Elegy for Intramuros/Eulogy for a loved one

The genius of Nick Joaquin shone in every scene of the recently re-staged “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino”. To the end, the play throbbed with conflict — conflict between pragmatism and idealism, between old and new values, between the realistic and the quixotic. The direction of Jose Mari Avellana and the performance of an excellent cast maintained the highest theater standards of Repertory Philippines.

Irma Adlawan Marasigan as Candida and Liesl Batucan as Paula shared honors for their acutely sensitive and profoundly moving delineation of the spinster sisters whose feelings range from ecstatic joy to despair (Ana Abad Santos was Candida for the gala evenings.)

Amidst the setting designed by Jose Mari, which reflected an old-world ambiance, the audience witnessed the aforementioned tug-of-war between the spinsters' idealism and the pragmatism of their sister Pepang (Jay Glorioso) and brother Manolo (Jeremy Domingo) who wish to sell the house occupied by Candida and Paula. The conflict continues to arrest and compel attention as the profligate boarder Tony Javier, brilliantly acted out by Randy Villarama, insists on selling the portrait Don Lorenzo has painted for his two daughters who staunchly refuse to yield.

Congruent with the passing La Naval procession is the passing of an era and its cherished values as conveyed by Don Lorenzo’s friends veteran actors Baby Barredo as the sharp-tongued Doña Upeng and Chinggoy Alonso as the voluble Don Aristeo ignited the final scene with their striking portrayals. So did Dido de la Paz as Don Perico. Even the brief appearances of harlots Astorte Abraham and Jenny Zamora sizzled. Bonggoy Manahan was the affectingly frail Don Lorenzo.

Jose Mari’s grip was tight, his perception keen. The exits and entrances were finely tuned; the interplay, kept tense and agitated, often reached fiery explosive climaxes. Joel Trinidad, thoroughly persuasive as Bitoy Camacho, an old family friend, opened and closed the magnificent drama with an eloquent elegy for the old intramuros, Joaquin's noble and ever loyal City.

* * *

Last Jan. 29, I was requested by Marissa Orosa (Mrs. Joey Concepcion) to give an eulogy for her father Jose de Santos Orosa, son of my late brother, the banker Sixto Jr.

My extemporaneous remarks, delivered at the wake held in a chapel at Santuario de San Antonio, follow:

Dear friends of Joe: Of the many things I have done in my life, few have pleased me. One of these was visiting Joe a week before he died. He looked pale and wan but his face brightened up when he saw me. Forthwith, I prayed for him and over him in payment for a debt. Let me explain.

A few months ago, I attended a dinner hosted by Joey and Marissa. At that time, Joe still looked hale and hearty. On the other hand, I must have looked so wretched and miserable a sinner that Joe prayed over me.

When they were children, Joe and his brothers stayed with us in our pre-war house on Taft. Joe’s mother always dreaded the time Joe, as a little boy, would cry because he would do so for half an hour or more, wailing and whining.

Joe’s nickname then was “Kine”. I don’t know how that came about. I believe his mother gave it to him. My subsequent explanation for “Kine” was my nephew had kinetic energy!

After Joe’s banking career, he entered government service but stayed in it only briefly. My own private explanation is that being an honest man and a man of integrity, he could not stand the bureaucracy, the ineptness and, above all, the corruption.

Joe was kind and thoughtful. Through the years, and even lately, Joe would call me up and we would exchange words of endearment. His wife Marily recounted to me that he never complained during his long illness, and that to the very end, he was a real gentleman, slipping away very quietly.

Joe is now with God, singing with the angels. (End of eulogy)

I should have added then that Joe was a gentle, loving husband and father. His wife Marily and children — Marissa, Martha, Gigi, Joey and Jay adored him. Among the many present at the wake were Joe and Marivic Concepcion, Ariston Estrada Jr. and Joe Campos.