Act I of Severino Reyes’ Walang Sugat 2024 zarzuela quintet | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Part XIX of “The Filipino Melting Pot” Series
“Salus furum est lex suprema.– (loose English translation: ‘The welfare of the thieves is the supreme law’, as opposed to “The welfare of the people is the supreme law ” or ‘Salus populi est lex suprema.’ –A ‘Horatian satire’ that playfully criticizes human behavior through gentle and lighthearted humor.”
Thus wrote Honorato Blanco Cabie, who writes as Honor Cabie, on his Facebook Timeline. He is one of the editors of the Manila Standard newspaper in the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines. Honor Cabie was my classmate at the School of Journalism of San Beda College.
Wordsmiths of Filipino blood or descent and Overseas-Filipino writers may need to reinvent their version of a Greek tragedy. Remember the ancient Greek theatrical genre, popular in the 5th century BC? It usually featured heroic characters whose downfall is brought about by fate and human flaws, often exploring universal human themes.
But instead of a tragic hero’s excessive pride (hubris) or fatal error in judgment (hamartia) that often contributed to their sad fate, it is suggested that this Filipino version of a Greek Tragedy be different. It is recommended that, in the style of the Zarzuela or Comedia during the Spanish regime, the new stage play(s) be vilification not of excessive pride (as Greek writers did) but greed of Filipino plunderers and extra-judicial killers. And their shameless behavior is often due to poor judgment.
“Perhaps vilifying corrupt Filipino leaders, their crony-contractors or business partners, and even church protectors in really disparaging dialogues or scenarios will be crucial. Yes, it is the top factor in ending corruption in the Philippines because it would serve as a perfect deterrent if the full names of the corrupt …”
Perhaps vilifying corrupt Filipino leaders, their crony-contractors or business partners, and even church protectors in really disparaging dialogues or scenarios will be crucial. Yes, it is the top factor in ending corruption in the Philippines because it would serve as a perfect deterrent if the full names of the corrupt “Marmonized” Filipinos were to appear in the Griego-style Filipino version of the Spanish-era Zarzuela. Why? Because their scions and descendants may be shamed to the nth level. They may be forced to migrate to foreign lands, such as the United States. And when they become naturalized U.S. citizens, they may have the option to change their first, middle, and last names. And almost all of them will do so.
Because even now, who among the Italians likes to name their sons Brutus? Or among Israelis as Judas? Or, for that matter, who among Christians names their sons Cain?
This columnist commented in Honor Cabie’s posting: “Thank you, Poet-pundit Honor Cabie. This writer now addresses you with the same title that our group of Los Angeles, CA-based writers dubbed then Fred Burce Bunao, a former Manila Times copy editor and 1969 Palanca Award winner for Poetry in English. Congratulations, Classmate Honor Cabie. Mr. Bunao (now deceased) became our group’s mentor on wit, humor and especially satire. It is glad to know that you are following in his footsteps. More power to you.”
What we need now is more followers of Poet-pundits Fred Burce Bunao, Honorato Blanco Cabie, and even the fans of Mariano Contreras (AKA Pugo) to help push this suggested Zarzuelas. Volunteers can start writing scripts or musical scores for a series of world-class Spanish-Zarzuela Filipino versions of Greek Tragedies, fit to be staged in Broadway theaters. And decent people all over the world may even copy the comedic crucifixion, oops, vilification of the Filipino personifications of Mammon. All of these suggestions can be implemented and funded by activists in the Overseas Filipino communities that comprise the “Filipino Melting Pot.”
