Bona: From screen to stage

MANILA, Philippines - Artista searches see their roots in the reality-TV genre. They have become launching pads of today’s young stars. Fame assures showbiz wannabes good fortune. That’s why many are lured to join artista and even talent searches, even though they just bank on their arresting looks and sheer confidence.

This is where Gino Sanchez played by Edgar Allan Guzman is coming from in the stage adaptation of the Lino Brocka masterpiece Bona. Eugene Domingo plays the title role. Opening tonight at the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Theater Center, the contemporary take on the 1980 film classic is a welcome interpretation that every social media-oriented fan can relish.           

“The theme of being a fan is something important to interrogate now,” offers PETA artistic director Maribel Legarda. “The fans in the ‘70s and the fans now are very different… (PETA’s) Bona is an adaptation but the (movie’s) major plot points and the famous water scene will be there. It’s not Bona without the tapunan (ng tubig).”

“We chose iconic scenes that one can see in the movie version and the stage adaptation,” adds Soxie Topacio, Bona director and one of PETA’s senior founding members. “(This time around,) Bona, the character, is not just in conflict with her family but also with her friend and sister. We also have Nanding Josef’s character who (tries to win the heart of) Bona. He is offering a different kind of life to Bona. It’s a more secured life which she eventually gives up. We still have the iconic scene of buhusan and we also start with the Nazareno (scene).”

Although PETA’s 45th season centers on the “no-screen bigger-than-theater” theme, the theater company also looks back on its big-screen connection having had Lino Brocka, Mario O’ Hara, Maryo J. delos Reyes, Joel Lamangan, Soxie Topacio, Phil Noble and Ellen Ongkeko as its directors.

“Historically, PETA has always been connected to other forms of media,” shares Maribel. “For this year, we want to go back to that; we want to interrogate the relationship between theater and film. After all, cinema sprang from theater. Instead of (viewing) the two as separate (entities) — ayan ang pelikula; andito ang teatro — (hopefully,) let’s erase the borders between them. In Lino’s time, he would emphasize to his actors like Hilda Koronel and Phillip Salvador that they have to do theater even once in a while. It will help them (improve their) craft and skills. We still believe in that up to now. It’s good that theater people cross over (to movies) and film people cross over to (stage). That way, we all win because we enrich the art through the exchange.”

Also in the mode of tracing her roots is Eugene, a Theater Arts graduate of University of the Philippines and a product of Dulaang UP. Bona is her first collaboration with PETA.

“I spoke to direk Soxie, Maribel and (writer) Lalie (Bucoy), telling them na kahit banlian ninyo ako ng kumukulong tubig, hindi ko kaya yung ginawa ni Ms. Nora Aunor,” replies Eugene when asked about her approach to the La Aunor character. “I also told that to Ate Guy and she was just laughing and laughing. What I really want to achieve with the stage adaptation of Bona is to entertain Ate Guy when she watches it. I also intend to show that what she did then in the movie, which is now a classic, is still worth watching. The essence of the film is still there. But we have to cater to more audiences because the socio-political environment and the times then are very different from now. It’s our way of paying homage to Lino Brocka, (scriptwriter) Cenen Ramones and Ms. Nora Aunor for their classic work.”

Edgar Allan Guzman plays a contestant in the star search titled Star of Tomorrow of Channel 72

Eugene’s Bona is three-dimensional, says Layeta Bucoy. The stage adaptation will explore every aspect of Bona’s persona including her background and past experiences. These perhaps what drive Bona to help Gino in his showbiz quest.

Theatergoers will not see a weak Bona, who is dependent on her family; she’s a call center agent, who gets tired of perpetually helping her family. The 2012 Bona is also into teaching Koreans English and fortune telling. Think tanks behind Bona also argue if one’s social status has a connection to having that all-adoring fan mentality.  

Since the Gino character tries his luck in the star search titled Star of Tomorrow of Channel 72, many can’t help but think that Bona is somehow a form of criticism to the quality of young stars we have today. According to direk Soxie, many aspire to become actors nowadays. Showbiz watchers are quick to add that only few can indeed act. “Pakiramdam nila na gwapo sila at maganda sila,” he says. “It is sad kasi kaming mga direktor ang nahihirapan.” So, it’s salamat dok, err, direk, for curing the actor’s shot, making him look believable onscreen and helping him clinch his first acting award.  

Thus, a foray into theater is prescribed for showbiz newbies to imbibe the right working attitude and acquire the needed performing skills.

(Bona will run from Fridays to Sundays until Sept. 23. For details, call 725-6244, 0917-5765400 or 0916-3090707.)