The concept of
surrogate motherhood as tackled by the TV Series “Ina, Kapatid, Anak” (Mother, Sibling, Child) has been
tackled long before in 1972, in the komiks novel of Elena Patron “Isinilang ko
ang Anak ng Ibang Babae,” (I Gave Birth to a Child of Another Woman) serialized in Pioneer Komiks. When the concept of
in-vitro fertilization and surrogate pregnancies became a reality in science,
the komiks novel of Elena Patron was made into a film with Boots Anson Roa,
Dante Rivero, Pilar Pilapil and Snooky Serna as major characters. It is quite
surprising to see Pilar Pilapil being part of the cast of the TV series with
the same plot or concept. Pilar Pilapil was nominated for Best Actress in the
Famas for her acting in the film.
Now back to the TV
Series, despite of the implausibility of the plot, the series is good watching.
I have posted before how beautiful and great was Pilar in her confrontation
scene with Cherry Pie Picache when they met again after 17 years. The subtle
nuance of emotions as seen in the facial expression of Pilar is something I
greatly appreciated. I thought only one actress, Nora Aunor can do that in the
Philippine movie arena but I was deemed wrong because Pilar Pilapil, although
tagged to be one great actress in her time has never elevated her thespic
talents in the level of acting greats. Her moment in that scene is enough for
me to put her in that pedestal. Although I know that the focus of the story is
not hers but surprisingly, she was given enough scenes to shine.
Let me tackle Cherry
Pie Picache’s role. Cherry Pie is a very good actress. I have seen her act in
other movies that made a mark in Philippine Movie History. Her role here is
very complex. She attacks it in a very inconsequential manner. She comes out as
effective most of the time. But she under acts in her highlights of the series
and therefore I cannot feel her angst and torment.
In the revelation scene
which the viewers expect that it will be a highly charged confrontation, I felt
off. Probably I would blame the director
because the scene was not handled well….Cherry Pie was her usual self. We've seen her in previous scenes and she was acting like this is just another day.
Janice on the other hand was given a role
which she could have attacked with so much fervor and anguish but no. She was
hysterical in all her scenes. It is understandable to have a “kontrabida” like
role in establishing their characters but alas, the director might have
forgotten that she is human after all.
If I were the director,
I would have 4 foci in that confrontation and revelation scene, Cherry Pie,
Janice, Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador.
First
is Cherry Pie Picache, as the “mother” who is bound to lose that connection
with the child she bore with for 9 months in her womb and for the next 17
years.
Second would be Janice. I would
focus how startled she is and with the great revelation, would show an
explosive characterization that could match the acting nuances of Nora Aunor in
Ina ka ng Anak Mo or Vilma Santos in Tagos ng Dugo. It would have been a great
characterization for Janice. Alas, the director’s creativity was particularly
lost and Janice delivered a one-dimensional character. Poor Janice! I admire
her acting prowess but she was clearly undermined in this series. If Janice can
only suggest on how to attack her role, then probably she can rise up to a much
better appreciation of her character. But if Janice is the one that gave the
interpretation of that role, then I believe she failed me as an actress.
What about the 2 young girls that started out
as friends then enemies and probably mortal enemies? Well, I appreciated the
day to day series that established their characters. But in that great
confrontation scene, what happened? It has gone kaput. Maja Salvador who won an
acting trophy was clearly missing the spot. The wide-open eyes to show her anger
and fury are not enough for her to hurdle such great scene. On the other hand,
Kim Chiu was unexpectedly unfelt in that scene where she realized she has two
mothers – a biological mother and a surrogate mother.
Well, whom do I blame
for that unrealized great scene that would showcase the acting abilities of the
characters? Maybe…..the director? Hmmmmmm…..Well, this critic is not going to
stop me watching the series but based on the scenes flashed onscreen, I get
this feeling that the series might denigrate and deteriorate again into
something without focus and meaning. If this happens, another TV Series of
ABS-CBN that had gone the way like others in trying to fleece out high ratings
rather than a real enjoying fare for the viewers and spectators most especially
to people like me who away from home.
