A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino is a play set in pre-World War II Manila, focusing on two unmarried sisters who live in their family's decaying mansion in Intramuros. The sisters, Paula and Candida Marasigan, are the daughters of renowned painter Don Lorenzo Marasigan, who has stopped producing art and withdrawn from society. The narrative centers on the sisters' struggle to preserve their dignity and way of life while facing financial hardship, as well as their relationship with their father's final self-portrait. Their situation forces them to consider selling the portrait, leading to conflicts with family members and outsiders who attempt to influence their decision. The drama takes place against the backdrop of Manila's transformation from a Spanish colonial city into a more Americanized metropolis. The contrast between old and new Manila becomes integral to the story, as does the tension between traditional Filipino values and modernizing influences. The play explores themes of artistic integrity, cultural identity, and the price of preserving one's principles in a changing world. Through the Marasigan family's story, Joaquín presents a complex meditation on Filipino culture at a pivotal moment in its history.

Readers appreciate Joaquín's detailed portrayal of pre-war Manila society and the decline of aristocratic Filipino families. Many note the play's authentic depiction of cultural tensions between traditional Filipino values and American influences. Specific praise focuses on the complex family dynamics and the symbolism woven through the sisters' story. Multiple reviewers connect with the themes of art preservation and familial duty. Common criticisms include the slow pacing, particularly in Act 1, and dense dialogue that some find difficult to follow. A few readers mention struggling with the mix of English and Spanish phrases scattered throughout. Goodreads: 4.1/5 (127 ratings) "The language is rich but requires patience" - Goodreads reviewer "Captures the fading grandeur of Old Manila" - Goodreads reviewer Amazon: 4.3/5 (16 ratings) "Beautiful but occasionally overwrought dialogue" - Amazon reviewer The play receives stronger ratings from Filipino readers familiar with the historical context.

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📚 Nick Joaquín wrote "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" in 1950, originally as a three-act play before adapting it into a novel. 🎭 The story unfolds in the pre-World War II district of Intramuros, Manila's historic walled city, capturing the tension between Spanish colonial culture and modernizing Filipino society. 🎨 The central plot revolves around a mysterious final painting by Don Lorenzo Marasigan, which his daughters Paula and Candida refuse to sell despite their financial struggles. 🏆 Joaquín was named National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 1976, and this work is considered one of the most significant pieces of Filipino literature in English. 🎬 The play has been adapted multiple times, most notably into the 1965 film "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino: An Elegy in Three Scenes," directed by Lamberto Avellana.