An original military-produced musical celebrating Filipino identity and history took center stage at Ricarte Hall, Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, when Teatro Kaugnay — the homegrown theatre group of the 7th Infantry "Kaugnay" Division — mounted its one-act production, "Liyab," on May 25, 2026. The staging was part of the country's ongoing National Heritage Month observance held every May.
The production, written and directed by Captain Ralph Andy L. Ranario of the Philippine Army, weaves together themes of nationalism, Philippine history, and national identity through storytelling and cultural performance. The work represents one of the more distinctive creative outputs from within the AFP's ranks in recent years — a fully staged original musical conceived, produced, and performed by soldiers and military-affiliated artists.
Army Chief Personally Endorses the Production
Army Chief Lieutenant General Nafarrete attended the matinee performance at Fort Bonifacio and publicly praised both the cast and the production team. Speaking in Filipino following the show, Lt. Gen. Nafarrete expressed the Philippine Army's commitment to supporting creative initiatives as a means of strengthening national consciousness — not only among military personnel but also among civilian audiences who attended.
According to a statement released by Colonel Louie G. Dema-ala, Chief Public Affairs of the Philippine Army, the Army chief stressed that Teatro Kaugnay had successfully translated lessons from Philippine history into a compelling theatrical experience. Lt. Gen. Nafarrete noted that the production effectively stirred a sense of fraternity and patriotism among everyone who watched it. His personal attendance and remarks signal a clear institutional endorsement of the arts as a vehicle for civil-military engagement.
A Division Commander's Vision Behind the Theatre Group
The founding of Teatro Kaugnay is credited to Major General Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division. Maj. Gen. Pasamonte conceptualized the theatre group with the stated vision of elevating Philippine history and culture as the bedrock of national identity. For the Fort Bonifacio run of "Liyab," he served as executive producer.
The Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, OG7, partnered with the 7th Infantry Division to mount the production at Fort Bonifacio. The show was co-produced alongside private stakeholder KreativExpo Inc., forming a public-private partnership that brought additional creative and logistical resources to the project. The involvement of a private creative firm alongside a military unit is a notable aspect of the Philippine Army's evolving civil-military operations framework, which has increasingly incorporated cultural programming as a tool for community awareness and national engagement.
Production Previously Performed at Camp Aguinaldo
The Fort Bonifacio performances were not the first time "Liyab" was staged for an audience. The musical had its earlier run on March 30, 2026, at Tejeros Hall, Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The two-venue run — first at Camp Aguinaldo in March, then at Fort Bonifacio in May — demonstrates a deliberate effort to bring the original work to different audiences within the AFP community and beyond. The timing of the May performances was clearly aligned with National Heritage Month, allowing the production to serve as a cultural contribution to a nationally recognized observance period. The gap between the two stagings suggests careful scheduling rather than an improvised continuation.
National Heritage Month and the "Liyab" Connection
National Heritage Month is observed throughout May in the Philippines under Proclamation No. 439, Series of 2003, signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The proclamation encourages government agencies, educational institutions, and cultural organizations to hold events that celebrate Filipino cultural heritage, history, and the arts during this period.
The staging of "Liyab" by Teatro Kaugnay fits precisely within this tradition. The title itself — "Liyab," a Filipino word roughly meaning "flame" or "blaze" — carries deliberate symbolic resonance, evoking the passion and fervor associated with patriotism and national pride. The use of an original Filipino-language script further reinforces the production's commitment to centering Philippine culture and identity as the focus of its storytelling.
The Philippine Army's participation in National Heritage Month activities through theatrical performance positions the military institution not only as a guardian of national security but also as an active participant in the country's broader cultural life.
Captain Ranario's Script at the Core of the Production
Captain Ranario's dual role as playwright and director places him at the creative center of "Liyab." According to the Philippine Army's official statement released through Col. Dema-ala's office, the script challenges audiences to examine their understanding of nationalism by threading historical narrative together with cultural expression and questions of collective identity.
The decision to have an active military officer serve simultaneously as writer and director reflects an institutional culture within the 7th Infantry Division that values artistic expression alongside conventional military discipline. Captain Ranario's work on "Liyab" stands as evidence of the creative talent present within the AFP's ranks — talent that, through Teatro Kaugnay, now has a formal platform for expression and public presentation.
Teatro Kaugnay as a Bridge Between Military and Community
Teatro Kaugnay operates under the 7th Infantry "Kaugnay" Division, one of the Philippine Army's major combined arms divisions. The word "Kaugnay" translates to "connected" or "linked" in Filipino — a name that reflects the division's broader emphasis on building meaningful bonds between the military and the communities it serves.
The theatre group extends this philosophy into the cultural sphere, using the performing arts as a bridge between an institutional body and the general public. By producing original works grounded in Philippine history and identity, Teatro Kaugnay positions the military as a steward and advocate of national culture. This approach is consistent with the AFP's civil-military operations mandate, which recognizes that trust and engagement with communities are as vital to the institution's mission as operational capability.
The co-production arrangement with private partner KreativExpo Inc. also points to an openness within the military to collaboration with the private creative sector — a partnership model that could potentially expand the reach, scale, and production quality of future Teatro Kaugnay projects.
Final Performance and Public Access
As of the release of the Philippine Army's official public affairs statement, a final performance of "Liyab" was scheduled for May 26, 2026, at Ricarte Hall, Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City — giving members of the public and the AFP community one last opportunity to see the production before it concluded its current run.
The official statement from Col. Dema-ala's office did not include details on ticket pricing or public registration requirements for the Fort Bonifacio venue. Those wishing to attend were advised to coordinate directly with the Philippine Army's public affairs office for guidance on venue access and other logistics.
No announcements regarding additional tour dates or future stagings of "Liyab" beyond the May 26 closing night had been released by the Philippine Army as of the statement's publication. However, the production's strong reception — including the personal commendation from Army Chief Lt. Gen. Nafarrete — suggests that Teatro Kaugnay's work is unlikely to go unnoticed within the institution's future cultural programming plans.
Source: Philippine Army Public Affairs Office / breakingnewsnegor.com