academic stage musical but at the same time all of this can be told thru songs and dances, which will be quite entertaining for the young people,” Tanada said

The making of Sindak as per Tanada is an answer to Department of Education, who give him unsolicited advice regarding the lack of history education to the young generations, and doing something about the Japanese occupation story is one thing dear to him since he personally researches and even goes to Japan to widen his research.

“This is an entirely new musical, although we’ve shown this in 2014 about Japanese occupation as well, I guess I’ve not extended my research about simple Filipinos living during the occupation, in fact, the 2014 musical is about the Philippine Presidents Quezon and Laurel, and Douglas MacArthur as well. In this play we don’t have them in this musical, we only retain MacArthur, we focus on the resiliency, the sacrifices of ordinary Filipinos in order for the young people to relate to them.” Tanada explain

The 2019 production will feature songs from Pipo Cefra, Choreography by Carlon Matobato of Philippine Educational Theater Association, and adding some theater actors from different theater guilds such as Frannie Zamora, Joel Molina, Neil Tolentino, and Kuya Manzano.  

The Four MacArthur.(Manzano, Zamora, Lim and Molina) (E.Dela Cruz)

Zamora is an actor and theater director identified with Gantimpala Foundation, he said he enjoys working with PSF and he has no problems settling creativity issues with Tanada, as his Director for this play. He will play Gen. Douglas MacArthur alongside with Chris Lim, Molina and Manzano.

“They are full of energy, ang sarap silang panoorin, kahit medyo pagud ka na gusto mo pa ring sumali kas nga ang sarap nila katrabaho, only for that and vince masaya akong ginagawa ang play na etu.” Zamora said.

The MacArthur role is the first Sindak or Pasabog in this play, as per Vince based on the books by Carol Petilla, the famous General who throw the line “I Shall Return” was paid lumpsum money in order to go back and save the Philippines at that time. No wonder there are 4 actors alternating for this iconic role for Sindak 1941.

The Cast of Sindak 1941 during its launch last July 6, 2019, at Hotel Benilde (Erickson Dela Cruz)

“I want to make a mark in Philippine theater, gusto ko pong manindak ng mga manonood at isa pa for the longest time I’ve been producing a lot of educational musicals, and we have catered to various educational institution all over the Philippines and the usual titles are quite pedagogical or academic, now I decided to make it entertaining. No. 1 for us to have a great public awareness, for you guys to capitalize on the title, and for the young people who don’t know about Philippine Stagers, para ma-engganyo to see us for the first time, and maybe for entertainment purposes, most of the music being used as well as the choreography are based on the terms sindak.” Tanada added.

Other cast includes are homegrown talent of PSF like Patrick Libao, Johnrey Rivas, Jomar Bautista, Adelle Ibarrientos-Lim, JP Lopez, Chin Ortega, Yesh-Ann Burce, Cherry Bagtas, Rachelle Penaflor, Kath Medina, OJ Bacor and Vean Olmedo.

Sindak 1941 is showing in many theaters nationwide of different Schools and Universities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, starting this July 2019 up to March of 2020. For schedules and updates, you follow PSF in Facebook.