We know why tourists come to Bohol, but we Boholanos know of different reasons why we are proud of our province, why we stay, why we come back again and again. To those that can see, Bohol is a place of celebration, community, and an indomitable free spirit.
Through the company that brought you the Aliw Award Nominated Teatro Porvenir, Kasing Sining Teatro Bol-anon Ensemble, in partnership with Congressman Rene Relampagos, the Provincial Government of Bohol, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the national theater company PETA, the rebirth of the hero, the legend that is Fransisco Dagohoy is here, in the Boholano original musical, Dagon sa Hoyohoy or simply Dagohoy.
Something old, something new, something borrowed is breaking through. Dagohoy was first seen in 1998 as part of the Philippine Independence Centennial Celebration; it was shown in about 20 towns of Bohol and at the CCP in Manila as part of the National Theater Festival, it ran from 1999-2001. It became one of the key points in Bohol’s emerging cultural tourism agenda. It was overwhelmingly received by Boholano Balikbayans in the first TBTK of 1999, and a short version of the play was toured in the USA earlier that year.
Almost a generation after that artistic milestone in 1998, there is a greater need to awaken the consciousness of our youth and communities on the values and legacy of Dagohoy. In line with these efforts Congressman Rene Relampagos plans to enact into law the official celebration of a Dagohoy Day a special non-working holiday to be celebrated every 4th of July, to bolster the slumbering Boholano spirit and inspire Boholanos to greater courage, creativity, and sense of cultural identity.
The pressing onslaught of modern information technology has in no other time weakened this nationalistic spirit of brotherhood and determination. For indeed, “Dagohoy had strong principles and possessed the qualities of courage, bravery, strength, resilience, honor, and integrity, which should be emulated by the youth so that we can break the walls of apathy and cynicism in our minds as accruements of our colonial past” (RLR)
This reincarnation required a team of diverse talents to coax the spirit of the Boholano hero from the past. DAGON SA HOYOHOY: The 2016 Mobile Theater Version is a one-hour and fifteen minute musical theater production on the highlights of the life and legacy of Dagohoy, this updated version has been custom fit for audiences of the 21st century.
Guiding the talented team with artistic vision is Kasing Sining’s Multi-Awarded Creative Director, Lutgardo “Gardy” Labad, with the help of Staging Director RODOLFO CUHIT, with a new libretto by cultural historian MARIANITO LUSPO, new musical arrangements by ELVIS SOMOSOT, new production design by MARVIN ABLAO, and a new cutting-edge dance choreography by JAY BANQUIL, and MARVIN ABLAO of HNU’s Diwanag Dance Troupe and Filipino Martial Arts inspired fight direction by KEATS RONQUILLO of Telu Bituon Bagani, all working in concert to give life to the life and times and struggle for freedom and human rights of 18th Century Bohol with JAYVEE BAHALAY as the titular hero.
Join the celebration, witness the rebirth. Dagohoy returns on September 28, 2016 at the Bohol Cultural Center.
Bohol Eyes 
Wow congratulations this is a legendary story that the young generation can be proud of.
thank you.
Watch Dagon sa Hoyohoy at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City.
Wow! Another Bohol pride. Just reading your post gives me goosebumps. 🙂