SKCAFI :: Sining Kambayoka Cultural Arts Foundation, Inc.

Arthur Casanova is the most published SKE alumnus, with 34 books to his name to date either as a single author or in collaboration with other writers. His first book as a single author, Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Dulaang Pilipino (History and Development of Philippine Theater)was published by Rex Publishing House in 1984 and reprinted in 1997. A first on the subject, it won the Catholic Mass Media Award for "Best Book of 1985." It is used as a textbook in Drama and Theater Arts courses in many colleges and universities. His dissertation, Diksyunaryo sa Drama at Teatro, was also published by the same company in 2001. A monolingual and technical dictionary on drama and theater arts, it is also the first on the subject. It was a finalist for the "Best Book Award" by the NCCA for 2001.

Arthur Casanova's playwriting experience dates back to university life at MSU-Marawi. He wrote and directed his plays as well as acted in some. His first two student plays were realistic: "Mga Yagit sa Lipunan,"which deals on the plight of street children, won for Best Play, Best Script, Best Director, and Best Actor for Casanova in the festival of plays sponsored by the Filipino Department in 1973. "Ang Pamana ni Roberto" was presented at MSU- SLH under the sponsorship of the Department of Languages in 1973. A related play, "Mga Angel sa Basurahan," was presented at the SLH, MSU-Marawi in 1975 under the sponsorship of the Dulaang Pilipino of the MSU Department of Languages. While "Anak sa Labas," which deals on the life of an illegitimate child, was presented during the festival of plays sponsored by the MSU Filipino Department, also in 1973. He also wrote and directed a naturalistic play about greed and inheritance, "Sa Muling Pagbabalik"which was presented at the SLH, MSU-Marawi in 1974 under the sponsorship of the Players Company.

As a playwright, Arthur Casanova wrote two anthologies, both by the UST Publishing House in 2003. The first, "Ulos: 4 na Dula ng Pakikidigma sa Mindanao,"is composed of "Lumad, Huwag Mong Lisanin ang Kabundukan," a dula-tula based on the award-winning poem of the same title; "Si Sultan Eskander at ang Malupit na Higanteng si Tarabusao;""Nang Lumuha ang mga Tala sa Gitna ng Lawa;"and "Bagani: Ang Babaylan ng Tagakaolo."The second, Mga Kuwentong Pambata sa Estilong Kamabayoka, is composed of five one-act plays based on folktales from Mga Kuwentong-bayan ng Mindanao(Mindanao Folktales). The plays are "Si Juan Bahag," "Walang Hanggang Pag-Ibig;" "Ang Pakikipagsapalaran ni Pilandok,""Ang Pulang Inahin at ang Kanyang mga Katoto," and "Si Bakwa at si Bunggoy." Soon to be off the press is Mga Dulang May Isang Yugto,with Genoveva Edrosa Matute, composed of 6 plays based on Noli Me Tangere and 6 from El Filibusterismo.

Two of Arthur Casanova's one-act plays appeared in other anthologies. "Bagani,"which deals on the struggles of the Tagakaolos against the American colonialism in pre-World War II Davao, was anthologized in Eugene Evasco, Ligaya Tiamson-Rubin, and Arthur Casanova?s "Malikhaing Pagsulat: Paglinang ng Sidhaya Tungo sa Maunlad na Haraya,"published by Rex Publishing House, Inc. in 2001. While two of his one-act children's plays, "Ang Pagong at ang Ahas"and "Ang Pusa at ang Daga"were arranged for chamber theater.

Arthur Casanova wrote three related one-act political plays on the Muslim-Christian conflict in Mindanao. "Bukang Liwayway na, Madilim pa," which deals on the conflict between the Ilagas and the Barracudas, was anthologized in Casanova's "Sining ng Komunikasyon: Pandalubhasaan" published by Rex Publishing House, Inc. in 1984. This became the basis of two more plays: "Nang Lumuha and mga Tala sa Gitna ng Lawa,"which was anthologized in Arthur Casanova, et al's "Haraya: Panitikan para sa Ikalawang Taon,"published by Sibs Publishing House, Inc. in 2002 and in "Ulos: 4 na Dula ng Pagkikidigma sa Mindanao."He also wrote "Ang Pag-ibig nina Virgil at Cely,"a Filipino translation of Nick Agudo's chamber theater arrangement of Lazaro Espinoza's "The Love of Virgil and Cely."

As a folklorist, Arthur Casanova co-wrote with Rolando C. Esteban and Ivie C. Esteban Mga Kuwentong-bayan ng Mindanaoand its English version Mindanao Folktales, by the National Bookstore. The books contain 50 folktales, mostly hitherto unpublished, from the Maranaos, Maguindanaons, Tausugs, T'bolis, Manobos, Bagobos, B'laans, Binukids, Mamanuas, Samals, Tagakaolos, Subanens, Kalibugans, Kamayos, and the Visayan groups.

Among the folktales that he retold are "Ang Alamat ng Maria Cristina," a Mindanao legend on the Ma. Cristina Falls in Iligan City, Action Magazine 2/2 (December 2001); "Ang Alamat ng Durian,"a Mindanao legend on the durian, Action Magazine 2/3 (January 2002); "Ang Alamat ng Dua Bullod," a Tausug folktale, Discovery Magazine 1/1 (August 2002); and "Alamat ng Marang," a Mindanao legend on the marang, Discovery Magazine 1/2 (September 2002). He also co-wrote with Rolando C. Esteban two Pilandok tales: "Si Pilandok at ang Sultan" and "Si Pilandok at ang Lalaking Bulag,"Action Magazine 1/9 (July 2001).

As an editor, Arthur Casanova edited Frank Rivera's first 3 books for the UST Publishing House. The first was Mga Dula sa Magkakaibang Midyum, an anthology of Rivera's award-winning plays, was published in 2002. The next two were published in 2003: Ambon, Ulan, Baha: Sarsuwelang Pinoy, one of Rivera's most important plays and one of the the longest--running plays in the history of Philippine contemporary theater, with musical score by Lulu Floresca and introduction on zarzuela by Casanova; andMga Kuwentong Maranao, Rivera's first critically acclaimed play featuring the trickster Pilandok, both in English and Filipino. He also edited Glenn Sevilla Mas' In the Dark,an anthology of Mas' 3 Palanca award-winning one-act plays and an essay, both in English, by a theater artist and teacher, also by UST Publishing House in 2002. Casanova also edited Ligaya Tiamson Rubin's Paano Tumutula ang Isang Ina,? an anthology of poems published by Dela Salle University Press, Inc. in 2000.

Arthur Casanova is an award-winning poet. The latest of his poems, "Lumad, Huwag Lisanin ang Kabundukan," in Ligaya Tiamson Rubin, Arthur Casanova, et al., "Wika, Kultura at Lipunang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Impormasyon" (2002). A narrative poem about the plight of the Lumads, the non-Christian, non-Muslim tribes in Mindanao, it won the second prize in the Gawad Collantes sa Pagsulat ng Tula sponsored by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. The two other poems are "Sultan Kudarat,"a narrative poem in free verse, Lanao Progress, 10/20 (September 1981); and "Tatlong Tula: Kulintang, Lakambini, and Muslim Pilipino,"Expressweek, 6 December 1979.

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Published on: 2005-04-17

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