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University theater company Tanghalang Ateneo is reviving "Sintang Dalisay" (Pure Love), a Filipino adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play 'Romeo and Juliet,' set to hit Areté's Hyundai Hall from July 6 to 20.

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Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><strong></strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720064874038shake 03.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="" Sintang="" cast="" and="" production="" crew="" posed="" during="" Tanghalang="" media="" conference="" at="" Areté="" Ateneo="" last="" June="" Ched="" Rick="" ABS-CBN=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted"></strong>&quot;Sintang Dalisay&quot; cast and production crew posed during Tanghalang Ateneo&#x27;s media conference at Areté Ateneo last June 29.<em> Ched Rick Gatchalian, ABS-CBN News<strong></strong></em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet died in Shakespeare&#x27;s classic play hundreds of years ago, but their impact remains alive today as seen in various films, music videos, and other forms of media.</p><p>University theater company Tanghalang Ateneo brings back this all-time favorite forbidden love story — this time, with a touch of Filipino&#x27;s creativity and identity. Having its first formal run in 2011 here and around Asia, &quot;Sintang Dalisay&quot; (Pure Love) is set to take the centerstage once again at Areté&#x27;s 840-seater Hyundai Hall starting July 6.</p><p>But since almost everyone already knows the original story, what makes this play extra special and worth watching?</p><div><strong>1. It gives the Muslim indigenous people in the country a vibrant representation</strong></div><p>&quot;Sintang Dalisay&quot; follows the story of Rashiddin and Jamila, two lovers from the feuding families of the Mustaphas and Kalimuddins. Set in a fictional Muslim community, Rashiddin and Jamila must find ways to shelter their growing love for each other as they brave the long-standing tension between their clans.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720064950079shake 04.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Rashiddin and Jamila"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></strong>Rashiddin and Jamila </span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720065009898shake 5.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Feuding clans"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></strong>Feuding clans </span></span></span></div><p><strong></strong>The production consulted and worked with indigenous artists to properly align the actors&#x27; movements, the set, wardrobe, and stage to the Muslim community practice.</p><div><strong>2. A spectacle that spotlights the Philippines&#x27; artistry, rich culture, and symbolic love</strong></div><p>Discussing the significance of having a Filipino twist over a Western piece during the media preview, director Guelan Varela-Luarca said &quot;Sintang Dalisay&quot; is &quot;one of the most Filipino plays&quot; he had ever seen as a practitioner and a theater fan.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s very post-colonial, &#x27;yung we own the foreign work — we make it ours,&quot; he emphasized. &quot;Nakaka-proud na sa Ateneo, mayroon kaming production na sobrang Pinoy. It&#x27;s not even the typical Pinoy imperialist Manila thing. It&#x27;s Mindanaoan. It&#x27;s a culture na pilit mina-marginalize, hindi kilala sa Manila, and we have masters here na may blessing na ma-perform namin ang tradition nila.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720065108899shake 6.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=" Igal masters"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></strong> Igal masters </span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720065150759shake 7.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="3 reasons why this PH adaptation of Shakespeare&#x27;s &#x27;Romeo and Juliet&#x27; is worth watching"/><strong></strong><br/></div><p>Speaking of masters, indigenous dance masters Kiram Ignacio, Mark Tanjili, and Radzmina Tanjili guided the play as &quot;Igal,&quot; the traditional dance form of the Sama-Bajau, serves as the backbone of &quot;Sintang Dalisay.&quot;</p><p>Accompanied by neo-ethnic and gamelan music, returning choreographer Matthew Santamaria mentioned that his cheoreography was also inspired by Sama Dilaut and Sama-Tabawan dances.</p><p>And since &quot;Romeo and Juliet&quot; was about grief and sorrow as well, the production also focused on highlighting little moments of joy that a great love story brings. Filipinos are known fans of &quot;hugot&quot; songs, stories and concepts thus undoubtedly, they would appreciate the adaptation.</p><div><strong>3. Apart from being based on a timeless tale that captured the hearts of many generations, &#x27;Sintang Dalisay&#x27; itself is an evolving legacy</strong></div><p>The late veteran stage master Ricardo &quot;Ricky&quot; Abad originally adapted and directed this &quot;Romeo and Juliet&quot; adaptation.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720065186858shake 8.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Late theatre veteran Ricky Abad"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></strong>Late theatre veteran Ricky Abad </span></span></span></div><p>Luarca recalled: &quot;Isang summer day, paglabas ko sa rehearsal, sinalubong ako ni Ricky Abad tapos sabi niya &#x27;Guelan, &quot;I found these texts, which was written 1904, which is a Filipino adaptation of &#x27;Romeo and Juliet&#x27; in a song form&#x27;. So parang &#x27;Florante and Laura.&#x27;&quot;</p><p>&quot;As his resident nerd, sabi niya, &#x27;Check it out&#x27;. I checked it out, sabi ko, &#x27;oh Rics we can turn this into a play.&#x27;&quot;</p><p>However, Abad passed away last December at 77.</p><p>Eager to fulfill his wish to revive &quot;Sintang Dalisay,&quot; Abad&#x27;s mentee Luarca took charge as the new director — marking a new era for the production.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720065231235shake 9.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=" &#x27;Sintang Dalisay&#x27; (2024) director Guelan Varela-Luarca "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong id="isPasted"></strong> &#x27;Sintang Dalisay&#x27; (2024)<span style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> director Guelan Varela-Luarca</span> <strong></strong></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Today, we carry his legacy and his passion for the performing arts. This staging is our tribute to Ricky and a manifestation of all the triumphs and trials, and the pure love that has endured throughout all of its restagings,&quot; Luarca stressed.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>&quot;Sintang Dalisay&quot; will run from July 6 to 20 with afternoon (2 p.m.) shows on July 6-7, 12-14, and 18-20, and evening (7:30 p.m.) shows on July 6-7, 13-14, and 19-20.  </em><em>Tickets start at Php 850 and may be purchased through Ticket2Me or Tanghalang Ateneo’s direct ticketing form.</em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3061036"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div>

<p>University theater company Tanghalang Ateneo is reviving "Sintang Dalisay" (Pure Love), a Filipino adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play 'Romeo and Juliet,' set to hit Areté's Hyundai Hall from July 6 to 20.</p>

3 reasons why this PH adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is worth watching

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3 reasons why this PH adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is worth watching

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 04, 2024 12:05 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 04, 2024 05:26 PM PHT

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Sintang Dalisay

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare

Ateneo de Manila University

Tanghalang Ateneo

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