Hermogenes Ilagan
Hermogenes Ilagan was a Filipino tenor, writer, stage actor, and playwright. He was a descendant of Francisco Baltazar. His talent in singing made him popular in the field of theater arts. He became known as the Father of Tagalog Zarzuela and the Father of Philippine Zarzuela.
Career
Ilagan was a tiple and lead singer for a church in Bigaa, Bulacan. Because of Ilagan's talent, a parish priest in Bigaa, Bulacan brought Ilagan and his family to Manila. He became the singer for the Santa Cruz [Church (Manila)|Santa Cruz Church]. In return, Ilagan was able to study at the Ateneo de [Manila University|Ateneo Municipal de Manila]. Although not able to finish schooling, Ilagan became a member of a zarzuela troupe from Spain. During the Spanish–American War, the Spanish performers went back to Spain, but Ilagan maintained his liking for the zarzuela, and later pioneered productions of stage drama in the form of Philippine zarzuelas. His forty years of involvement in the field of zarzuela created the period known as the Golden Age of Philippine Theater. In 1902, Ilagan established the Compania Lirico-Dramatica Tagala de Gatchalian y Ilagan, also known as Compania Ilagan, the first zarzuela troupe in the Philippines. Ilagan's zarzuelas have melodramatic, comic, romantic, and political qualities.
Works
Among the zarzuelas that Ilagan wrote and produced were:
- Ang Buhay nga Naman
- Ang Buwan ng Oktubre
- Bill de Divorcio
- Dahil kay Ina
- Dalagang Bukid
- Dalawang Hangal
- Después de Dios, el Dinero
- Ilaw ng Katotohanan
- Kagalingan ng Bayan
- Venus
- Wagas na Pag-ibig
- Sangla ni Rita, isang Uno't Cero
- Centro Pericultura
- Panarak ni Rosa
- ''Lucha Electoral''