CHRISTMAS IN SEPIA

Ever wonder what Facebook looks like as it unfolds before your very eyes? Watch Alice Reyes Dance Philippines production of Puso ng Pasko and have a rollicking good time! The ballet starts off with a ZOOM re-union of friends scattered all over the planet like your typical Filipino families. 

Val (Audie Gemora), now based in the US and having to deal with glitches in the connection has to interact with Angelita (Trisha Lim), his grand daughter who travels to the happy Hippie decade to experience a Christmas she has never known all her life. So the time frame shifts to 5 decades back where Flower Power was in and bell bottoms were de riguer. It's like watching a retro fashion show but in muted tones of earth colors that make the five lead characters stand out.

One can clearly see Alice Reyes' vision in depicting a truly Filipino Christmas celebration. Traditions abound in the country during this time of the year so the direction incorporates regional practices for a unique experience for Angelita , who grew up in the US. It's like watching a throwback Christmas celebration in sepia. Eric Cruz' set painted in earth tones is enlivened with pops of color. The production incorporates a whole lot of our tradition to literally and figuratively give the ballet flavour. Parols in bright colors, higantes dressed as Santas, arañas of kiping, a life-sized living Belenisimo tableaux...and a stylized Sayaw sa Bangko set to National Artist Ryan Cayabyab's music. All the dancers were up to par. Even the younger scholars were dancing along with seasoned artists of ARDP. Ronelson Yadao's contemporary choreography was a showcase of the company's strength. Seventies maski-pops (that's what we called it then, a diminutive term for maski paano) effortlessly merged with modern ballet technique to Mr. Cayabyab's infectious music. I'm sure people who watched will be humming his tunes for days.The light show with kids to the music of Gabi'ng Payapa was a solemn moment. Very poignant was the pas de deux of EJ Arisola (young Val) and Monica Gana (young Sab) to the tune of "Ano'ng Gagawin Mo Ngayon'g Pasko?". It could bring up memories of young love that I'm sure senior citizens will recall. 

Speaking of seniors, the rigodon dancers deserve a good round of applause. They spent a great amount of their time learning intricate patterns on the CCP stage as "ninongs" and "ninangs" to their dance kids. They brought their own costumes as well. The corps was excellent despite varying degrees of proficiency. The scholars blended in well with company members. With that kind of talent, ARDP has a pool of dancers that will continue on to become the next generation of stars. There was no intermission as the show had a short running time but just enough to convey the story of a Pinoy Christmas that's very in the now! Very relevant in these pandemic times. Carlitos Siguion-Reyna's video featuring Gener Caringal, Butch Esperanza, Liza Dela Fuente and Imelda Tatad- Pagdanganan as the elder Teroy, Caloy, Sab and Osang respectively was genius! After all, how many of us have checked in on our friends during COVID-19? Kudos to ARDP for giving us brilliant dancing, a show that touches our Filipino spirit and a concept that's grounded on local virtues and values. Everyone came out to the main theater lobby with a big smile on their faces.