All-Filipino musical production debuts in Winnipeg
Screencap from CBC Manitoba/YouTube
Last June 27, Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg lit up as it celebrated its 70th anniversary and debuted “Ma-Buhay!” — the first-ever all-Filipino musical to be staged in Manitoba.
Created by Philippine-born, Winnipeg artist Joseph Sevillo, this production marks a cultural milestone, featuring the vibrant Filipino community in Canada.
Seven years in the making, “Ma-Buhay!” finally saw the curtains fall. This musical, Rainbow Stage’s first commissioned page-to-stage project, has seen several private and public workshops, including a sold-out reading during Winnipeg’s French festival.
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The title “Ma-Buhay, without a hyphen, is a Tagalog word that means “long live,” “welcome” or “cheers.” With the exclamation point, it takes on a more profound meaning – “mother and life” (ma is short for mama and buhay means life), as Sevillo pays homage to his late mother, who supported his dreams.
“Ma-Buhay!” follows the journey of three young Filipinas as they compete and fight for glory in a prestigious singing competition. Their journey reflects the issues that Sevillo sees in the Filipino diaspora.
During the premiere, Sevillo transformed the stage into a dazzling reality TV show — complete with neon-bright, animated video projections and two vertical onstage screens.
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The show features powerful vocals and high-energy pop dancing that span R&B and hip-hop brought to life by a six-piece band. In Sevillo’s debut as a director and musical writer, he created the book, music and lyrics.
Viewers don’t need to understand Tagalog to enjoy the 165-minute show as it’s curated for both Filipino and non-Filipino audiences.
The plot
Set against the backdrop of the grand finals of “Star on the Rise” — a Philippines-based reality TV show similar to the “American Idol” — the musical follows three aspiring stars.
Honey is played by Dora Award-nominated actor AP Bautista. Broadway star Andrea Macasaet takes on the role of Celina and versatile actor Karen Dychengco plays David.
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The stellar lineup includes 22 members, a powerhouse of talents that brings the story to life with occasional bursts of Tagalog adding authenticity to the plot.
Sevilla aims to underscore indigenous representation through “Ma-Buhay!”. Reflecting on Statistics Canada’s report that 19.7 percent of Manitoba’s population weren’t immigrants, Sevilla stated in an interview with CBC that “It was only fitting” to write such a plot.
Opening night
Rainbow Stage took to Instagram to extend their gratitude for the successful premiere. “Ma-Buhay’s opening night was a MAJOR success, a HUGE Rainbow sized THANK YOU…” the post read.
The post also captured Sevilla taking a bow amidst wild applause during the premiere that marked the beginning of 18 performances running until July 14.
“Ma-Buhay!” tickets are sold online or you can call 204.989.0888.
