Interview: Jerry Sibal Talks His Latest Take on NOLI ME TANGERE, The Opera

Manila, Philippines--To outsiders looking in, one's pursuit of a singular ambition may seem like a lonely obsession. Yet history has proved kind to countless innovators with visions conceived in solitary confinement, as it were.

While many of us are caught in heavy traffic--or out and about consuming pop culture--Jerry Sibal has been conjuring the most elaborate production ever conceived at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Great art reserves the right for occasional isolation.

Try this on for size: 16 scenic changes involving multi-layered platforms and high overlapping flats buttressed along the perimeter. If that's not enough to strike our fancy, Sibal deploys a LED back-screen projection to bring Jose Rizal's images of old Binondo come to life.

Quite the opening salvo, this visual feast. Add to that about 200 opera singers, musicians, and crew--then you can begin to imagine the colossal artistry of Jerry Sibal's brand.

This is the journey on which Sibal is about to take us with his latest iteration of Noli Me Tangere, The Opera, which opens on January 28 at the CCP's main stage, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. While he's aware of the cultural challenge (opera has yet to really catch up to modern sensibilities), he remains committed to educating the masses, particularly the Filipino youth, of the value of opera as the most complete art form around.

Set Design: Kapitang Tiyago's house

"We'd like to create more appreciation of the art form. The opera is the highest form of art because it has architecture, literature, theater and classical music combined together. The beauty of Noli Me Tangere, The Opera lies in its use of our own language, Tagalog, and the Filipino love song kundiman combined with Western opera influences."

If not for the technical support he has installed to assist his vision, it would be easy to anoint Sibal as a one-man construction crew. He's not only attempting to manifest a monumental scenic design; he has assumed responsibility for directing a massive ensemble as well as designing a dizzying array of costumes from the Spanish colonial era.

Funny we should ask what he does with his spare time. With his producing partner, Edwin Josue, Sibal seeks help from the industry for marketing and publicity support while galvanizing the local community with his urgent appeal for unity.

We hear it in his voice, consistently, as he reiterates a familiar message of hope on behalf of his beloved country, summoning the same urgency of Jose Rizal's classic novel. He's particularly enamored of millennials, and reminds his audience that society owes it to the current generation to preserve Rizal's message of nationalism.

"We'd like to instill in the youth that nationalism is very important. We're very educated, talented and skillful. The only problem we're facing right now is the [lack of] love of country," Sibal affirmed.

Set Design: river scene

A Renaissance man who has made a permanent home in New York City, Sibal only wants to give back to his country of origin. He doesn't need an extravagant show to feed his ego; nor is he producing this one with financial reward in mind. As an act of faith, he and Josue have staked their own resources, counting on individual and corporate contributions to reach financial goals and appeal to a diverse Filipino viewership.

It's easy to imagine the man accountable for such a project given to absolute frenzy. Yet one simply needs to observe Sibal in action. He is never in a hurry and always takes a generous moment to reflect and respond to every question. Avuncular and calm, he gives an air of certitude that the material will speak for itself--that Jose Rizal's message, through massive artistic collaboration, is worth the wait and all the hard work.

Noli Me Tangere, The Opera was composed by National Artist for Music Felipe De Leon and National Artist for Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino. The original production premiered in 1957 and was remounted in 1987 to celebrate the centennial publication of Rizal's novel, known for its revolutionary censure of friars and the ruling government. It remains a stern call for independence, self-sacrifice, and love of country.

Here it is, another opening--and another 30 years apart--coinciding with the 50th ASEAN SUMMIT to be held in the Philippines. The timing is fortuitous.

It's worth noting, though, that different versions of the opera were recently produced by Sibal and Josue's company, J&S Productions, Inc., in New York City and Washington, D.C. in 2013, and at Resorts World Manila in 2014. Those versions (practice run, if you will) gave impetus to the grandest one we are about to witness, a reminder that like most Western operas, our own National Treasure doesn't have to wait such long intervals to be shown and appreciated.

Set Design: Suyuan sa Asotea

CCP and J&S Productions Inc., in cooperation with Ayala Foundation, will co-present Noli Me Tangere, The Opera. Philanthropist Mercedes Zobel is the project's chair.

For special ticket deals and discounts to Noli Me Tangere, The Opera, contact J&S Productions Inc. (0926) 038 0548, (0921) 890 3816, (632) 998 2356, or the CCP Box Office (632) 832 3704/06, or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

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