Atang: The best show in town

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Sunshine Dizon took the lie detector test in the "Dont Lie to Me" portion of "Showbiz Central" last Sunday and most of her answers were "Truths," except for the last question which involves a past boyfriend that she denied. Here are the questions:

You play a lesbian so effectively on TV and the movies. Is this because you really have lesbian tendencies? She said no and its the truth.

You admitted having had liposuction on your arms and back. Are there any other cosmetic procedures you took that you dont admit it in public? She said no and again, its true.

Matet de Leon denied she taught you how to drink and go to bars. But do you think shes been a bad influence to you? Her answer is no and its the truth.

During your "Anna Karenina" days, did you really have a short-lived romance with Dingdong Dantes? She said no and again, its true. She added that Dingdong was then on with AntoinetteTaus that time, whos her good friend.

The last question was: Among your past boyfriends, is it true you got hurt the most by Victor Neri? She said no and this time, shes lying. Sunshine denied they were ever on but its common knowledge then that they were an item. She said shes in good terms with Victor, whos now working in Hong Kong. The last time she went to Hong Kong, he even went arranged her hotel accommodations but she said she never saw him there. Its up to us if wed believe her or not.

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Ogie Alcasid took the Hot Seat with Pia Guanio and Rufa Mae Quinto as Central Jurors, plus his good friend Michael V. on the phone as guest juror. We dont know why the first question is whether its true that Regine Velasquez sulked after Ogie forgot their fourth anniversary when its so old hat. Regine herself revealed that two months ago and Ogie himself admitted in the "Desperadas 2" presscon that he has already been forgiven by Regine. He said hes guilty because he chose to work on that day but he made up for it by sending her a series of love letters.

Ogie says he was in Sydney to visit his daughters for three days and Regine was not with him because shes busy rehearsing for her "Divas 4 Divas" concert last Friday. How did his kids react to his playing the role of a woman in "Desperadas 2"?

"I showed them my pictures at tawa sila nang tawa."

Ogie chose to do the Killer Task. In "Divas 4 Divas," Regine became emotional and cried as she dedicated the song "And I Love You So" to Ogie. The task is now for him to sing live his own song that will be his respond to Regines number, and he sang his own composition, "Kailangan Kita."

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"Showbiz Central" also had an interview with Dennis Trillo about the statement of his ex-girlfriend Carlene Aguilar that shes scared Dennis might forget his responsibilities to their son Calyx in case hed have a serious girlfriend again. Dennis said Carlene has no reason to worry about as he has no plan of having a girlfriend now since hes so busy with work. He added that Carlene has no business meddling with his love life, "kasi matagal nang tapos ang relasyon namin at may kanya-kanya na kaming buhay." He also resented it when Carlene had a pictorial with their son for a magazine. "Ayoko sanang masyadong i-expose ang anak namin sa media," he said. But he added he enjoys being with Calyx. "Nakakapawi ng pagod kapaga binibisita ko siya pagkatapos ng trabaho. Magulo na, e. Tumatakbo na."

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Pia Guanio reported in "Showbiz Central" that GMA-7s contract star, Marky Cielo, who appears in "La Lola," passed away at 3 a.m. of Sunday morning. Its said that he was a victim of "bangungot" but its still being investigated what the real cause is. Only 20 years old, Marky was the top winner in "Starstruck 3." Our deepest sympathy to his family. Lets pray for the repose of his soul. May he rest in peace.

That same morning, our cousin Angela Maceda Alfon also passed away due to "bangungot." She just came home from Los Angeles last Wednesday to attend the wake of her brother, Leonardo Maceda, who came home from Melbourne, Australia to retire here the other week. Little did she know that she would be following Nards only after a week. Our condolences to the Maceda clan for whom 2008 is really tragic. Their deaths are book-ended by the death of my mother-in-law (aunt of Angie and Nards), Lourdes Maceda Arcega, on January 1, and the collapse of my own wife Victoria on January 31, so their family had two deaths in January and two in December. Were all praying that 2008 would soon go away as its been too painful for all of us. Angie now lies in state at the Christ the King chapel in Green Meadows. Lets all pray for her and all the departed loved ones in our family.

