Thespians breathed life into love-triangle tale

It was 1974, and I had just been released from Camp Crame. UP Repertory was scheduled to stage Ricaredo Demetillo’s Palanca-winning play, “The Heart of Emptiness is Black,” about a love triangle.

In Demetillo’s local version of “Camelot,” the dedicated Datu Sumakwel ignored his beautiful wife, Kapinangan, in his pursuit of social reform in Panay. He entrusted his young wife to his nephew, Gurong-gurong, after which a romantic triangle resulted, with tragic results.

Interest

I was then working closely with the late Gov. Evelio Javier, Sally Zaldivar Perez and painter Jerry Elizalde Navarro—and all of Antique took an interest in the production that tackled their province’s historical past.

Winnie Monsod portrayed the tragic Kapinangan. Despite a heavy teaching load, she put her heart and soul into the role and turned in a stunning performance. New graduate, Teddy Henares, was cast as Sumakwel.

I needed a matinee idol-type actor to play the dashing Gurong-gurong. Domingo Cobarrubias auditioned—but, he was still very inexperienced.

Luckily, he had sensitivity and the humility to work hard and take my tantrums with more than a grain of salt.

During one rehearsal, I espied Cris Michelena walking by the rehearsal hall. So, I instructed a UP Rep member to ask him if he was interested in acting. He was. Cris and Menggie had good looks and fine bodies.

Dilemma

Menggie had a basso voice that worked well with Winnie’s distinctive contralto. Cris, a tenor, came up with a sensitive portrayal. Menggie was competitive, which worked well against the resoluteness with which Winnie attacked her character’s dilemma.

The production was a success and started the theatrical careers of Menggie and Cris. We became friends, too, as stage work has a way of bonding coworkers.

Soon after, I was asked to direct “Sakada,” in which I cast Menggie and Cris in vital roles. Menggie was introduced as Dom Cobarrubias, but the formal name became his nickname, instead. Cast in the lead was Rafael Roco, known to the public as Bembol.

Thereafter, Menggie and Cris were cast in films directed by Ishmael Bernal and Lino Brocka. Menggie played the dubious boss in the acclaimed Phillip Salvador starrer, “Jaguar,” which was shown in Cannes. He later won Urian’s Best Supporting Actor statuette.