KULARTS PRESENTS

AN IMMERSIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF COLONIZATION ON PILIPINX HEALTH AND CAREGIVING THROUGH THE LENS OF PILIPINX NURSES’ HISTORY.

Conceived, Choreographed, and Directed by
ALLELUIA PANIS

Composer
JOSHUA ICBAN

Media Artist and Editor
ALVIN ‘CAS’ CASASOLA

Costume Designer
LADISLAO ‘JUNE’ ARELLANO

Lighting Designer
GRISEL ‘GG’ TORRES

Technical Director
DAVE RAGAZA

Dramaturg
JOYCE LU, PHD

ODC Theater
3153 17th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Friday, September 22 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 PM

Alleluia thankfully acknowledges the important choreographic contribution made by the Nursing These Wounds dance artists. Taos pusong salaamat sa inyong lahat!

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

— WELCOME —

RITWAL SA LABAS CEREMONY (5 min)
RITWAL SA LOOB (4 min)

Dre ‘Poko’ Devis
Johan Casal
Frances Teves Sedayao 
Jonathan M. Mercado
Jess DeFranco
Sydney Rae Leong 
Angel Velez 
Kao Sebastian Saephanh
Genevie Dela Cruz

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY FILIPINO NURSES IN THE U.S.? | AJ+
Video (7 min)

ARMY OF NURSES
Live Performance (5 min)

Dre ‘Poko’ Devis
Frances Teves Sedayao 
Jess DeFranco
Sydney Rae Leong 
Angel Velez 
Kao Sebastian Saephanh
Genevie Dela Cruz

Vocals by Aimee Amparo, Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano, Dre ‘Poko’ Devis

STORIES – ISTORYAHAN
Live Performance (8 min)

Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

Reyna Alfonso 
Choreography in collaboration with and performed by Frances Teves Sedayao
Vocals by Nic Feliciano

Rafael Dela Cruz
Choreography in collaboration with and performed by Kao Sebastian Saephanh 
Vocals by Jed Parsario

Nicole Kalumpit
Choreography in collaboration with Allegra Bautista
Performed by Jess DeFranco
Vocals by Aura San Miguel

Elena Malabon
Choreographed by Alleluia Panis
Performed by Sydney Rae Leong & Dre ‘Poko’ Devis
Vocals by Aureen Almario

NURSES 1928-2020
Media (3 min)

Media by Alvin ‘CAS’ Casasola
Composition by Joshua Icban

WONDER WOMAN NURSE GIF
Media (1 min)

Media by O.M. Frances Viana


SAYA, SUGAL, SAYAW 
Live Performance (13 min)

Dre ‘Poko’ Devis, Karaoke singer/Balikbayan box packer
Genevie Dela Cruz, Mahjong player
Frances Teves Sedayao, Karaoke singer
Jess DeFranco, Karaoke singer/Mahjong player
Sydney Rae Leong, Party Goer
Angel Velez, Mahjong player
Johan Casal, Karaoke singer
Kao Sebastian Saephanh, Mahjong player

INDIGENOUS HEALERS OF THE PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES
Media (3 min)

Media by Alvin ‘CAS’ Casasola
Vocals by Aimee Amparo
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

SAKIT 
Live Performance with Media (22 min)

Sakit explores the challenges of the nursing profession and the complex belief in both the indigenous and the western sacred mysteries unique to people with a colonial past.

Dre ‘Poko’ Devis, Nurse
Jess DeFranco, Nurse
Jonathan M. Mercado, Kadua
Frances Teves Sedayao, Patient
Jess DeFranco, Patient
Sydney Rae Leong, Patient
Angel Velez, Patient
Johan Casal, Patient
Kao Sebastian Saephanh, Patient 

REMEMBER THE NURSE  
Media (3 min)

Vocals and Lyrics by Mario ‘Nomi’ de Mira
Vocals by Katrina Liwanag
Composition by Joshua Icban

POST SHOW TALK

Friday, September 22, 2023
8:30 - 9:00 PM
Director & Choreographer Alleluia Panis in conversation with
Jason Magabo Perez, PhD, CSU San Marcos

Saturday, September 23, 2023
8:30 - 9:00 PM
Artist Talk with Featured Dance Artists

