Lipa City, Batangas — August 28, 2025. The University of Batangas Lipa City (UBLC) High School Department marked this year’s Buwan ng Wika celebration with a powerful cultural showcase—the ethno rock musical Ang Pag-ibig ni Kumintang, performed by the Lipa Actors Company (LAC). Written by Luisito Nario with music composed by Fernando Silva, the production offered students and the community a fresh perspective on Batangueño history and folklore.
The Buwan ng Wika, observed every August in line with Proclamation No. 1041 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos, serves as a nationwide celebration of the Filipino language and culture. Traditionally, schools commemorate the event with poetry reading, Balagtasan, essay and slogan-writing contests, poster-making, folk dance and song performances, culinary showcases, and Filipiniana attire parades—all designed to instill national pride and strengthen cultural identity among the youth.
This year, UBLC High School added a new dimension by inviting LAC to present Pag-ibig ni Kumintang. Set in the lakeside community of Bonbon near Taal Lake, the story follows the love between a mortal man and the goddess of Taal, which gives birth to a demi-god, Kumintang. Her fate mirrors her mother’s as she falls in love with Batang, a strong local man. The narrative intertwines themes of love, sacrifice, and cultural memory, recalling the mythical offering of a buwis-buhay—a life sacrificed each year to appease a grieving goddess and the restless Taal Volcano.
The initiative reflects UBLC’s broader commitment to enriching its cultural programs. According to High School Principal Mr. Jefferson M. Litan, the partnership with LAC aimed to make the celebration more timely and relevant.
“We would like to promote local knowledge among our students while building connections with our industry partners in the arts. Through this, we envision mentorship opportunities, especially for our Arts and Design strand,” he said.
This collaboration builds on the experiences of Teatro ACtibo, UBLC High School’s official theater group under the Culture, Arts, and Publications Office, which first engaged with LAC in 2024 through the play Duyan ng Kasaysayan at the Cultural Center of Lipa. That successful partnership inspired this year’s decision to bring LAC’s artistry directly to the UBLC community.
Founded by Mr. Luisito Torres Nario—a distinguished theater director, lighting designer, choreographer, and cultural organizer—the Lipa Actors Company has spent the past 15 years championing sustainable art management and producing original, socially relevant works. Nario, who studied at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and was a recipient of the 2009 CCP Arts Fellowship Program for Theater Directing, envisioned LAC as a hub for Batangueño storytelling. Today, with Nario transitioning to Co-Artistic Director, Mr. Peregrine Santiago leads the company as Artistic Director, expanding its original productions, regional collaborations, and educational programs.
Santiago explained that Pag-ibig ni Kumintang forms part of a trilogy centered on pivotal moments in Batangas history. The first installment draws from precolonial mythology and the eruptions of Taal Volcano; the second, Segunda sa Bisperas ng Kalayaan, explores Lipa’s rise as the coffee capital of the world during the Spanish era; and the third, Milagros, revisits the post-World War II years and the miraculous shower of petals at Mount Carmel. “Theater allows us to keep these stories alive,” Santiago shared. “It’s not only about entertainment—it’s about remembering who we are as Batangueños.”
Yet, Santiago acknowledged the challenges that regional theater companies face, citing limited funding and the absence of government support.
“We are not paid actors; we only receive allowances after shows. What keeps us going is passion, devotion, and service to the community. Thankfully, schools, universities, and private organizations continue to support us,” he said.
The production also spotlighted the achievements of UBian alumni now serving as resident artists of LAC, including Ms. Nayla Malimban, Mr. Mike Wendell Sanggalang, and Mr. Sherwin Celis. For Sangalang (BS Accountancy, Class of 2018), the return to UBLC was especially meaningful.
“From being a shy student and member of the UBLC Vocal Ensemble to now performing with LAC, I can say UB nurtured me not only academically but in real life. Coming back to perform for UB now, I feel proud to inspire students as an alumnus,” he said.
Looking ahead, LAC is preparing more Batangueño-centered works under Santiago’s leadership. Among these is Josefa Llanes Escoda: Puso ng Paglilingkod, a collaboration with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines set to premiere in December 2025 in Lucena City. The company also plans to launch an apprenticeship program for aspiring artists and strengthen collaborations with student theater groups like UBLC’s Teatro ACtibo.
As UBLC High School closed its 2025 Buwan ng Wika celebration, the message was clear: celebrating the Filipino language is not only about words, but about stories, heritage, and the collective memory of a people—kept alive onstage through the artistry of Batangueño theater. Through this celebration of Buwan ng Wika, the University of Batangas Lipa City reaffirms its commitment to showcasing local talents and preserving Batangueño culture. By opening its stage to powerful performances such as Ang Pag-ibig ni Kumintang, UBLC strengthens community ties and provides students with meaningful opportunities to explore their creativity and deepen their appreciation of the arts. True to its core value of the love of wisdom, the University continues to nurture young minds in embracing knowledge, heritage, and passion—guiding them to become well-rounded individuals who carry with them both excellence and cultural pride.