Sierra: A Javierada Musical will be staged by the Ateneo de Naga Junior High School in Naga City for the public on December 17, 2023.

Let me share why the Sierra Musical is special, must be watched, and more stagings of it must be supported.

First, it’s a musical!

Second, it’s all-original! From the play script to the libretto, from the song melodies to the musical arrangements, from the production design to all the other elements of the musical, all have been originally created. And these are by Grade 10 students of the Ateneo de Naga University Junior High School. Yes, Grade 10!

Matutuwa kayo sa kanilang choreography and acting. For me, it was amazing to see how organized and skillful these Grade 10 students are at their December 1 premiere. Kudos to Ateneo Junior High’s guidance and facilitation.

Third, the theme is socially relevant. It is about seeking justice and battling oppression. The story revolves around Sierra, a Lumad student and her community. Jesuit missionaries played a big role in helping their community survive, come together, and fight their struggles. Pero hanggang dyan muna ang story reveal.

The musical will be staged at the Alingal Hall in ADNU’s main campus. The building and the auditorium were named after Bantayog ng mga Bayani martyr Fr. Godofredo Alingal, SJ who was murdered during the dictatorship. He was a Jesuit who, after serving in Ateneo de Naga University (its first Filipino high school principal), went to Bukidnon and served amongst farmers and indigenous communities.

Fourth, there’s a live band performing the complex musical arrangements. Super nakaka-LSS (last song syndrome, a Tagalog slang). I assure you these Grade 10 students’ skills in composing, arranging, and using instruments are exceptional. And I believe it’s the first musical in Naga City in recent years after the pandemic with a live musical arrangement.

The fourth reason is a bit biased, kasi una, iba ang attraction sa akin ng live band performing the songs in a musical. At pangalawa … yung panganay namin isa sa mga musikero hehe. So please mga ninong, ninang, tito, tita ni Elian na nandito sa Naga City manood kayo haha! Bili na ng tickets please!

And lastly, it’s for a good cause. The students decided that proceeds would be donated to the Bukidnon Mission District of the Society of Jesus ministering and educating Lumad communities. Somehow, the musical can be considered a tribute to Fr. Alingal’s legacy of service.

For now, there’s only one upcoming show date: December 17, 2023, 3PM at the Alingal Multipurpose Hall of the ADNU Main Campus. Buy tickets, contact the Ateneo de Naga JHS Integrated Campus Ministry Office and pledge your support, and maybe with all these efforts they might be able to organize more show dates.

THE SIERRA MUSICAL

Directed by KIRSTEN CYRAH LUMIBAO

Written by DANICA JULIENNE BERDIN, ALTHEA KIM AGUILAR, ALIEHNA KRISHA MACAWILI, and JOEL VARGAS JR.

Music Composed by IRZAM JENIN FUCIO and ISIAH KYLIE NAMORO

Music Arranged by JOHANN MANUEL DEDUQUE

TICKET INFORMATION

In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron Saint of Ateneo de Naga University, and the 20th Anniversary of the Bonoan Campus and Co-education in the High School, a student-produced musical play entitled  SIERRA: A Javierada Musical will have its 1st Public Staging on December 17, 2023, 3:00 PM at the Ateneo de Naga University, Main Campus, Alingal Multipurpose Hall. The play aims to shed light on the Jesuit Bukidnon Mission, and the plight of our Lumad brothers and sisters.

Ticket Price is ₱200.00. The proceeds of the play will be donated to help in the education of Lumad students in the Bukidnon Mission District of the Society of Jesus and the Batch Project of JHS Class of 2024. For questions or inquires contact: Ateneo De Naga JHS Integrated Campus Ministry Office on Facebook.

Click this link to reserve tickets: http://bit.ly/46ye4WE