Sunday, September 24, 2022
4:30 - 5:00 PM
Joyce Lu, PhD, Pomona College — Dramaturg and Moderator
Joshua Icban, Composer
France Teves Sedayao, Featured Dance Artist
Jo ‘love/speak’ Cruz, Love/Speak Productions

THE CAST

Dre ‘Poko’ Devis — Nurse / Karaoke Singer / Balikbayan Box Packer
Jess DeFranco — Nicole Kalumpit / Nurse / Karaoke Singer / Mahjong Player
Frances Teves Sedayao — Reyna Alfonso / Patient / Karaoke Singer
Jonathan M. Mercado — Kadua
Genevie Dela Cruz — Nurse / Patient / Mahjong Player
Sydney Rae Leong — Elena Malabon / Patient / Partygoer
Angel Velez — Nurse / Patient / Mahjong Player
Johan Casal — Nurse / Patient / Karaoke Singer
Kao Sebastian Saephanh — Rafael dela Cruz / Patient / Mahjong Player

ARTISTIC + PRODUCTION TEAM

Alleluia Panis — Director & Choreographer
Joshua Icban — Composer
Alvin ‘CAS’ Casasola — Media Artist 
Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano — Costume Designer
Grisel ‘GG’ Torres — Lighting Designer
Dave Ragaza — Tech Director
Frances Teves Sedayao — Reyna Alfonso Solo Choreography Collaborator
Kao Sebastian Saephanh — Rafael Dela Cruz Solo Choreography Collaborator
Allegra Bautista — Nicole Kalumpit Solo Choreography Collaborator
Aimee Amparo — Vocals
Mario ‘Nomi’ de Miro — Vocals & Lyrics
Katrina Liwanag — Vocals
Joyce Lu, PhD — Dramaturg 
O.M. France Viana — GIF Media Artist
Nic Feliciano — Vocals
Jed Parsario — Vocals
Aura San Miguel — Vocals
Aureen Almario — Vocals
Hana Sun Lee — Managing Director
Joe Cascasan — Stage Manager
Zaiah Calvin-Luna — Production Assistant
Fenua Ibabao — Production Assistant
Del Medoff — ODC House Technician
Tom J. Bishop — ODC House Technician

ABOUT KULARTS

Founded in 1985, Kulintang Arts, Inc., now known popularly as KULARTS, is the premier presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the United States. Through three decades of service, KULARTS has grown into a leading elder arts organization, uniting generations of artists and community activists in a common effort to build a collective space and sense of belonging. KULARTS creates work that makes visible the contributions of Pilipino Americans and creates room for cultural continuity and knowledge.

This production is created with funding from Hewlett Foundation 50 Arts Commission by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, National Endowments for the Arts, SF Grants for the Arts, California Arts Council.

CREATIVE + PRODUCTION TEAM

DANCE ARTISTS

NURSING THESE WOUNDS LYRICS

ARMY OF NURSES - BASED ON FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE NURSING PLEDGE (MODERN)

Vocals by Aimee Amparo, Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano, Dre ‘Poko’ Devis

Before God and those assembled here,
I solemnly pledge;

To adhere to the code,
To adhere to the code;
To adhere to the code of ethics of the nursing
profession;

I will not permit,
I will not permit, I will not permit
religion, nationality, race, or social standing
to intervene between my duty and my patient.

I will endeavor to keep my professional
knowledge and skills at the highest level

I will give my utmost support and cooperation
to all members of the healthcare team.

I will not do anything evil or malicious,
I will maintain the utmost respect for humanity.

I will not reveal, I will not reveal,
I will not reveal any confidential Information that
may come to my knowledge in the course of my work.

May my life be devoted to service
and to the high ideals of the nursing profession.

I make these promises
solemnly, freely, and upon my honor.

STORIES - ISTORYAHAN
REYNA ALFONSO

Choreographed and Performed by Frances Teves Sedayao
Vocals by Nic Feliciano
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

My Tatang didn’t want me to go. He was afraid for me. / That murder of student nurses in Chicago haunted him.

But you know, / I’ve dreamt of becoming a nurse and going to America. / I really liked the nurses in the movies [laughs]..they’re like saints. / They always looked so clean in their white uniform, / white stockings…white shoes…and all that. / Always so nice, helping care for the sick, you know?

Tatang took me to Ka Pedring, the most influential person in our purok. / Ka Pedring knew all about me, my dream and my excellent school work.

We talked. / Ka Pedring was making sure I was determined to go.

