What keeps the flame of a nation alive when history is marked by violence, sacrifice, and uncertainty? LIYAB, the musical play of Teatro Kaugnay, answers with a simple but resonant idea: love for country is not inherited as a finished legacy. It is a flame passed from one generation to the next.
Presented by Teatro Kaugnay in collaboration with KreativExpo Inc., the Metropolitan Theater, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), LIYAB showcases the extraordinary talents of the Philippine Army’s only theater company composed entirely of active-duty soldiers. The production gives nationalism a different theatrical language, placing soldiers not only in the role of defenders of the country, but also as storytellers who revisit the people and struggles that shaped the Filipino nation.
The musical brings together figures from Philippine history, including Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Vicente Lim, and Gabriela Silang, alongside characters from Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Rather than treating these names as distant figures confined to textbooks, LIYAB brings them back to the stage as reminders of the courage, sacrifice, and difficult choices that have long accompanied the Filipino struggle for freedom and dignity.
At the center of the production is liyab, or flame, a powerful metaphor for nationalism. The flame represents the love for country that can burn brightly, weaken under adversity, or even seem close to extinction, but can still be rekindled. Through music, dance, and theatrical storytelling, the production asks its audience to consider what happens when that flame is passed on: What values do we inherit, and what responsibilities come with carrying them forward?
The performances of Teatro Kaugnay give the production much of its distinct character. As an all-soldier theater company, its members bring discipline and commitment to the stage while embracing the emotional demands of musical theater. Their performances are not simply about portraying heroes. They communicate the weight of sacrifice and the courage required to stand for something greater than oneself. There is sincerity in the way the ensemble approaches the material, allowing the production’s message to reach the audience without unnecessary complication.
Created by Captain Ralph Andy Ranario, who also wrote the book and lyrics, LIYAB weaves courage, sacrifice, resilience, and nationalism through music, movement, and drama. Inspired by the vision of MGEN Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, the production highlights the arts as a means of education, cultural enrichment, and national unity.
Presented in celebration of Buwan ng Wika, Buwan ng Kasaysayan, and Araw ng mga Bayani, LIYAB reminds audiences that keeping the flame of nationalism alive is a responsibility passed from one generation to the next.
