By Randy Gener

A landmark opera based on the great novel by the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, will be staged in full orchestral splendor for the first time in the East Coast.

At a January 31 town hall hosted by the Philippine Center, a committee led by philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis and Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr., announced that “Noli Me Tangere: The Opera” – the operatic retelling by Felipe Padilla de Leon of Rizal’s 1887 novel with a libretto by Guillermo Tolentino – will alight at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse in New York in October 2013.

“Nothing happens in the world if it does not happen in New York,” said Nicolas Lewis. “Here is a Filipino who has created a world-class opera based on Rizal’s ‘Noli.’ It will be sung by a diverse cast in the Filipino language.”

The town hall’s aim was to foment grassroots support in the Tri-State area. So Nicolas Lewis enlisted Aida Bartolome of the Foundation for Filipino Artists, which promotes Philippine arts and culture in New York, as well as Jose L. Ramos, chapter commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal. Karrel Bernardo, a baritone, and Rogelio Peñaverde Jr., a tenor, sang two popular De Leon songs (“Sapagkat Mahal Kita” and “Ako’y Pilipino).

“The Philippines has now shed its title as ‘Sick Man of Asia’ and is now considered a rising star,” said Nicolas Lewis. “Our mother country is now number 3 around the world in Growth Domestic Product for 2012. We extended a $1-billion loan to the International Monetary Fund to stabilize the economy of our former colonial master Spain. It is time for us Filipino Americans to show the world that we are a cultured people.”

This ambitious staging of the “Noli” opera promises to be a milestone in almost every respect. It comes at the heels of the 75th year of the proclamation of a national language based on the Tagalog dialogue on December 30, 2012. That date also marks the 100th year since the remains of Rizal were reinterred in the Luneta monument.

Consul General Mario de Leon added this “Noli” opera is “groundbreaking” because it celebrates the birth centennial of the prolific Felipe Padilla de Leon (no relation), who was born on May 1, 1902.

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*Main Image: The New York Committee of the Staging of the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ Opera (from left): Seated Aida Bartolome, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Michael Dadap. Standing: Jose L. Ramos, Dr. Angie Cruz, Randy Gener, May Nazareno, Gerardo Gaddi, Karrel Bernardo, Dr. Rene Dalandan, Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon De Vega. Photo by Carissa Villacorta