Vlad Bunoan

Scene from 'Farewell, Let’s Go South.' Photo by Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan and Manel Orbeta

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Totel V. De Jesus

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783660217878508c56d8-8e2e-4302-be74-c09579f3aed0.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Scene from &#x27;Farewell, Let’s Go South.&#x27; Photo by Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan and Manel Orbeta</div>Through Elias, a character in Jose Protacio Rizal’s novel &quot;Noli Me Tangere,&quot; our national hero left a stirring message for the succeeding generations, perhaps sensing his life dedicated to the freedom of his fellow Filipinos won’t be long: “I shall die without seeing the dawn break upon my homeland. You, who shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have fallen during the night.”I am reminded of this quote as Tanghalang Pilipino, the national performing arts company for theater, opens its 40th season with “Farewell, Let’s Go South,” a limited one-weekend performance from July 10 to July 11, featuring the wisdom, insights and reflections of three revolutionaries who didn’t live long enough to see the fruits of their struggles and sacrifices for their fellowmen.These revolutionaries are Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, South Korean labor activist Jeon Tae-il and Filipino poet Emmanuel “Eman” Lacaba.True to its maverick, patriotic mission in staging original works, Tanghalang Pilipino is collaborating with Assignment Theater of Taiwan and Space Theater of South Korea to explore the final reflections of the three heroes “as they bid farewell to themselves, their families and the world” using terpsichorean movements, live cello accompaniment and “striking imagery.”<div>Revolutionaries, martyrs</div>Guevara, who was shot dead on October 9, 1967, by Bolivian military while leading an armed revolution in South America against US imperialism, could have lived a normal life as a public servant in Cuba. After helping overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, he held lofty positions in the new government, as president of the National Bank of Cuba and a cabinet position as Minister of Industries. He could have chosen to lead a normal life as a public servant but he decided early on to continue his mission in uniting Latin America and free its people from poverty brought by oppressive governance under the claws of capitalism.  Among Guevara’s writings were “The Motorcycles Diaries,” which was adapted into the 2004 film of the same title, and “Guerrilla Warfare,” a manual that continues to influence the succeeding generations of revolutionaries.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17836603152412fbe70ce-1c21-4305-a729-9314f25536c4.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Scene from &#x27;Farewell, Let’s Go South.&#x27; Photo by Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan and Manel Orbeta</div>Filipino poet and revolutionary Emannuel “Eman” Lacaba, at 27 years old, was shot dead by members of the Philippine Constabulary and paramilitary forces on March 18, 1976, at a peasant hut in Asuncion town, Davao del Norte. Lacaba was an Atenean prize-winning poet, often praised and celebrated by his peers and older writers like National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. While other literary writers embraced and joined the New Society of strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Lacaba continued to fight in uplifting the sad plight of oppressed workers in the city and abused farmers in the countryside.  Ten years after his death, his poems were published in the aptly titled “Salvaged Poems,” (1986) through the initiative of his brother, journalist-poet-editor Jose “Pete” Lacaba. In 1992, Eman’s other literary writings were published under the title “Salvaged Prose.”South Korean labor activist Jeon Tae-il, at age 22, sacrificed his life by setting himself on fire and running on the streets in downtown Seoul shouting “workers are human beings too” — as protest against the punishing, unfair labor practices in his country, then under dictator-president Park Chung Hee.He could have survived from the severe burns but as reported in the media, his family couldn’t afford the treatment so on the night of November 13, 1970, Jeon Tae-il passed away in a hospital.He exposed the 14-to-15 working hours per day in clothing factories with poor ventilation that caused tuberculosis, with some laborers forced to take stimulant pills to stay awake and continue working.  