Understanding Araquio

Details of the project, Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals, were shared by Atty. Jay B. Villafria, Jr., during the RIDe Fest 2022 (Research Innovation and Development Festival) at Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

With the aim of further promoting the said theater presentation, an exhibit was also displayed at the University FPJ Hall.

Photo credit: KBRomualdo and MRHMdelosSantos
Booth: College of Education, ECastro, JLeybag, JFang, RIgnacio, AMatias, RMRamirez, MFCFrias, NdelaCruz, ADairo, MArayan

Copies of the coffee table book entitled Araquio, A Heritage Folk Theater of Nueva Ecija, were given to the NE Provincial Tourism Office, thru its head, Atty. Jose Maria San Pedro, during the 2022 Research Innovation and Development Festival.

(from left to right) CLSU President Dr. Edgar A. Orden, CEd Dean Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy, Atty. Jose Maria San Pedro, CLSU VP for RE Dr. Armando N. Espino.

Araquio Teaser Araquio (or Arakyo), a genre of the Spanish-era stage play “moro-moro” or “comedya”, is staged annually during the month of May and still popular among local...

As part of its dissemination activities, CLSU-SALIKHA Araquio Research Team members, Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy and Prof. Jay B. Villafria, Jr. visited the Museum of Philippine Social History in Angeles City, Pampanga on December 3, 2021 to explore possible collaboration and public exhibit of the said project in a national public museum.

The team was met by Ms. Bettina Arriola, senior curator of the museum who express her interest in knowing more about Araquio.

The Museum of Philippine Social History is supervised by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). It provides a glimpse of Filipino social history in the past and today and is housed in the mansion built by Mariano Pamintuan and Valentina Torres in 1890.

The museum is located in Santo Entierro Street, the heritage area of Angeles City.

1st CLSU VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM ON CULTURAL AND HERITAGE STUDIES
December 1, 2021, 8:00-4:30PM via Zoom

Organized by Central Luzon State University (CLSU) thru Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals --- A CHEd-NCCA SALIKHA Creative Grant. In cooperation with CLSU College of Education (CEd) and CLSU Center for Central Luzon Studies (CCLS).

Topics:
Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals
Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy, Dr. Florante P. Ibarra, Prof. Jay B. Villafira, Jr., Prof. Adonis Voltaire M. Villanueva
CLSU CHEd-SALIKHA Team

Ang Naratibo ng Orihinal ng Arakyo: Isang Sinoptikong Paghahambing
Dr. Michael C. delos Santos
Faculty Member, College of Education

Promoting Heritage Through Museum Initiatives
Dr. Diadem B. Gonzales-Esmero
Chief Curator, Rice Science Museum

Registration Link:
https://bit.ly/3nRr7Qa

Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy and Prof. Jay B. Villafria, Jr. paid a courtesy visit to Atty. Jose Maria San Pedro, Chief of the Nueva Ecija Tourism Office this afternoon, November 23, 2021, at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Capitol to explore possible cooperation and collaboration on local history and cultural heritage promotion and advocacy.

Dr. Gaboy and Prof. Villafria, Jr., are part of the CHEd-NCCA SALIKHA Creative Grant: “Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals”. The team offered exhibit and information materials about the century-old ritual theater play at the Museo Novo Ecijano, as part of the research team’s effort to promote and preserve the Araquio theater of Penaranda, Nueva Ecija.

Atty. San Pedro gave his sincere thanks and appreciation to CLSU in initiating this project. He also looks forward for future partnership and joint agreement between CLSU and the Nueva Ecija Provincial Government through the Nueva Ecija Tourism Office in the field of local history, cultural promotion and heritage conservation.

Kuwentuhang Araquio ang handog nag programang Tatak CLSU sa atin mamayang alas-kuwatro, mga KaRadyo!
Alamin ang bahaging ito ng kultura ng Nueva Ecija kasama ang mga legit Tatak CLSU proponents ng proyektong Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals na sina Prof. Adonis Villanueva, Prof. Jay Villafria Jr., Dr. Florante Ibarra at Dr. Regidor Gaboy.
Tutukan na mamaya, kasama pa rin si Ms. Kaye Amis sa DWFA 107.3 FM Radyo CLSU!

LOOK: Here is a list of other Araquio related articles from CLSU researchers!