Then, he dabbed my forehead with scented lana oil / and chanted what sounded like…an old latin prayer.

Before we left, my Tatang handed him a manila envelope, / the deed to our farm, in exchange for my airfare to America.

STORIES - ISTORYAHAN
RAFAEL DELA CRUZ

Choreographed and Performed by Kao Sebastian Saephanh
Vocals by Jed Parsario
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

Everyday, Inay worried she'll one day find my bloated body / floating in the dark waters of the Pasig. / It was martial law.

I was one of the thousands of student aktibista screaming / hope and despair in the streets of Manila.

Sabi ni Tito Mon, my US Navy man uncle, / “Just apply na! It will make your inay happy.” / I thought ok, no way I could possibly pass.

Well.. I did [chuckles] / I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman. / I liked my job. I felt good to care for people…You know?

When I retired I decided to pursue nursing school. / At 52, I was the oldest graduate in my class.

STORIES - ISTORYAHAN
NICOLE KALUMPIT

Choreographed and Performed by Jess DeFranco
Vocals by Aura San Miguel
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

After high school I felt kind of.. I guess, lost?
I just didn't know what to do with my life…
I just had to do something.
So, I chose nursing school.

You know, my mom was a nurse.
Growing up, she was hardly home.
She worked two jobs for two different hospitals
She worked nights…and weekends.
She said, the pay was better.

The truth was,
She had to take the shifts nobody wanted.

My mom sent many of my cousins through school
I have cousins working in hospitals in the US,
two in the UK, three in Dubai…plus the two waiting for their contracts in Manila.

I guess…you can say…
I joined the family trade.

STORIES - ISTORYAHAN
ELENA MALABON

Performed by Sydney Rae Leong & Dre ‘Poko’ Devis
Vocals by Aureen Almario
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

I was a nurse’s assistant at the Sunnyside Senior Home. / Yeah, that was my first job.

Inay, my mom, was kind of a nurse. / She was a hilot arbolarya—a healer in my barrio…

My parents, like their parents, were hard-working peasant farmers… / I wanted a better life beyond my probinsya. / I dreamed of building my parents a sturdy house… / sending my siblings to school…you know, to have a better life / I imagined their excitement in opening the balikbayan box I will send them.

So—when a kabayan from America visited and proposed, / I agreed to marry him, even though he was 25 years older than me.

Did I love him? [laughs]
Wala…no choice eh.

INDIGENOUS HEALERS OF THE PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

Media by Alvin ‘CAS’ Casasola
Vocals by Aimee Amparo
Lyrics by Alleluia Panis

It is believed that all human beings are born with a ‘kadua’ (kah-DWA) or a twin entity, energy, or spirit. The kadua is our intermediary to the sacred mysteries, deities and ancestral spirits. Disease happens when we’ve become distant and disconnected with our kadua.

It is fundamental to respect the rhythmic cycle of the natural world to keep both the seen and unseen world in balance.

There are those imbued by the divine energies and knowledge, who, can assist in nurturing physical and spiritual well-being.

We can call on these healers to prescribe herbal therapies, body’s muscular-bone-fluid manipulation, incantations and prayers for daily recitations, sacred objects to care for, or performance of ritual offerings, to promote healing of the body, strengthen the relationship with our kadua, and appease the spirits of the natural world.

Indigenous Healers & Ritualist are called by different names by different tribal groups:

Babaylan by the Tagalog
Balyan by the Tagbanua (tag-BAHNWA), Hanunu-o (ha-nu-NU-oh) , Mamanwa, Subanen (soo-BAH-nen), Sama-Bajau
Katalonan in Pampanga
Mandadawak (mahn-da-DAH-wak) by the Kalinga, Itneg, Ifugao
Mambunong (mam-BOO-nong) by the Ibaloi
Mamumuhat (mah-moo-MOO-hat), Camiguin
Manghihilot by the Tagalog
Mangungubat by the Tausug
Meriko in Bisaya
Patutunong (pah-too-TOO-nong) by the Maguindanaoan
Tau M’ton Bu (tao-M’TON-boo) by the T’boli

ABA GINOONG MARIA (AVE MARIA)

Vocals by Aimee Amparo
Lyrics from the Catholic prayer Hail Mary

Aba Ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasiya,
Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo

Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos
Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan
Ngayon at kung kami’y mamamatay
Amen

(English Translation)
Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death
Amen