Vic Silayan’s ‘dangerously dark’ characterizations glowingly, gratefully remembered

Vic Silayan

Our recent column on the country’s TV-film drama “kings” made mention of past acting greats like Vic Silayan.

This citation in turn elicited encomiums and follow-up queries about the late, great thespian, from “senioring” film buffs who, like us, appreciate Silayan’s exceptional ability to create vivid screen characters who have withstood the test of time. Happy to oblige:

Looking back on Silayan’s memorable film starrers, he fully deserved his sterling cachet as an acting icon, because he figured in some of the best
Filipino films ever made.

After honing his thespic teeth onstage at the Ateneo, Vic was cast in the early films of fellow Atenean Lamberto V. Avellana and other ace megmen, like “Badjao,” “Higit sa Lahat,” “Perlas ng Silangan,” “Anak Dalita,” “Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay,” “Zamboanga” and “Malvarosa.”

Some of his finest starrers won awards not only nationally, but also regionally.

In the ’70s, Vic was “rediscovered” by younger filmmakers like Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon. Lupita Kashiwahara and Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who cast him in truly challenging roles in “Ligaw na Bulaklak,” “Kisapmata,” “Paru-parong Itim,” “Karnal,” “Diligan Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa” and “Alas Singko ng Umaga, Gising na ang mga Anghel” (love those old film titles!).

Vic’s ’70s movies required him to go much “darker” and more sinister than before, plunging into a “dangerous” depth of characterization that hasn’t been matched by anyone who’s come after him.

So, ambitious actors who want to “stretch” their thespic ability should closely study Vic’s “signature” portrayals, particularly in “Ligaw na Bulaklak,” “Karnal” and “Kisapmata.”

We were privileged to perform onstage with Vic in some plays directed by Rolando Tinio.

How did it feel performing with an acting great? It was a uniquely challenging and valuable experience, because Vic was the kind of actor who just “masked” (outlined) his character in rehearsals—but “exploded” with full-blown intensity on performance night!

So, you had to be a really strong, “cool and collected” coactor to not be blown away by the tsunami-force thespic energy and fully realized characterization that he unexpectedly
unleashed!

Previous to acting with Vic, we had already performed with the similarly “powerful and surprising” Tita Muñoz. So, we were able to hold our thespic ground.

We got to know Vic better as a colleague and friend, and we enjoyed his company, as well as that of his brother Ren, and daughters Chat and Aurora.

Even better, Vic would regale us with fun anecdotes about the theater and film greats he had performed with in both local and international
coproduction ventures.

Flash forward to this decade: It’s heartening to learn that Vic’s grandson, Victor Silayan, has also gone into TV-film acting.

We’ve caught some of his performances and can happily report that Victor is both good-looking and a fine, young actor.

So, Lolo Vic should be right proud!