Guerrilla Theatre
KDP chapters used a wide variety of cultural forms to help educate the Filipino community about the movement for democracy in the Philippines and the conditions of oppression facing Filipinos in the US. KDP activists were called upon to perform singing of patriotic songs and educational skits at picket lines, rallies, and educational forums. These mediums allowed the community to take in educational messages in an entertaining and accessible way.
2022-01-08-16-52-0002
Washington DC’s CAMD chapter adopts guerrilla theatre tactics as an entertaining way to do Christmas Caroling at supporters’ home during the Christmas holidays. In these photos, CAMD members perform as a musical political comedy troupe, impersonating Dictator Marcos (Tito Visaya), Imelda (Yvonne Reyes), Ronald Reagan (Jon Melegrito). One musical sketch is titled “A Requiem for a Tyrant,” which includes parodies of Marcos and Imelda belting out “Feelings,” and Juan Ponce Enrile as “The Little Drummer Boy.” One notable performance, staged in a Washington DC bar, was a musical lampoon titled “In Search of Despotamia,” featuring Imelda as “Material Girl” and Marcos and his military goons singing “We are the Worst.” Adapted from “We are the World”, the musical parody included these revised lyrics: We are the worst, we are the cheaters We are the ones who stole a billion bucks and wiped the coffers Swiss accounts we’re hiding, we’re saving our own lives Guess who’s gonna win the day, that’s right: it’s us. The cast also includes Ding Taverna, Odette Politan, Alegre Reyes, Armin Alforque , Elvie Melegrito, Cesar Ortanez and Nenita Sola. By Jon Melegrito