Performances of the week

REYES. Gets well-deserved chance to redeem herself.

Last month, it was Gerald Anderson’s portrayal in “Budoy” that impressed us with its discretion and quiet force. Last Saturday, the best performances on the tube were both turned in by Maricar Reyes and Dimples Romana on “Maala-ala Mo Kaya.”

The episode, which was shot in Canada, dramatized the story of a Filipino caregiver (portrayed by Maricar) who was diagnosed with cancer while working there, but was denied medical assistance and threatened with repatriation to the Philippines.

The “official” point of the drama was the caregiver’s fight for her rights, which made it possible for other foreign workers in Canada to get better treatment.

But, the episode’s personal dramatization was even more telling and moving, because it showed Maricar’s character bravely forging on despite the ultimately fatal consequences of her terminal illness.

Ordeal

To her credit, the actress focused, not on the mawkish and lugubrious aspects of her character’s ordeal, but on her indomitability and determination to improve not just her own prospects, but the lives of other foreign workers, as well. At the same time, she didn’t make her character an all-out heroine, but presented viewers with a choice combination or give-and-take between bravery and natural human fear and trembling.

Maricar’s good showing on the “MMK” episode proves that the industry’s decision to give her a chance to redeem herself after the scandal she was involved in years ago was a very wise move. We trust that this will motivate local show biz to similarly “forgive” other deserving actors, because we really do need all the real talents we can get.

Dimples was cast in the “secondary” role of Maricar’s best friend and morale booster, but her natural, felt and focused portrayal made the part an important one, certainly much more than the usual “shoulder to cry on” that some other actresses might have limited their portrayal.

It was most rewarding to watch the two fine actresses in their scenes together – the “organic” artistic interaction, the mutual involvement, and the way they both made their scenes build to a moving climax were very different indeed from some other performers’ fierce competitiveness and determination to upstage each other.

Similarly, we liked the quiet but intense performance turned in by the actor who played Maricar’s husband. Unfortunately, the actor cast as Dimples’ spouse was unable to match the superior thespic standard they had set. Well, win some, lose some – indeed!

Christmas series

Other TV portrayals this past week: When we first wrote about the Christmas series, “Ikaw Ay Pag-ibig,” we rued the fact that Malou de Guzman was seen only once, in a scene where she helped Dimples Romana’s character give birth, but was never heard from again.

We hoped against hope that she would reappear before the series ended – and, what do you know, it really must be Christmas, because last week, we got our wish! That’s right, Malou was brought back to help tie up some of the story’s loose ends, and make it possible for Dimples to finally realize that her missing baby boy had grown up to become Zaijian Jaranilla’s “waif” character. Thanks, TV Santa, for the wish fulfilled!

More seriously now, Dimples came up with another felt portrayal in “Pag-ibig,” in the scene in which Malou movingly informed her that her “dead” baby might just possibly still be alive.

Dimples’ reaction to the first hopeful news she’d had in years was truly touching. So, her consistent on-cam work on two shows makes her the TV performer of the week!