Based on Aurelio Tolentino's seditious play "Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (Yesterday, today, and Tomorrow)," this mechanical diorama shows the allegorical struggle of the Philippines (depicted literally as the character "Ynang Bayan" or Motherland) against the foreign colonizers from the 1500's to the early 1900's.
It was banned at the time of its writing due to the suppression of any display of patriotism by the Filipinos under the American colonial rule between the 1900s to the 1940s. It is considered a classic piece of Philippine colonial literature, albeit lacking in widespread fame.
In the three acts, she and her children confronts "Haringbata" (Child-King) who represents Imperial China, "Dilatnabulag" (Wide-eyed Blind) as Spain, and the ambiguous "Malaynatin" (Of Whom We Know Nothing) as America. The diorama was built as part of my undergraduate thesis.
Poster for the Thesis exhibit
The first mechanical diorama for the first act, "Ang Kahapon" (Yesterday). It depicts Haringbata was slain by the hero Tagailog (River-dweller).
The second mechanical diorama for the second act, "Ang Ngayon (Today)". It depicts the resurrection of Motherland from her grave.
The third mechanical diorama for the third and last act, "Ang Bukas" (Tomorrow). It depicts the nightmare of Malaynatin (the American government).
The three dioramas.
