Reyes wrote Walang Sugat during a censorship-heavy era. By setting the story during the Spanish Revolution, he was able to criticize the hypocrisy of the Church and the greed of the rich—targets that were still relevant under the new American flag.
Zarzuela (three acts)
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Severino Reyes dropped a masterpiece in 1902 that still gives us chills: Walang Sugat .
At first glance, Walang Sugat is a love story. But to read it only as a romance is to miss Severino Reyes’ genius. The title is a political statement. The "wound" is not just Julia’s broken heart; it is the wound of a nation bleeding from three centuries of Spanish friars, followed by the broken promises of the Americans.
Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes (1861-1935)
When we talk about the golden age of Philippine theater, one name stands tall: , the "Father of the Zarzuela." While he is famous for Ang Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang , his greatest contribution to stage drama is the masterpiece Walang Sugat (No Wound).