August 16, 2025
It was October 1941. The old Marasigan mansion in Intramuros has seen better days. Spinster sisters Candida and Paula were left to take care of the house and their elderly father Don Lorenzo, and they were struggling financially to pay the bills. Their well-off elder brother Manolo and Pepang preferred to just sell the house. Meanwhile, the last painting of Don Lorenzo caught the attention of critics, journalists and art buyers alike.
If there was a poll for the most famous play written by a Filipino author, it is very likely that "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" written by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin in 1950 will be in that list. My introduction to it was the 1965 film directed by National Artist for Film Lamberto V. Avellana. I then saw it as a play staged by Repertory Philippines in 2009. Both of these used the original English version of Joaquin.
In 2017, there was a filmed musical adaptation in Filipino entitled "Ang Larawan," first translated by National Artist for Theater and Literature Rolando Tinio, and adapted into songs and set into music by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab in 1997. This latest adaptation was based on a Filipino translation by Jerry Respeto, and reinterpreted as a Greek tragedy for the stage by director Guelan Luarca with choreography by Ronelson Yadao.
We see the radical difference of Luarca's style right In the opening scene. When family friend Bitoy Camacho (Roldine Ebrada) was describing the glory days of the Marasigan household, he had eight white-faced "ghosts" behind him serving as Greek chorus telling the story as flashbacks of their memories right along with him. From these ghosts emerged elder siblings Manolo (Jethro Tenorio) and Pepang (Maita Ponce), the assertive Doña Upeng (Meyanne Plamenio-Cortezano) and poet turned senator, Don Perico (an outstanding Brian Sy).
Delphine Buencamino was the perfect embodiment of Candida. She was resourceful and had a sense of humor, but the continuous cruelty of their fate had made her jaded and exhausted with life. Gab Pangilinan's Paula initially felt too young to worry about being called a spinster. However, later on this perceived youth would complement Paula's seeming impulsiveness and naivete. Their closeness as sisters felt very genuine, making us sympathize sincerely.
Aside from Candida, Paula and Bitoy, the only other character who was not a ghost was Tony Javier, a student who was renting a room at the Marasigan house. He was working nights at the vaudeville as a piano player while he studied to be a lawyer during the day. As Tony was typically played by debonair actors like Ricky Davao or Paulo Avelino, Vino Mabalot felt miscast because his Tony was immature, with no worldly sophistication nor sense of danger.
The highlight of D Cortezano's set and props was the capiz backdrop. Shadows of characters behind it can be seen, which was how the rat catching scene was executed among others, aided by Jethro Nibaten's lighting. Capiz windows would also "fall" all around during the bombing of Intramuros scene, making us all feel caved in. Ali Figueroa's costume design had period flair, with those of ghosts more attention-catching than those of the living. John Robert Yam (sound design) and Matthew Chang (music) provided the eerie aural atmosphere.
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"Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati" has a limited 2-weekend run only, playing only 11 shows on August 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 PM, and on August 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, at the Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University. Tickets are priced at P1,499 (Premium) and P999 (Regular).
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