REVIEW: FILIPINAS: 1941

Written By: Mr. Eric Borromeo

Filipinas 1941 is simply beautiful. From its opening act to the grand finale, the stage play will hold you
enthralled. Factual or fictional, it would not matter, the artistry and pageantry will definitely leave a lingering impression
on you.
Written and directed by Vince Tanada, and presented by Philippine Stagers Foundation, Filipinas 1941 revolves
around the story of brothers Felipe (Vince Tanada) and Nestor (Patrick Libao) during the pre- and post-World War II
Philippines. Leading two different lives, their story was told in a kaleidoscope of monologues, singing, and dancing.
Direk Vince made sure each scenes will hold their ground to imprint, in so many ways, subliminal messages to
the audience the comic situations of Dona Paz (Jerie Sanchez) and his husband Don Selo (Rotsen Etolle), the American
nuisances of Gen. McArthur (Chris Lim), even the romantic scenes between Felipe and Sofia (Adelle Ibarrientos) and
Nestor and Emilia (Cindy Liper) were not only entertaining but also thought-provoking.
Least to say, the scenes go beyond what the eyes can only see. Even Don Selo and Dona Paz comic situation
was a bitter way of saying the joke is really on us. Or the war torn lovers longings is a bitter-sweet imagery of love, lost
and regained.
Direk Vince subtly reached in to touch the very core of our psyches.
Very often the most effective way to convey an important message is to tell it as it is, and thats one of the many
triumphs of Filipinas 1941.
Direk Vince captured a wide audience with this play. Filipinas 1941 is playful for the younger audience, but its
biting to a more mature audience.
Its historic, but history is a vicious cycle. So, Filipinas 1941 is as timely as todays events. You dont have to
dig deeper into the history of Wold War II to understand the evil of anarchy. Theres still an ongoing war, not only in our
country, but also in the whole world today.
But what makes Filipinas 1941 truly remarkable is its celebration of love and the triumph of the spirit of man
amidst any tragedies. It seemed trite, but Direk Vince direction and storytelling delivered it straight right into the hearts of
his audience.
And this writer would not be ashamed to admit it made him cry.

What made Filipinas: 1941 (Isang Dulayawit) deeply engrossing was the fact that it valued the bondage of family
and friendships, the great relationship between two brothers caught-up in the midst of war, and the very personal message
of hope that existed when people never gave-up on love against all odds.
But, theres more into it. What we saw were young people who still looked so beautiful even when they executed
scenes of great horror, discomfort and torture. Even when the hardships of each of the scenes did aggravate them- they all
still looked so beautiful ONSTAGE. Thats so mesmerizing. And fascinating.
Vince Tanada essays the role of Felipe (with Kevin Posadas as alternate), Patrick Adrian Libao as Nestor
(with Kenneth Sadsad as alternate), Adelle Ibarrientos-Lim as Sofia (with Nikki Joy Villaviray as alternate) and
Cindy Liper as Emilia (with Cherry Bagtas and Alence Villanueva as alternates).
Other important roles are played by Jomar Bautista as Manuel L. Quezon (with JV Cruz as alternate), Chin Ortega as
Tata Edong, Chris Lim as Gen. Douglas McArthur, JP Lopez as Jose P. Laurel and Gabby Bautista as Pancho (with
John Rey Rivas as alternate).
Vince Tanada as Felipe
Tanada said the idea had been playing in his head during the run of Bonifacio, Isang Sarsuwela which he also penned,
directed and starred in. To put things together, he secluded himself in the paradisiacal island of Boracay and finished the
script and libretto all in just four days.
It took another month-and-a-half to put in the music, choreography and other aspects of the production and the outcome
is impressive, awesome, jaw-breaking one hell of a show!

Patrick Libao as Nestor

Against a static three-layer backdrop, but with videos playing in the background at times, the strength of Filipinas 1941
lies on the lines, the music (by Pipo Cifra), the superb acting of everyone in the 42-member ensemble.
Adelle Ibarrientos-Lim as Sofia
In fact, it is by far superior than the highly acclaimed Miss Saigon (which catapulted Lea Salonga and other Filipino
artists to international recognition) in terms of hitting the very core of the soul.
Cindy Liper as Emilia
Filipinas 1941 starts with younger Nestor catching up with older Felipe in the American-run school who flunks again for
being so poor in understanding the lessons, which made him downtrodden with inferiority complex.
Jomar Bautista as Manuel L. Quezon
The younger sibling, who finishes at the top of the class, offers his medal to the older one. Nestor becomes successful in
business and Felipe is left to tend the land.
The conflict starts to build up when their mother dies, then comes the war. When Nestor is hit by shrapnel from Japanese
bombardment, Felipe comes to the rescue, carries his brother on his back then in his arms for hundreds of thousands of
steps to the hospital.
Chris Lim as Gen. Douglas McArthur
Nestor submits his fate to the pronouncement of the experts the doctors and nurses that he could no longer walk.
Felipe, however, believes in willpower and forces Nestor to try walking again and never give up, to which the younger
brother slumps to the floor instead then curses his older brother who saved his life.
JP Lopez as Jose P. Laurel
When Japanese forces bomb the surroundings hitting the hospital, Nestor is left with no one except himself, so by
willpower, as what Felipe taught him, he stands, walks and escapes. Thru his in-laws, Nestor does business with the
Japanese, making shoes for the enemies of the state.
Driven out by his brothers hatred, Felipe gets to meet guerillas and Hukbalahap members, meeting Tata Edong and
young Pancho along the way, making his adventures more colorful and comedic in some instances. He becomes leader of
the revolutionaries.
Gabby Bautista as Pancho
History then unfolds some of it Filipinos already know, some of it majority never cared to know: like Jose P. Laurel
accepted the presidency given to him by the Japanese Imperial Army because for him, the Philippines is still better led by
a Filipino than a foreigner; that President Manuel L. Quezon paid Gen. Douglas McArthur US$500,000 to come to
defend the country from Japanese invasion.
(Vince, who himself is an avid historian, asserts that there is evidence to this as shown in the contract signed between
Quezon and McArthur.)
Chin Ortega as Tata Edong
Filipinas 1941 aims to educate and entertain, not just students or stage production aficionados, but every Juan, practically
every Filipino to feel patriotism in every fiber of their being and look back at the sacrifices of their forefathers who
paved the way for the freedom they are enjoying right now.