“Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal”: UST to stage a lovelorn tale amid nature’s unrest in its upcoming production

April 27, 2025 , 03:03 PM

(April 27, 2024) – UST will be staging an original Filipino theater production entitled “Sierra Madre: Isang Musikal,” written by Joshua Peter Tolentino, Hannah Karylle Espiritu, and Rio Celine Zafra, directed by Jearianna Maerizze Burgos and Lourdes Angel Gonzales, managed by Enrico Byron Sacramento and Ana Katrina Gomez.

The musical has a duration of two hours, featuring 14 original songs and instrumental compositions inspired by the mythical tale of Sierra Madre and the relevant societal issues that surround the mountain range today.

The story follows the life of Sierra, a warrior with a destiny of leadership, as she faces the challenge between duty and heart to become the next hara. By her side stands Lusong, a quiet fire of bravery and compassion, whose presence contains more than meets the eye.

Above them looms Bugsong Hangin, a tempestuous wind god whose restless obsession stirs storms and calamity, shaping the world with a chaotic symphony of mortals, deities, forests, and floods.

Sierra Madre is a mythic tale of gods and mortals, forests and deluges. It is a story of sacrifice, resistance, and love that changes the earth. This depiction of the tale weaves through time, tracing the land’s heartbeat from its mystical beginnings to its quiet, unwavering role in our nation. The island’s spine is the silent witness to love and loss. The mountain does not speak—but it remembers.

Director Lourdes Angel Gonzales shared the impact she wanted to evoke through the musical production.

“I want to evoke empathy from the audience. As Sierra Madre continuously protects us, I hope that we protect it as well. This story does not only exude the vision of our creativity, but our freedom to express our clamor for Sierra Madre’s safety and equality for everyone living there.”

Gonzales emphasizes the importance of discussing the events surrounding Sierra Madre, its present-day significance, and how people can contribute to raising awareness and safeguarding this long-standing protector.

“Not because you haven’t felt the weight of the burden, does not mean that you are exempted from it,” she stated.

Through this, the production seeks to ignite a deeper understanding of the urgent need for environmental consciousness. The Sierra Madre, often called the Philippines’ natural shield, has long stood as a silent guardian, protecting countless communities from the devastating impacts of typhoons, landslides, and other natural disasters. Since ancestral times, it has cradled the lives and culture of those who live in its sanctuary.

This production will premiere on April 28 (11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.), April 30 (10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m.), and on May 3 (1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m.) at the UST Albertus Magnus Building, 4th Floor Auditorium, open to all Thomasian and non-Thomasian audiences.

The tickets range from P350 for regulars, P300 for UST Alumni, and P900 for a trio bundle. This production was made possible by the event’s co-presenter, sole flight.

By bringing the mountain to life through tale and music, the production revisits the legendary origins of Sierra Madre, where gods, mortals, and nature once intertwined. Yet beyond the folklore lies a pressing truth: the Sierra Madre is under threat.

The musical becomes a vessel not just for storytelling, but for stirring reflection and inspiring action. It invites the audience to see the mountain not as a distant backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence—one that continues to protect, even as it cries out for protection in return.

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