Philippine E-Journals

The Golden Age of Philippine Theater: An Unintended Consequence of the Japanese Occupation of Manila

Marcelino M. Macapinlac Jr.

Discipline: Philippine History

 

Abstract:

From 1941 to 1945, Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Manila. This was part of the Japanese design to establish the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere with Japan as its leader. As a consequence of three years of enemy occupation, Manila became one of the most devastated cities in World War II. Ironically, this was also the same period when Philippine theater flourished. This period was described by Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana as “the Golden Age” of Philippine theater. Tagalog plays shown in theaters in Manila, especially at the Metropolitan Theater, enjoyed immense popularity and critical acclaim.

 This paper looks at the development of Philippine theater as the most popular form of art and entertainment at a time when the country was at war against a foreign aggressor. The patronage of films (moving pictures), which were more popular than plays prior to the war years, suffered a decline during this period. In an effort to capture the minds and hearts of the Filipinos, the Japanese used theatre as propaganda for their purposes, but their efforts were unsuccessful. What resulted from their propaganda program was instead the flourishing of Tagalog plays and language.