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We have seen a lot of locally written plays and most of them are crap. For a change, we highly recommend the original play with great kundiman, "Atang," certainly the theater event of the year based on the life of National Artist Honorata "Atang" de la Rama. Its a gem destined to be a classic in Philippine theater history and reaffirms Dulaang UPs status as a leading cultural force in local theater. The play works mainly because of Floy Quintos excellent writing, beautifully encapsulating in two hours the ups and downs in the colorful life story of the countrys first film star who initially shone on stage in zarzuela before doing the first local silent film, "Dalagang Bukid."

Floy cleverly uses a fictional film star, Gia Almonte (Ayen Munji-Laurel) to tell the story of Atang. Set in 1987 when Atang received the National Artist Award from Pres. Cory Aquino, Gia goes to visit the aging star in her humble home in Tondo to personally conduct her own research on Atang whose life she wants to do on film.

Atang (Frances Makil Ignacio) is at first hostile, resistant, but ultimately mellows and becomes the plays narrator as she recounts the most important events in her life.

Just like most true artists, Atang doesnt care to explain her own mystique. Her feet are firmly planted on the ground when it comes to recognizing the fact that the bitch goddess called fame is truly transitory. The original "maldita," she doesnt care to explain herself and the various legends about her dalliance with various men, including President Manuel Quezon, Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the poet Huseng Batute and composers who wrote songs specifically for her when she was the toast of the town.

The play also traces the transition of local showbiz from zarzuela to vaudeville and one of its most rousing musical numbers, a real showstopper, is "Mamang Gusting/Magkano ang Bibingka Mo," with Katy de la Cruz (played by the scene-stealing Bituin Escalante who apes the original Katys raspy and jazzy way of singing) and Atang doing a delightful showdown. It really brought the house down.

Then theres the poignant love story of Atang with poet Amado Hernandez, who was proclaimed a National Artist by Marcos ahead of her. They first meet in a very perfunctory manner in a balagtasan. He then woos her with his poems and they get married when she was 30 and he, 29. Its a marriage where both spouses manage to maintain their own individuality. They never had a child of their own but Atang took Ka Amados daughter with another woman as her own and they adopted another boy.

Ka Amado is an activist whose nationalism is reflected in his works like "Isang Dipang Langit" and "Mga Ibong Mandaragit." Hes also a labor leader who fights for the oppressed. For this, he was incarcerated in 1951 by President Elpidio Quirino and stayed in prison for more than five years. It was during this period that their marriage blossomed, with Atang smuggling pencil and paper into Ka Amados cell where he wrote a lot of his masterpieces.

Throughout the play, we hear various songs of Atang, from the playful first number, "Nabasag ang Banga," to the immortal kundiman of Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago like "Bituing Marikit," "Nasaan Ka Irog," and "Madaling Araw." One very touching song is "Pilipinas Kong Mahal (Bayan Ko)" by Constancio de Guzman which brought tears to our eyes. Using the plaintive "Pakiusap" as the final song is a touch of genius that is also very moving.

Present generation composer-arranger Von de Guzman (is he related to Constancio?) also superbly set into music Ka Amados poem, "Kitang Dalawa," delightfully reprised by the entire cast in the finale.

Expertly directed by Alexander Cortez, this play certainly deserves wider viewership as it gives todays young viewers a better perspective on local entertainment history. Viewers today who swoon only to the current crop of ephemeral teen stars will do themselves a favor by watching this very informative show, thanks to the background research made by dramaturge Anril Tiatco. Deserving special mention are the costumes by Eric Pineda, choreography by Dexter Santos, scenic design by Tux Rutaquio, lighting by Luther Gumia and the music provided by Renato Lucas (cello), Michelle Nicolasura and Noel de la Rosa (piano) and Marx Taylan (violin.)

The fine ensemble acting of leads and chorus is splendid but the portrayals that hold the play together are really the fabulous performances of Ayen as Gia/Atang and Frances as the octogenarian Atang. Ayen is fortunate to be able to sing all those great songs in the play and she does give justice to all of them. She also looks great in the elegant terno she wears throughout the show.

Frances as the old grand dame is very moving in a number of scenes, her face a veritable relief map of nostalgic and painful feelings as she returns to scenes of her colorful past. Do yourself a favor. Watch "Atang" at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater at Palma Hall in UP Diliman. Forget concerts, TV and movies. Its simply the best show in town today. The night we watched it, the other theatergoers were KC Concepcion, Cherie Gil, Fanny Serrano, director Louie Ignacio, and writers Lea Salterio, Shirley Pizarro and Kaye Villagomez. All of them are raving about "Atang."

Source: Malaya