‘Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati’ Returns in January 2026

‘Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati’ Returns in January 2026

Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati, an adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, returns in January 2026 at the Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, following its debut run in August.

Translated by Jerry Respeto and adapted and directed by Guelan Varela-Luarca, the production reimagines Joaquin’s classic as a contemporary lament on memory, grief, and national inheritance. Set in a war-scarred ancestral home in Intramuros, the play follows two sisters who refuse to abandon their decaying house and the unfinished artwork it shelters, even as the city outside moves relentlessly forward.

Drawing from the traditions of Greek chorus and Japanese Butoh, the staging employs the ensemble as a collective body that retells and refracts the narrative. Through ritualized movement and choral speech, the house becomes a living archive, where memory, delusion, and grief surface through both language and the body.

Gab Pangilinan and Delphine Buencamino return as sisters Paula and Candida Marasigan, whose refusal to abandon their ancestral home anchors the play’s emotional core. Omar Uddin plays Bitoy Camacho, the production’s primary storyteller and leader of the chorus, while Tony Javier is alternately portrayed by Vino Mabalot and John Sanchez.

The ensemble includes Jethro Tenorio and JJ Ignacio, alternating as Manolo, alongside Maita Ponce, who also plays Pepang; Brian Sy as Don Perico; and Meyanne Plamenio-Cortezano as Doña Upeng, with Rafael Jimenez, Roldine Ebrada, and Chantei Cortez. Ebrada also serves as understudy and swing for the role of Bitoy Camacho.

Also in the creative team with Respeto and Varela-Luarca are set designer D Cortezano, choreographer Ronelson Yadao, composer Matthew Chang, sound designer John Robert Yam, and costume designer Ali Figueroa.

The production runs from January 30 to February 8, with Friday performances at 7:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday performances at 2 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets are priced at ₱999 and ₱1,499, and go on sale on December 20 via arete.helixpay.ph.

Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati is produced by Areté, the creative hub of Ateneo de Manila University.