Juan Luna
Media
Part of The Philippine Educator
- Title
- Juan Luna
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1947
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- JUAN LUNA I r r, ~~ j ~ ....... :· (A Historical Playlet) by CEFERINO JOVEN V/ ~'- ~ .;.· ·~ .. ,_ I '· Time: 1847. Place: The deck of a ship in Manila Bay. CHARACTERS~ Juan Luna, as a sailor Sr. Guerrero, teacher-painter of Juan Captain of the ship Sailors (As the curtains rise, the saHors are bumming a sailor's tune as they work. Some are scrubbing the deck others are folding the sails, while LUNA and two sailors are rigging a brace to a spar of the ship. Once in a while LUNA looks towards the shore as if expecting someone.) SAILOR 1. What is the matter, Juan? You are not yourself today. Expecting someone? · SAILOR 2. Probably the mailman, eh, Juan? LUNA. Oh, no! You're wrong, boYs". I'm expecting Senor Guerrero. SAILOR 1. The painter? LUNA. Yes, he may have some good news for me. (The CAPTAIN enters. The sailors .stand at attention and salute.) CAPTAIN (backoning Luna). Juan! LUNA (approaching). Ayl ay! sir! CAPTAIN. This is for you. (hands Luna a roll scroll.) You have been appointed Pilot of the High Seas. You deserve it. (He shakes LUNA'S hand.) Congratulations ! LUNA. Thank you, sir! (The CAPTAIN exits. The sailors gather around LUNA and congratulate him warmly. They sing a lively sailor's song. About the end of the tune, Senor Guerrero enters.) GUERRERO (excitedly) . Juan, Juan, you made it! The government will help you. LUNA (anxiously). Real!y? How? GUERRERO. You will be sent to Europe to continue your studies in an art school. The_ government will pay your expenses. LUNA (gratefulily). I have you to thank for all this, Senor Guerrero. GUERRERO. But one thing more. You have to send a historical pic~ ture to the Philippine Government each year-you know, just to show improvement in your studies. LUNA (firmly). I wi!! do that. Perhaps some day I shall be able to paint great pictures! SAILOR 2. But you are now a pilot, Juan. There is no use giving up the life of the sea. SAILOR 3. Stay with us, and we shall see the world! SAILOR 1. Painting is difficult. It requires a great deal of patience and effort. Let's forget a!! about it. What do you say, Juan. LUNA (determinedly). No, my friendS'. If the eagle can fly to the top of the mountain, the snail after some patience and effort wil! reach him there in due time. (Luna and Guerrero walk slowly to the Captain's cabin as the sailors hum "Auld Lang Syne." LUNA looks back at the sailors and exits into the cabin with Guerrero.) Scene 2 Time: 1879. Rlace: The Luna Studio m France. Paris, 22 .... · .. 1 ...:. '.~~~,.,~.~~1· /~·~.)~~.-:-·-~ ... "~ v~~;_<iuAii-L1JNA '"' .~~,~ -"< / .--,.: .. ·:--:· .. ~.~~· ~::.•·.~ .. :~c::,-;; .. 1'"'·~~··23 · · .!,.If. - '· " ··-- .• . : . . • . ·-:"" : - .••i\t.'R • . "t.f~ ' ,. CHARAC~_kRS: Juan Luna, the painter Jose Rizal, T. H. Pardo de Tavera, his friends (After the musical interlude, the curtain is drawn. LUNA is seated at his table sketching and humming a kundiman. RIZAL and TAVERA enter.) TAVERA. ·Hala, amigo! RIZAL. What are you up to now, Juan! LUNA (surprised, stands). Nothing in particular, Pepe. Have your seats, gentlemen. . , "'~ .... t.i . (LUNA hustles his friends to' wear·'.~; some costumes. Tavera dons a coat of ==~"i' mail while Rizal takes off his coat and .,.·,: rolls his shirt sleeves.) -"' RIZAL (curiously). What am I sup· posed to be? , TAVERA (uncomfortably). Y yo, que -~ parte tengo? My, but this is warm! LUNA. Senor Tavera here is. Legaspi and will sit there. (Tavera takes the seat indicated.) And you, Pepe, will be Sikatuna. That will be your seat there. (He points to the chair oppo. site Tavera.) Well, gentlemen, you saved the day for me. That calls for a drink! (Rizal takes a seat, while Tavera goes around the studio looking at the sketches on the- walls.) (LUNA gets three glasses and a bot. tle of wine. He pours wine into tho We saw glasses and they toast.) RIZAL. You cannot fool us. you busy at your desk. LUNA. Well, if you must know, I am n:taking a sketch of the historical picture I shall send home to the government. This is my first, and it is due soon. RIZAL. Oh, I see. TAVERA (turning around). And what , is it about? LUNA. The blood compact, Seii.or Tavera. TAVERA. Que blood compact? RIZAL. El pacto de sangre. TAVERA. Hm ... Hm ... De Legaspi y Sikatuna? LUNA. Exactly 1 Here, see my sketch. (He shows the sketch.) But I have difficulties ahead of me. I simply can't find the right model. (He stares at the two.) Wait • RIZAL (noticing the stare). Well? LUl'fA (excitedly). I have it! I have it! You are just the anen I need. You will be my models 1 TAVERA (baffled). Models? Que es models? LUNA (eagerly). Here, here, put these on! RIZAL. To your success! TAVERA. Success 1 (All empty their ·-glasses.) (Musical interlude) Scene 3 Time: 1884. Place: A social hall in Madrid, Spain. CHARACTERS: Juan Luna Jose Rizal Graciano Lopez Jaena Other Filipinos in Spain Spanish sympathizers and friends. (As the last notes of the musical in· terlude is heard, the curtains open to a banquet scene where JUAN LUNA, jOSE RIZAL, GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA, and ANTONIO LUNA may be seen at the head of the table. .OQ the center wall is a big curtained pic· ture. The crowd is merry and is almost through with the banquet.) GUEST 1. (shouting). A song, a a song ••. 1 GUEST 2. Yes, a song •• I There is enthusiastic clapping of hands as one of the guests stands and sings a kundiman. After the song thero is a salvo of applause. Then Riza:l stands to speak) FOR MODERN OPTICAL NEEDS-SEE KEEPSAKE OPTICAL-80 Escolta .·!; ., ';";(~Z4.,.~~ ;t.~ ""-.--~· :"f .;' P~lPPIN'E _ EDUOaTott· .. \ • r ~ - ~ t ,., t -~, ' ~· .<:.·"' .... , ' . •' %'.-. RIZAL. . ' Fellow - countrymen' and speak louder t~an ~o~ds the truths · friends!· For the second time we in our hearts . .;,;, ·. are gathe.re<l to do honor to a com- Therefore, my friends, let us <!rink .., patriot who has placed our beloved to the health of. Luna. The Filipino ;_ Philippines. on the map of the world youth of Europe, always enthusiastic, of art. For the second time he has tender Luna a crown, a "humble trishown that genius springs from any bute which is small indeed compared race. Genius is like light and air- to our enthusiasm, but the most the patrimony of all: cosmopolitan spontaneous and freest of all the tri· as space, as life~ and· as God.. butes yet paid him. (He points at c~rtained picture on center wall) On that canvass, which is not mute is heard the tumult of the throng, the' cry of slaves, the metallic r;.ttle of the armors on the corpses, the sobs of orphans, and the hum of prayers, with as much force and realism as is heard in the fearful and frightful rumble of the earthquake. This shows the characteristics of the painter, and it portrays the pre· sent conditions in our native land. Yes, pictures and paintings do not merely entertain our eyes; they often Letters. . . (Con't. from page 36) Sir: Kindly explain why no Philippine Educator is sent to me. The last issuo . I received was dated April and May, 1947. Yours truly, ROMAN B. GONZALES Sir: .We did not come out in June. If V ' (; failed to send you the July issue oilfore, we are sending it now--'right now. Please forgive us. We have not enough clerical help to check up on our failures and shortcomings. Also, we are trying to economize members' money. Very respectfully, - o - · Dear Mr. Laya: -ED. I sincerely! appreciate the efforts you are exerting for the PE and the PPSTA which in the last analysis are for "US", and I wish you inexhaust. (Rizal raises his glass a,nd the rest of the guests, excep,t Luna, stand and follow suit.) Gentlemen, to Juan Luna! (All drink to Luna's health. Then the pianist plays a kundiman as the guests begin to leave, bidding Luna good-by. Soon Luna is left alone on the stage. The humming of the kundiman by the guests can be faintly heard in the distance. Luna walks to the painting and pulls the curtain revealing "The Spoliarium." ible strength and unbeatable spirit to carry on the fight for "this cause of ours." We are eager to help but we ate hard-pressed for cash. You know these hard times. But if it's . agreeable to you, you may send me 10 subscriptions for my teachers beginning with the July or August issue, payable in two "easier" payments-half from the September salary and the other half from the October pay. I~ that o. k.? Sincerely yours, RUSTICO FERNANDEZ Principal Central Elementary School, Bohol Dea1· Jlih. Fernandez : 0. K. by "US." We'll send you teta-ED. --<>-Dear Sir: I have the honor to request inform&· tion regarding the subscription rate to your magazine. (Continued on page 39)