Transmission of Araquio Music, Songs, and Movement Conventions: Learning, Experience, and Meaning in Devotional Theatre
Ibarra, F. P. (2017). Transmission of Araquio Music, Songs, and Movement Conventions: Learning, Experience, and Meaning in Devotional Theatre. The Qualitative Report, 22(4), 1031-1049. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2699

Voices from devotional ritual: Practitioners’ unity of purpose to building community in araquio musical tradition
Ibarra, F.P. (2017) International Journal of Community Music, Volume 10, Number 2, 1 July 2017, pp. 171-192(22), Intellect DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/ijcm.10.2.171_1

Telescopings and Moro-fications in the Four Arakyo Manuscripts of Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija: A Historical/ Hagiographical Recontextualization towards a More Culturally-Sensitive Komedya
Delos Santos, M. C.., Demeterio, F.A. III, Humanities Diliman, Volume 17, No.1 https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/article/view/7168

Paghanap at Pagbawi: Ang Tatlong Orihinal ng Arakyo sa Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija
Delos Santos, M. C.. (2019). Paghanap at Pagbawi: Ang Tatlong Orihinal ng Arakyo sa Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija. MALAY, 31(2). Retrieved from http://ejournals.ph/form/cite.php?id=14526

Have you watched an Araquio performance?

Araquio (or Arakyo), a genre of the Spanish-era stage play “moro-moro” or “comedya”, is staged annually during the month of May and still popular among local folks in southern Nueva Ecija, such as in the town of Penaranda.

Contemporary and documented accounts of staging the play viewed Araquio as a way of devotion to the Holy Cross.

The first published and accessed script of Araquio in Penaranda is believed to be written by Leon Estanislao in 1880. The title of the play was derived from one of the minor characters.

ANNOUNCEMENT | UNDERSTANDING ARAQUIO

Learn more about the Nueva Ecija culture!

Understanding Araquio: Tracing the Steps, Music and Visuals, a SALIKHA creative grant to Central Luzon State University (CLSU), is now online.

The project is geared on bringing Araquio to the young generation and popularizing the said theatrical presentation by providing research-based information. It also highlighted not just the religious relevance of Araquio but moreso, the uniquely rich cultural heritage of the Novo Ecijano.

SALIKHA is a creative grant from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2018.

As part of its dissemination program, an exhibit for Araquio was launched at the CLSU Museum in 2019. These coming months, a series of online engagements will be undertaken by the research team. A coffee table book is also set to be released this December.

The grant was made possible thru the CLSU Academic Research Council (ARC) and the College of Education (CEd). The research team is composed of Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy, Dr. Florante P. Ibarra, Prof. Adonis Voltaire Villanueva, and Prof. Jay B. Villafria.

To learn more about Araquio, you may follow this page: https://www.facebook.com/araquio.salikha.creativegrant

Understanding Araquio Midyear Review

Technical Experts from Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) visited CLSU for the SALIKHA Creative Grant 8th and 19th Monitoring Visit on July 8, 2019.
The team evaluated the progress of the ongoing activities of the project, Understanding Araquio. The project was given an impressive remark from technical experts which include former National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chair, Dr. Felipe de Leon, Jr.
Other members of the Monitoring Team were Mr. Joseleo Logdat, Dr. Salvacion Villavicencio and Dr. Gloria Chavez. Representing CHEd were Ms. Monina Rose Cabanada, Ms. Licelle Varias and Mr. Jake Sumagang while the NCCA was represented by Ms. Sherlyn Tan and Ms. Marielle Laurein Ferma.

May, 2019 Recall

Female personajes (characters) of Araquio from Barangay Sto. Tomas, Penaranda, Nueva Ecija perform the traditional dances lifted from the century old-traditional stage play at the iconic Rizal Park of the Central Luzon State University in May 2019. The performance was part of the CLSU’s “Flores De Universidad,” an annual activity organized by the Center for Central Luzon Studies to celebrate the National Heritage Month. Araquio or Arakyo, a remnant and genre of the Spanish-era stage play “moro-moro” or “comedya” has been staged and still popular among local folks in southern Nueva Ecija, particularly in the town of Penaranda.

The Project’s Early Beginnings

On March 30, 2019, Understanding Araquio Exhibit highlighting the historical and cultural relevance of Araquio, was launched at the CLSU Museum. The exhibit was made possible through the CHEd-NCCA Salikha Creative Grant given to CLSU to conduct a research and study about Araquio or Arakyo, a type of “moro-moro komedya” and considered to be the most popular religious-secular drama in the Philippine during the Spanish period. It is the local genre of the Spanish version of “comedia de espada y capa” or comedy on sword and cape. The opening of exhibit was attended by Araquio maestros from barangays San Josef, Sto. Tomas and Sinasajan of Penaranda, Nueva Ecija.

Then CLSU President, Dr. Tereso A. Abella welcomed the Araquio maestros (mentors) from three barangays of Penaranda, Nueva Ecija at the lobby of the University Library together with other CLSU officials.

Understanding Araquio updated their phone number.

Understanding Araquio updated their address.

Understanding Araquio updated their business hours.