HISTORY

BATLAYA Theater Guild was conceptualized and founded by Prof. Adrian Balagot with the vision of becoming the group as one of the most respected organizations inside the PLMAR Center for Culture and the Arts. With the concerted effort of Prof. Balagot and its Artistic Director, Prof. Edwin Maestro, BATLAYA Theater Guild was formally established as an organization through an audition with 35 members last Jan. 15, 2012. After a series of training from Integrated Theater Arts Workshops Leadership training, BATLAYA first launched through vignettes of performances during the foundation day of PLMAR last February 2012. BATLAYA undoubtedly made its first debut on stage through AGOSYERTO, a Major stage production of the Filipino Department and the office of the Center for Culture and the Arts.

The group performed first time together the two ten-year-old organizations under the office of CCA, the PLMAR Dance Troupe, and the PLMAR Chorale.

At a very young age, the group marked its name in PLMAR Community through AGOSYERTO and Aswang. Included in the list was the first competition joined by the group “the City Hall Halloween parade,” wherein the group landed surprisingly 2nd place in a group category. BATLAYA’s journey as a theater group will continue as it continuously serves its purpose in CCA and the PLMAR Community.

GROUP PROFILE

BATLAYA

(Bathala at Kalayaan) The Official Theater Guild of PLMar

A Theater Guild unleashing the spirits for freedom in Culture and the Arts

It will be considered one of the dynamic theater foundations in the country that promotes nationalism and patriotism. It will also be known as an organization that supports cultural reorientation in the field of arts. It will impart moral percepts to others to live as true Christian Filipinos aware of their duties to God and fellowmen.

BATLAYA (free Spirits) creates a school-based-oriented project that focuses on enhancing young students by unleashing their freedom to explore in the theater. BATLAYA strongly believes that art could help bring advantages to students. Included in the group’s objective is the training for the student’s talents and the honing of their attitudes and manners. Making the students experience theater organizing will help them build their patience, hard work, enthusiasm, and self-discipline into their character. Theater organizing will also help them become analytical individuals. BATLAYA offers young people good chances to be active, learn, enhance their talents, interact with others, and be forward-looking and contributory members of the school and their community.

MISSION AND VISION

The group aims to establish disciplined artists who promote the Vision and Mission set by the Center for Culture and the Arts office in the PLMar community and the whole City of the Marikina.

Vision

Conceive a Professional School-based Theater Guild specializing in Philippine Theater Performances, which is Globally Competitive.

In line with the Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA’s) vision and mission, BATLAYA envisions itself as becoming PLMar’s cradle of creative expression and forward-looking PLMarian in theater and culture identity with DISCIPLINE, GOOD TASTE, and EXCELLENCE.

Mission

• To help promote PLMar’s arts and culture through theater and its creative expressions, increase the accessibility of the students and public to the arts, and help enhance Marikina’s cultural heritage in local, national, and international scenes.
• To be the ambassador of Filipino cultural heritage by integrating Filipino values and culture through theater production.
• To use theater as a medium in mobilizing Filipino to rediscover, preserve and promote culture, heritage and tradition.
• To create and alternative pedagogy towards institution Aims Mount Theater performances that will highlight the academic and artistic excellence of PLMar students.
• To inculcate in members the value of attitude, discipline, and techniques in theater.
• To promote the mission and vision set by the Center for Culture and the Arts Office through theater performances.
• To serve the PLMar community thru the arts.
• To provide an alternative venue to discover both academic and artistic capabilities of its member.
• To promote the vision, mission set by the Center for the Culture and the Arts Office.
• To develop sustainable relationships with other member cultural group under CCA Office, the City of Marikina and other places in the field of Arts and Culture