A star is born: Vic Robinson, actor

Some years ago I attended a Peta (Philippine Educational Theater Association) musical play, a comedy, starring a young actor whose name sounded like someone from the landed gentry, Victor Robinson III. Then I remembered reading some notices about him, specifically a favorable comment from the critic Gibbs Cadiz. I tended to agree with this, watching young Robinson acting and singing—he had a fine tenor voice.So I sought him out and requested an interview, which he readily granted. It turned out that he was a college student at the Ateneo de Manila University and so the interview took place there. It was a nostalgia trip for me, for I had studied here decades ago.

As we talked, young Robinson’s story unfolded. He was from Iloilo City, and while there he was known as the “Ilonggo Atenista.” His parents were apparently well-off and did not take too kindly to his predilection for the theater. He was, after all, the hope of his family, being a bright kid, a valedictorian in Iloilo and an honor student at the Ateneo. Law maybe, or banking and finance?

Robinson indicated he wasn’t sure what the future for him would be as far as acting and singing were concerned. So I wrote the story, it was published and I forgot all about him.Now, only a few years ago I attended a press conference about an up-and-coming play, again a musical, this time by 9 Works Theatrical. The members of the cast were milling around and one of them was a familiar face with a familiar name, Vic Robinson (he had dropped the “Victor III”). “I am glad you decided to stick to acting,” I told him, and he beamed.

Brains of the Katipunan

Flash-forward to today. I was at the Black Box Theater (Tanghalang Ignacio Jimenez), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex, watching Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Pingkian,” a musical drama about the hero Emilio Jacinto, youthful right-hand man of Bonifacio, considered the brains of the Katipunan (along with the more celebrated Mabini), author of the “Kartilya” guidelines for revolutionaries and editor of the fiery but shortlived newspaper Kalayaan (the printing press had to be destroyed because the friars were closing in).

Pingkian means “to strike,” and it was the nom de guerre of Emilio Jacinto.

The actor playing Jacinto immediately caught my attention. There was something vaguely familiar about him. I looked at the program for the credits and almost gasped. Vic Robinson, the third time around. He had an even more pronounced stage presence.

In military uniform, in command of the situation, Robinson as Jacinto dominated the play from the first scene to the last, emoting and singing, bringing the hero (often taking a back seat to the more explosive figure of Bonifacio) back to life.

The play begins with the encounter in Majayjay, Laguna, in 1898, where Jacinto was critically wounded (he eventually died of his wound in 1899). Then follows a series of flashbacks dramatizing key events in the life of the hero, his leadership in the Katipunan, conflicts and betrayals within the movement, his love life (wife played by Gab Pangilinan and a woman “nemesis” portrayed by Bituin Escalante), the return of Aguinaldo and hostilities with the Americans.

Impressive

The sequence of events is not linear, in keeping with the modern trend; the scenes flow back and forth during the late 1890s, at the turn of the century. And there’s magic realism, with the ghosts of Bonifacio (Paw Castillo) and Rizal (gasp—Kakki Teodoro) haunting Jacinto. “I am a woman playing a man,” intoned Teodoro during the post-performance Q&A.

“Pingkian” is a handsome, impressive production, garnering rave reviews on Facebook from National Artist Virgilio Almario, and theater stalwarts like Frank Rivera, Toff de Venecia and Vincent de Jesus. The play is running at the Black Box Theater, CCP Complex until March 24. It is written by Juan Ekis, directed by Jenny Jamora and with music by Ejay Yatco. Choreography is by Jomelle Era.

Theater is a collective endeavor, and we have all these diverse talents collaborating with one another and praying for a hit show. Which they have now.

Part of the success of “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” in my estimation, can be traced to the sterling performance of charismatic Robinson. A star is born. –-CONTRIBUTED INQ