Pio Kabahar

Pio Abelgas Kabahar (October 11, 1892 – March 7, 1977 ), also known as Piux A. Kabahar, was a Cebuano composer, playwright, journalist, and director. He was best known as a playwright, he was the director of the first Cebuano moving picture, Bertoldo ug Balodoy.

Early life Pio Kabahar was born to the couple Justo Kabahar and Margarita Abelgas on October 11, 1892. He was influenced by his father who was a musician, and he played violin for the Mauricia Gahuman's dancing hall, as well as other musical instruments such as the mandolin, guitar, cello, banjo, bandurria, kubing, and percussions. When he had saved enough, he paid for his studies at the Cebu Provincial High School.

Career He first taught at Recoleto Central School for four years

Stage plays Later, he became a playwright, particularly of zarzuelas. The music of his zarzuelas were his own composition as well as the compositions of Manuel Velez, Jose Estella, and Pidong Villaflor. In addition, he also directed his plays and the works of his contemporaries including Buenaventura Rodriguez, Jacinto Alcor, and Fernando Alfon. He also wrote the Rosas Pandan.

In 1935, he co-founded Cebu Musical Dramatic Art Studio together with Fernando Alfon and Vicente Castillo. The organization's aim was to develop the arts in Cebu. with the distinction that Kabahar wrote comedy while Rodriguez wrote reflective drama. Gugma sa Inahan (Mother's Love) was considered the best among his works that featured themes of national independence and criticism on the effects of colonization. and Rosas Pandan.

Cebu municipal board Kabahar also served as secretary to the Municipal Board of Cebu and became member of the council from 1932 until 1962.

Historical commemoration

A street in Guadalupe, Cebu City was named in his honor.

Works

Zarzuelas

Nagun-uba sa Lan- git (1917) Ang Ismirismis (1919) Hm! (1919) Alaut(1919) Fe, Esperanza, Caridad (1920) Fifi (1929) Gugma sa Inahan (1933) Mr ug Mrs (1940)

Plays

Limbong ni Tintay (1916) Miss Dolying (1920) Kasingkasing (1921) Aling Pulana (1923) Santo Papa (1931) Sinakit (1933) Tulo Ka Adlaw sa Langit (1933)

Films

Bertoldo ug Balodoy (1939) Rosas Pandan