Reenactors find duty in ‘living history’ for Filipino youth

MANILA, Philippines — Now came the appointed hour, with a man in a black suit and bowler hat, his arms bound, cutting a solitary figure.

Behind the condemned stood a firing squad led by Edwin Guinto. But before proceeding with the day’s colonial business, Guinto had to quiet down the restive crowd with a snarl, roundly calling them “traidores!” and “Indios!”

“Viva España!” he later yelled to punctuate the insults, gloating for the Spanish empire.

And then the order to shoot was given. The target jerked where he stood, twisting with his face skyward, then uncoiling as he fell. From the subdued audience, a woman broke the silence as she started to weep over the death of Dr. Jose Rizal.

READ: The value of historical reenactment

Both Guinto and the woman embedded in the audience are part of a troupe, that takes great pains to give their subject—like the execution of the national hero on Dec. 30, 1896—the visual accuracy and emotional gravitas it deserves.

But there are times when Guinto can tell whether a particular performance—depicting an event that has been portrayed countless times onscreen, onstage, in history books and even in “komiks”—still hit the random Luneta spectators raw and hard.

“The people were really crying,” Guinto says as he recalls one staging of Rizal’s martyrdom in an Inquirer interview last week. “It’s very vivid and gripping … and they remember it.”

Common passion

Guinto is a member and trustee of Republica Filipina Reenactment Group (RFRG), which recreates historical events from the Philippine Revolution in the 1890s to World War II, moments that he says “defined” Filipino nationhood.

The group believes these performances are effective in bringing the past closer to Filipinos, especially the young.

Joshua Matipo, the RFRG president, explains that while historical reenactments have long been a tradition in many countries, it is still in its infancy in the Philippines.

Drawing inspiration from his love of history and from his own grandfather, a World War II guerrilla fighter, Matipo founded RFRG in 2019.

At present, the group can call upon 30 to 40 members for a performance, from young students to retirees, all sharing a passion for history.

Local government units or agencies have invited the RFRG for added color and crowd engagement in their programs, either through static displays or moving recreations. The troupe recently partnered with the municipality of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, for the commemoration of the 1945 Battle of Balete Pass on May 16.

For today’s Independence Day parade, RFRG cast members will form tableaus on the floats prepared by three government entities, namely the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Cavite provincial government.

“We are still recruiting, [especially] youngsters. We lend costumes to the newbies for them to have a feel of the gear and the attire. If they’re interested, they can buy their own later,” says Matipo, who still takes part as one of the actors.

Being a nonprofit, the group produces its own costumes and props and doesn’t charge for the performances themselves but only for transportation and food costs.

‘My higher calling’

A big sacrifice, as outfits do not come easy. For Guinto to wear the period-appropriate costume, he would shell out up to P10,000 for the full regalia, with the right gun replica and pith hat to go with the rayadillo or Revolutionary uniform.

“We don’t get paid for reenactments but it’s very rewarding,” says the one-time RTW businessman who now works at his son’s cafe in Cavite City, Cavite, as a chef and barista. “I’m semi-retired and this is my higher calling. I want to do something that is bigger than myself.”

RFRG considers reenactments a powerful medium that, if done right, could be “a more effective way of teaching history,” says Vivian Gapido, the group’s treasurer. “We do research about (our subjects)—all the facts—then we put it into action.”

The members take time to study primary sources and confer with local historians for a performance. If there are still war veterans—or eyewitnesses from their families—who are still alive and whom they can consult, the better.

Gapido, for example, says she reviews history books for a better grasp of the Filipino heroine or pivotal character she is tasked to portray.

RFRG meets at least once a month to plan and rehearse, especially for moving recreations involving military formations or battles. The team works with partner agencies—like the DND and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines—to enhance its photographic and documentary studies.

Making it relatable

While they often have limited material to work on, the performers strive to capture what their characters must have felt in the event being remembered.

After all, “We’re living history,” as Matipo puts it. “We’re translating … how [historical figures] acted, their thoughts and emotions at the time, so it can be relatable to our present. [But] there’s a basis.”

Living history means learning from the past to teach its lessons to the younger generation, Gapido says.

“[Filipinos] are so resilient that we tend to forget. So hopefully, when we look at the past, [children] learn from our mistakes. That’s what we want to show,” Gapido adds.

RFRG believes reenactments can inspire young Filipinos to connect with their past. “It’s [through] visuals that children learn,” said Matipo. “When you see someone in a rayadillo or a Filipiniana, [children] get an image. They get curious, they start digging.”

The group plans to strengthen its digital presence, especially after performances like the Rizal execution cited by Guinto drew considerable attention online. Short-form content or mini-documentaries are in the pipeline; an example was an RFRG video published on June 5 on the origins of the Philippine national anthem.

“Patriotism is what reenactments would show to our generation today. [Our heroes] were so young when the Republic of the Philippines was founded,” says Matipo. “How much more could we do in [the] present day?”