‘Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal’: A love as strong as the mountains, a cry for Earth’s tomorrow

May 3, 2025 , 02:28 PM

By Bea Rollo and Lace Ebuña

(May 3, 2025) – Truly, nothing compares to a love that is genuine and unconditional— a love that endures even the strongest winds and the fiercest storms.

It is a love that stands firm, ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of family and community. This is the kind of love embodied by Sierra, the central character in the original Filipino theater production “Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal.”

The theater play, presented by MEDIARTRIX-UST, follows the life of Sierra played by Marian Villasquez, a warrior who is destined to lead and serve her people and her struggle between duty and heart on her path to becoming the next hara.

SIERRA MADRE: ISANG MUSIKAL

Pag-ibig, sakripisyo, at mga isyung panlipunan hinggil sa #SierraMadre ang ilan sa mga itinampok ng "Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal" mula sa kanta ng MEDIARTRIX ng University of Santo Tomas #UST. #News5 | via Lace Anne Ebuña pic.twitter.com/hXqXBGUIDD
— News5 (@News5PH) April 30, 2025

Alongside her is a warrior Lusong played by Kenzo Carolino, a character who embodies bravery and compassion. His love for Sierra runs so deep and pure that he is willing to sacrifice even his own life for her and their community.

The antagonist of the story is Bugsong Hangin played by Benedict Pami, a wind god who desires Sierra for himself. Unable to accept rejection, his restless obsession stirs up storms and calamity, shaping the world with a chaotic symphony impacting mortals, deities, forests, and floods.

Because of Bugsong Hangin’s threat to her people, Sierra ultimately sacrifices her life. Her protective love proves invulnerable to his fierce attacks.

Through her sacrifice, Sierra kept her sons, Iloco, and Tagalo, and her people safe. Her love withstands time, even in the present, she continues to protect her people as the mountain of Sierra Madre, proving that a mother’s love like Sierra’s is almost eternal.

Beyond the folklore, “Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal,” directed by Jearianna Maerizze Burgos and Lourdes Angel Gonzales, also tackles environmental issues.

It emphasizes the importance of discussing the challenges facing the Sierra Madre, its present-day significance, and how people can contribute to raising awareness for its protection.

According to Gonzales, through the musical, she wanted to evoke empathy in the audience, conveying that just as Sierra Madre continuously protects us, people, in turn, should also protect it.

The musical speaks to the reality that climate change is often overlooked, perhaps because many haven’t been directly affected yet. However, the play suggests that just because people haven’t felt the weight of the burden doesn’t mean they are exempt from its consequences.

More than the touch of art in raising awareness through the theater play was able to cling into the narrative of tales with the touch of reality. Close to the heart is the Filipino identity captured through storytelling.

When the minds behind the play were asked about “Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal” and what Sierra Madre represents to them, their collective answer highlighted the deeply Filipino traits of resilience and selflessness.

“”Ilang bukas pa kaya ang ating malalasap? Kailangan na nating mag-raise ng awareness about the Sierra Madre and its importance,” director Burgos said.

“Hindi pa ‘to tapos—there will always be evil in the world no matter what form it takes and we just have to prove tot that evil how good, good can be,” Pami, shared of wanting to express the message of choosing to do better for the environment no matter how challenging it can be.

“I want them to feel the urgency of the things that are going on in the world right now,” Carolino, meanwhile, added.

As we close another heartwarming chapter in the rich cultural tradition of the folktale, let the bravery of Sierra Madre serve as a reminder that we, too, can do our part in facing the harsh realities of environmental conflict—by preparing our hearts and minds, and answering the call to act.

The past offers lessons to learn from; today is our foundation, and tomorrow begins a future the next generations will be grateful for.

(AAD)

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