By HENRY EMPEÑO

BOTOLAN, Zambales — Capping the National Heritage Month celebration in May, the Botolan Tourism Office announced the production of a special documentary called “Moro Y Cristiano,” which depicts the traditional Moro-Moro folk drama that originated during the Spanish colonial era.

Municipal Tourism Officer Gennessy Detubio-Villar said the documentary traces the roots of the local Moro-Moro play, also known as Komedya, to Barangay San Isidro, where the tradition has survived and is kept alive after more than 300 years.

Villar said local folks in San Isidro continue to perform the traditional play, using a manuscript that dates back to the 1800s.

“This is a living heritage bequeathed by our ancestors and passed on from generation to generation,” Villar said. “Through this, the people of San Isidro prove that time cannot erase what is truly our own history and culture.”

The Moro-Moro, which was introduced by Spanish priests to evangelize locals and dramatize Christian victories, typically tells a story of romance and conquest, with the players wearing elaborate and brightly colored costumes and doing highly stylized fight scenes.

While the classic stories depict the triumph of Christians over Moro antagonists, contemporary performances are often used as community rituals to preserve cultural heritage, foster unity, and even promote messages of nationalism and peaceful coexistence.

In Botolan, the play originated from the writings of the Dave siblings, and the stagecraft passed on to the families of Salazar, Amoguis, Encarnacion, Tolentino, Reyes, Dimain, Dapitin, and Palon.

The folk drama is performed to this day during the barangay fiesta of San Isidro on May 15 to honor San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers and fishermen.

Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane, meanwhile, has commended the Tourism Office, as well as those who contributed in the production of the documentary, for the successful project that recorded a local heritage for posterity.

“This is undeniably a significant undertaking that we can be proud of,” Ebdane said. “The San Isidro Komedya is unique to Botolan and it is a legacy that must not be lost to the coming generations.” – Taktikom News & Features