Ang Larawan post MFF 2017 awards night

"Ang Larawan," A Portrait of a Filipino as an Artist in Pilipino musical offers to the Filipino cinema audience a form of telling a story, in old fashioned Filipino opera musical.

It is not popular in today's entertainment which is predominated by romantic comedy, action, horror, drama, sex, comedy. Its theme is even elitist, a story of an aristocratic class set in landed class' domain in the early 40's. Thus it is not expected to draw a crowd.

Yet there are reasons and even compelling emotions for us to experience it at least in this decade. Plots are universal: family conflict over properties, sibling rivalry, career shift, hand to mouth existence, fashion, repressed love, aspirations.

Language is Filipino written to music by maestro Ryan Cayabyab, story by Nick Joaquin translated to Filipino by Rolando Tinio. Directed and staged by Loy Arcenas, production is outstanding to the smallest detail setting up for the seasoned, veteran and disciplined actors to essay their roles well.

Ang Larawan grabbed from Philstar

For the non theater goers, it takes a while get into the groove but once engaged you are hooked ready to receive the message of the writer whose work has been reviewed extensively competently by scholars and literature experts.

"Ang Larawan's" message from my perspective which is what a piece of fine literature attempts to convey is the pain and thrill of being human.

"Ang Larawan" is the Filipino artist's gift to the world. Bravo!