His death later sparked nationwide protests that led to changes in labor regulations, reducing workdays into eight-hour shifts, Sundays off and fair wages. <div>Creative collaboration</div>TP strongly felt Guevara, Lacaba and Tae-il’s heroism needs to be told to the younger generations.Playwright and director Chung Chaio from Assignment Theatre of Taiwan, director Sang Bae Jun from Busan’s Space Theater, TP’s artistic director Fernando “Nanding” Josef, TP Actors Company senior member Lhorvie Tadioan, together with other Asian actors Fu Jung, Miae Hwang, Wai Kit Grad Leung, Jan Seong-Ho are part of the limited two-night performances of “Farewell, Let’s Go South.” Japan’s foremost composer and cellist Sakamoto Hiromichi is music and sound designer. He will also provide instrumental accompaniment.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17836603650820426532d-0780-4339-b2da-88a5c815c3e9.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Scene from &#x27;Farewell, Let’s Go South.&#x27; Photo by Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan and Manel Orbeta</div>Carmela Millado-Manuel, TP’s company manager, told ABS-CBN News this is the first time TP is collaborating with these Asian artists. But earlier in her career, when she was working for the Asian Council for People&#x27;s Culture (ACPC), she had done projects with Chung Chaio and Filipino playwright-director-actor Al Santos. “I’ve known Carmela since she was young and I’ve been in the Philippines before. It was in 1989, I think, together with Al Santos, we did a project involving 10 countries for the ACPC,” Chung Chaio told ABS-CBN News.He said it is important to remind the youth today of the valuable contributions of Guevara, Jeon and Lacaba because many may have forgotten them.  “The generation now has short-term memory and theater is an important venue to remind them of the lives and works of these three revolutionaries. They have exemplified leading a life that is not only full of love for family or themselves but love and sacrifice for people who have been oppressed for a long time, probably all their lives. I think, especially in the Philippines, it’s very important,” he told ABS-CBN News. He added since 2022, they have been touring the shows in Taiwan, Korea, Kathmandu and Japan. Millado-Manuel said it is the first time that Lacaba will be included since this is the Philippine leg of the Asian tour of “Farewell, Let’s Go South.”Sang Bae Jun remembered doing a project 15 years ago in the southern part of the Philippines. “I can’t remember which part of the south, but I directed a performance for an organization but definitely this is the first time I am performing in Manila and I am very excited,” he told ABS-CBN News. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783664570978c3b50508-5fa7-448d-9b28-0f143135bf63.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Chong Chaio of Assignment Theatre in Taiwan (left) and Sang Bae Jun of Busan&#x27;s Space Theater. Photo by Totel V. de Jesus</div>He and Chung Chaio shared to ABS-CBN News they are happy because theater is very much alive in the Philippines. “You know, it is proof that AI cannot replace theater, unlike in films,” Sang Bae Jun said. “From where I came from, we have hundreds of theater venues and groups. In Busan and Seoul, if you go there, you’d be delighted to stay if you’re a theater lover,” he added. “In Busan alone, I think around 400 and to think, Busan is known for its film festival. In Seoul, I guess around 700, but these include small groups in pocket venues. I can only speak of Busan since I am from there, so right now I think there’s an average of 50 performances in an ordinary month,” he said. Chung Chaio said in Taipei, there are more than 10 theatrical productions averaging in a month. He and Sang Bae Jun told ABS-CBN News they hope they can perform again in Manila and other cities here after the two-night show.Other members of the artistic team of “Farewell, Let’s Go South” are set designer Ji Sun Hwang and lighting designer Suh Dongjoo.Josef, who last acted in TP’s 2022 landmark original production “Anak Datu” as the old Jibin Arula, told ABS-CBN News he will perform three poems by Lacaba under the title “Open Letters to Filipino Artists.” That alone is one major reason why “Farewell, Let’s Go South” is not to be missed. Both shows, July 10 and 11, happen at 7 p.m. in Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, or the CCP Black Box Theater, Pasay City.

Tanghalang Pilipino, the national performing arts company for theater, opens its 40th season with “Farewell, Let’s Go South,” a limited one-weekend performance from July 10 to July 11.

Tanghalang Pilipino, the national performing arts company for theater, opens its 40th season with “Farewell, Let’s Go South,” a limited one-weekend performance from July 10 to July 11.

Tanghalang Pilipino opens 40th season exploring heroism of Che Guevara, Eman Lacaba, Jeon Tae-il

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Tanghalang Pilipino opens 40th season exploring heroism of Che Guevara, Eman Lacaba, Jeon Tae-il

Totel V. De Jesus

Published July 10, 2026 01:36 PM PHT

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Updated July 10, 2026 02:23 PM PHT

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Farewell Let’s Go South

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