I met Cherie Gil twice. Both at a flamenco dance school in Makati City, where she was – apparently – taking some lessons, and where I did an interview on the offering of this type of dancing in the Philippines.
Our interactions, I recall, were brief.
The introduction – “This here’s Cherie” – was brief the first time our paths crossed. I was thinking then: As if the woman needed to be introduced. But Ms Gil wore a wide – and warm – toothy smile, making one feel welcomed so that, I’d say, it even went against the somewhat curt intro.
She took a seat, was looking at some dancing shoes, as she continued chatting.
She asked if I was there for classes.
Heavens, no! Just to do an interview.
She gave a smile again; and then asked what I do for a living, as well as my affiliation.
I gave my answers.
Throughout, her smile never wavered.
“You should take flamenco dancing lessons,” I remember her saying, added with “it’s good fun” or something.
The second time our paths crossed was for a follow-up to that interview with the head of that dance school; at that time, I was able to watch Ms Gil perform some steps, stamping her foot now and then, and then tapping as she did braceo (that fluid movement of the arms from one position to another) and, occassionally, picos (rhythmic finger snaps).
I wasn’t – am not – an expert, but she was an arresting vision.
During a quick break, I remember her asking if I decided on taking lessons yet. Still with a wide smile.
And all I could think of then was: She actually remembered.
Outside these contexts, I didn’t personally know Ms Gil, so it’d be presumptuous of me to even refer to her as “Cherie”.
But I do remember that niceness, that kindness that she displayed when we crossed paths. It may not seem much, even trivial to many, but… in this age of squabbling over everything, it’s something I sure remember.
E.g. Particularly in the gay/bi community, where beauty pageant fanatics abound, look at the unnecessary fighting to support and/or attack beauty pageant candidates, as if the only way to “celebrate” women is to actually bring other women down.
I saw Ms Gil again a few years later – first, while she played the character of Sister Aloysius in the local staging of “Doubt”; and again in 2008, this time while playing Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s play, “Master Class”.
True for the latter: The Tony Award-winning remains questionable (e.g. in over-focusing on the creation of drama, often relying on fictionalized narratives instead of just highlighting the truths in Callas’ life, considering that the diva’s life is already packed with over-the-top occurrences). But Ms Gil’s performance was… spot on, creating her version of a Callas that was at once a complete diva, and yet still a very flawed human. I’d say this was how she played all those “kontrabida” characters we’ve all known her for (e.g. Think Lavinia Arguelles in “Bituing Walang Ningning”), all grand in scale and yet still nuanced as characters.
I remember there’s a part in “Master Class” where Ms Gil – as Callas – said she has more presence drinking water than someone well-dressed and singing at the top of her voice. Obviously, the greatness was indisputable; she truly was irreplaceable. And in many ways, this extended to Ms Gil as a person, too; her presence was undeniable.
But on top of this, I still remember that niceness, that kindness. If only this divided and divisive world can learn from it…
