No guns, no problem for Kadaugan play

EXCEPT for the confiscation of a replica of an ancient Spanish pistol by police, everything went as planned for yesterday’s reenactment of the annual Kadaugan sa Mactan (Victory at Mactan).

Director Xavier Palanca said 180 production crew members, including arnis or eskrima practitioners who acted as warriors for Datu Lapu-Lapu participated in the event.

“We did research on the history of native dances for the reenactment,” Palanca said. Practice started last Feb. 15 at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex and went on every other day.

The ancient Spanish pistol replicas that were to be used as props in the mock battle were intercepted at a checkpoint in Danao City early yesterday morning.

“I admit I have overlooked the need of transportation documents of the items but police promised us they will release it if we can give them a clearance,” Palanca said.

He said they were forced to extend some parts of the play as a result. “We have to always think of new things to get the audience excited and not be bored by the usual scenery,” Palanca said.

He also said there was nothing wrong with the natives wearing silky, colorful costumes because history showed that they traded with the Chinese at the time.

Palanca said next year’s Kadaugan sa Mactan will be better since they plan to build a replica of a galleon and a cannon for the reenactment.

He also favors changing the landscape of the Mactan Shrine to give the audience an uninterrupted view of the play.

Palanca has handled the Kadaugan sa Mactan with his father, the late director Raji Palanca. Foreign visitors like Rick Adams, an American, enjoyed the reenactment.

“It’s very educational, it’s one of the best ways to promote culture,” Adams said. Correspondent Norman Mendoza