Filipino Opera “Karim at Jasmin” to Stage in Southern California
Karim at Jasmin is a groundbreaking first ever in history Filipino opera with Stage Director Jet Montelibano and Set Director Gerry Bautista, big supporters of our movement whom Guro Arnold and Guro Dino have worked with on countless occasions over the past five years filming commercials and concerts. Guro Dino was initially called to just work with the cameras, props, etc., but it evolved into being the fight coordinator for the production using authentic Filipino Martial Arts and then finally, assisted by Mark Rodriguez – one of our students from the Kali Klub, to act in the key battle where Guro Dino not only gets to kill one of the major bad guys but also Karim himself. All with just one days practice. Congrats to Jet on receiving his latest award.
Friday, May 25th, 2007
Filipino Opera “Karim at Jasmin” to Stage in Southern California
MRG Services, Incorporated, in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Tourism is bringing “Karim at Jasmin” to Long Beach California. This original Filipino opera is a timeless story of love and intrigue and of duty and passion. It is the first and only original Filipino musical opera, written and conceptualized by Dr. Ramon Sison-Geluz, who for the past 20 years has been writing, editing, revising and polishing each scene of the opera, composing the songs and writing the lyrics as well as creating and designing the costumes for the characters.
Originally staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on 4 November 2006, “Karim and Jasmin” will debut in the United States on Saturday, 23 June 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center Terrace Theater with a matinee at 2:00 pm and gala premiere at 8:00 pm.
The cultural extravaganza will place the Filipino opera in the mainstream entertainment scene alongside classical productions such as “Madam Butterfly” and the like.
World class talents breathing life to “Karim at Jasmin” are renowned performers Anthony “Gelo” Francisco, Maria Cristina “Kit” Navarro, Bones Deoso, Luningning Buan-Manahan, Everlita Rivera-David and a host of other talented actors. Award-winning director Jet Montelibano directs.
Below is the synopsis.
A Juramentado (amok) disrupts the wedding of Prince Karim to Rajita in an attempt to assassinate the neighboring Heneral who is a guest at the celebration. The King, Karim’s father, perishes in the struggle and festivity quickly turns into mourning.
The Heneral retaliates by poisoning the lake waters that sustain the villages. The villagers, including Karim fall sick. They seek the healing powers of the Ina ng Lawa (Mother Spirit) and the Diwatas (water spirits).
Prince Karim, a mortal, falls in love and later marries Jasmin, the water spirit assigned to care him. The jilted Rajita connives with the Heneral in a bid to slay Jasmin and claim Karim for herself. The Ina ng Lawa reveals to the Heneral their past relationship and his cruelty to her people but was not able to convince the Heneral to abort his plan. Without remorse for his past evil acts, he attacks Karim’s kingdom.
It is only during the battle, where he learns that Jasmin, whom he planned to kill for his deal with Rajita is actually his own daughter, after the Ina ng Lawa reveals the truth to him. As the Heneral sought to ask forgiveness from Jasmin, Karim, thinking that his wife was in danger, engages the Heneral into a fight where they mortally wound each other. As the smoke of war clears, the Heneral and Karim lay dying.
Over their bodies, Jasmin vows to pursue peace for the future of the baby she is carrying in her womb.
Tickets to the opera are available at Ticketmaster at $50 and $65. For more information, visit the opera website at www.karimatjasmin.com.
