Theater & Arts
WHAT IS life without love? Perhaps it is a hollow existence where hearts beat but can never truly be together—where it proves to be both a withstanding promise and an excruciating curse.
Adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tanghalang Ateneo’s Sintang Dalisay follows the tragic love story of Rashiddin Mustapha and Jamila Kalimuddin, who navigate their lives attempting to keep the flame of their forbidden romance burning.
Their story unfolds as a testament to the beauty and sorrow of love—where passion meets resistance and destiny writes its own cruel script. Through its adaptation, Sintang Dalisay not only honors the original Shakespearean text but successfully and beautifully breathes new life into its themes as well. Through the enchanting portrayal of the narrative, Tanghalang Ateneo haunts the audience with an indelible question: can love truly conquer all?
A tragedy reimagined
In Sintang Dalisay, love defies the limits of fate only to be tested by the unyielding forces of tradition and conflict. Directed by the late Ricardo G. Abad and Guelan Varela-Luarca, the production breathes a mixture of life and loss into the star-crossed lovers’ tale.
A combination of National Artist Rolando S. Tinio’s translation and the 1904 poem by G.D Roke, the story unfolds an exploration of a binding yet tearing fate of Rashiddin and Jamila. Bound by devotion yet also divided by the rivalry of the Mustapha and Kalimuddin clans, they fight for a love the world refuses to accept.
The set of the production transports us to the fictional Mindanaon community of Sempurna. As the play infuses distinct Filipino essence into the classical Romeo and Juliet narrative, the stage is surrounded by walls of kawayan and has a native backdrop that adds authenticity to the atmosphere. Accompanied by traditional Philippine instruments underscoring pivotal moments, the rhythmic beats performed by Anima Tierra mimic a heartbeat of a community that is divided by conflict yet united by their traditional Mindanaon heritage.
Every actor and actress on stage conveys emotion not only through dialogue but also through movement and the traditional Mindanaoan melodies that accompany them. The fluid and expressive motions of the Igal dance—joined by the hums of the kulintang—add a layer of cultural nativity, immersing the audience in the world where tradition and love collide.
One of the most striking moments in the performance is the scene where Rashiddin and Jamila consummate their love, not through the conventional act of kissing, but through a series of mesmerizing, intimate movements. Their bodies become the language of passion, speaking in place of words or actual physical contact. Each gesture captures the intensity of their growing affection. This depth of emotion was further heightened by the accompaniment of slow, melodic beats, allowing the music to mirror the blossoming love between them. The absence of touch did not diminish the intimacy. Instead, it intensified the emotional gravity of the moment, letting movement alone convey the magnitude of their connection.
The powerful chemistry between the cast members gave life to the alluring choreography. Karl Borromeo, who portrayed Rashiddin, masterfully embodied his character’s unwavering loyalty and devotion to his family and partner. His fiery passion—whether in battle or in love for Jamila—was an inferno on stage, burning even the farthest seat in the theater.
Opposite him, Maliana Beran brought Jamila to life with a spirited yet innocent persona, providing a sense of peace amid Rashiddin’s inner turmoil. Her performance beautifully complemented Borromeo’s, creating a dynamic that made their love story all the more compelling and real.
The rest of the cast further enriched the couple’s journey, seamlessly weaving together moments of tension, joy, and heartbreak which ensured that Sintang Dalisay was not just a tale of two lovers, but a vivid, immersive, and interactive experience of love and loss. Their dialogues were delivered in deep, poetic Filipino, further emphasizing the story’s profound intensity.
The depth of the performance did not end with dialogue or movement; it extended into the very fabric of the production. Characters wore intricate patterns and textiles to pay homage to indigenous Mindanaon artistry and reinforce the authenticity of the setting.
Subsequently, the patterns on their clothing reminisce traditional Filipino textile designs commonly seen in indigenous fabrics, such as the t’nalak or malong. The geometric symmetry of zigzags and diamonds men characters wore and the flowy and natural elements donned on the women evoke a sense of structure and heritage, symbolizing the nation’s strength and cultural pride. Escorted by pearl and silver jewelry, Filipino culture was distinctly woven in their appearances, standing as a figure of both identity and artistry.
The beauty of it all
From the opening scene to its eventual denouement, Sintang Dalisay flawlessly enchants the theatre with its breathtaking choreography and powerful performances. The artistry of the dances and acting in the production enhances the beauty of Rashiddin and Jamila’s love story, keeping audiences mesmerized and on the edge of their seats. The play masterfully weaves Philippine tradition into a classic Western tale which weaves a seamless harmony of coexistence of the two.
This experience of cultural fusion extends beyond the story itself as it spills into the visuals of the play. The stage was transformed into a living canvas with its striking color placements and symbolism. The familiar red and blue hues of Romeo and Juliet are preserved, yet inverted between Rashiddin and Jamila to offer a fresh perspective. The symmetrical distribution of these colors on stage intensifies the tension between the warring families.
During scenes of confrontation, the audience can also physically see the visual division as both sides remain cloaked in their opposing hues, each refusing to cross into the other’s spectrum. However, in moments of intimacy between Rashiddin and Jamila, these colors blend into one with ease. This deliberate artistic choice deepens the emotional and symbolic impact of the masterpiece, reminding us that the lovers seamlessly fight against the very colors that define them.
As tensions rise and their forbidden romance is exposed, Rashiddin and Jamila find themselves trapped in a cycle of agony and vengeance. In a world where loyalty to bloodlines reigns supreme, love alone may not be enough to bridge the chasm between them. Their once sacred love turns into a battleground, forcing them to make impossible choices between honor and desire, life and death.
The loss of life and love
For both characters, love becomes an act of rebellion. Their strong desire to be together in spite of the feuding clans that separate them ultimately pushes them toward an irreversible fate.
In her attempt to escape her arranged marriage to another man, Jamila drinks what she believes is poison to fool her family into thinking she is dead. Rashiddin, believing her to be gone, also drinks the poison to join her in the afterlife. However, the poison Jamila took was not real, and she awakens to find Rashiddin lifeless.
The scene unfolds with a haunting silence, everyone in the audience almost at the brink of tears and in disbelief of what she does next. Grief-stricken and unable to imagine a life without him, Jamila takes a knife and ends her own life—choosing death over a world without her love.
Despite its predictable and well-known tragic ending, the play’s execution made it undeniably poignant. Borromeo’s raw expression of disbelief upon discovering his love’s supposed death added an overwhelming emotional weight to the scene. His desperate pleas filled the theater, holding the audience in breathless silence as he took them along his heartbreaking devastation. As he makes his fateful decision to join Jamila in the afterlife, Beran’s trembling hands and wailing cries capture the sheer terror and grief of the moment, making the final act of death feel all the more inevitable.
The heartbreaking story of Rashiddin and Jamila is one of love and loss, where passion and fate collide, leaving only sorrow in their wake. The production stands as a true and powerful embodiment of Filipino theater—raw with emotion and rich in cultural heritage.
The performance of every actor and actress centered around the love story of the protagonists. Their powerful portrayals—enhanced by renditions so authentic it felt real—deeply convinced the audience that their love truly was inescapable. In their eyes, death was the only choice they could make, and in ours, we were left believing it truly was the only option. Ultimately, Sintang Dalisay left us with the haunting truth that, despite all their yearning, love tragically cannot conquer all.
