Antique Hosts Pista ng Komedya 2019

Senator Loren Legarda has partnered once again with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to celebrate a rich tradition in Antique—the Komedya.

Antique is the site of Pista ng Komedya 2019 to be held from ‪April 23-25 in the province’s capital town, San Jose de Buenavista. This is a project of the NCCA in partnership with Senator Legarda and in cooperation with the Antique Integrated Area Development (ANIAD). This program is part of the celebration of National Literature Month.

“We are happy to host this year’s Pista ng Komedya. The NCCA describes our Province as one who upholds the important komedya tradition with the presence of several komedya troupes in different barangays, particularly in the towns of San Jose, Barbaza, Laua-an, Bugasong and Sibalom,” said Legarda.

“I am proud that Antique is instrumental in preserving this tradition and I invite my kasimanwas in Antique and other provinces of Panay to celebrate this tradition with us,” she said.

According to the NCCA, the following communities in Antique with komedya troupes need support in order to continue this community tradition that significantly form part of their lives: Barangays Madrangca, Badiang, San Pedro and Inabasan in San Jose de Buenavista; Barangays San Antonio and Palma in Barbaza; Barangay Guinbanga-an and Iraynon Bukidnon IP Group in Barangay Tigunhao in Laua-an; Barangay Igbalangao in Bugasong; and Barangay Bari in Sibalom.

The Pista ng Komedya will gather different komedya troupes, particularly from Antique, Parañaque City, and Baler, Aurora. The highlight will be their performances at the Peoples’ Park in San Jose de Buenavista ‪on April 23, 24 and 25.

The festival will also include lecture-workshops on the komedya, a colloquium; and conversations and sharing of practitioners, scholars, researchers, teachers and students.

“The bigger purpose of this project is to celebrate komedya form as a significant legacy in the continuing history of the Philippine theater. Moreover, for us Antiqueños, this is a significant step in promoting and preserving the komedya tradition of our Province,” said Legarda.

Pista ng Komedya 2019 is envisioned to increase awareness and deepen understanding on komedya, an intangible cultural heritage in the Philippines.