The Dennis da Silva case: Shades of Insiang

The material of Insiang had already been retold many times over – twice on television (in Hilda 18 years ago and in GMA-7’s Larawan last year), on the big screen in 1976 and now on stage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

It is a simple, yet powerful plot: The mother, Tonia, brings home a lover, Dado, who later rapes Tonia’s daughter, Insiang. But instead of seeking justice for her daughter, Tonia even sides with her lover and, worse, accuses the poor Insiang of seducing Dado. In order to get even, she pretends to be in love with Dado to make her mother jealous – until her crafty plan leads to a bloody end.

The film Insiang by Lino Brocka had been voted one of the best films of the ’70s by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and – only last May – was again selected one of the best in the last three decades by the same critics’ group.

Insiang is an artistic success because, aside from its realistic portrayal of slum life, it also mirrors a type of human drama that we know takes place in the real world: that of a daughter sharing the love of a man with her own mother. The plot of this drama may be revolting to the human senses – especially if it involves incest – but we know it happens.

Last week, another sensational drama reminiscent of the Insiang plot once more hit the headlines – this time involving a showbiz personality, no less: Dennis da Silva, formerly of That’s Entertainment.

Although his career really never peaked, Da Silva – once upon a time – had his legion of followers. Once romantically linked to Ruffa Gutierrez, he was a heartthrob who did smorgasbord movies (one of which was Regal Films’ Love Boat), along with other teeny-boppers of the mid-’80s.

Unfortunately, his career – along with his personal life – fell into what seemed like the ninth chasm in Dante’s Inferno. In his television interviews, he openly blames his reputation from Ruffa Gutierrez as the cause of his descent into hell. However, I find this to be a weakness in his character because Ruffa herself went into a series of trials in her life, but would bounce back spectacularly each time. Today, she is part of the jet-setting crowd, while Dennis often found himself in crowded prison cells because of his addiction to prohibited drugs.

When he hit the headlines last week, it was for a different offense: He had allegedly raped and even impregnated the 14-year old daughter of his live-in partner, a certain Marilyn Paz, whom she spent a couple of nights in jail with Dennis as an "accessory to the crime."

Dennis and Marilyn were already enjoying liberty – although no one knows as of yet if it is just temporary – when I visited them along with the Startalk staff last Friday in their home in Paranaque.

Located in a lower middle-class subdivision, the house is spacious enough, but begs for a general cleaning from its occupants. And with a months-old puppy and its mother roaming freely in the living room, the place has a fetid smell that immediately assaults the olfactory nerves of the visitors.

A native of Agusan, Marilyn is 41, a mother of eight kids (one of whom is already married, with a family of her own) from various relationships. Dennis has seven children of his own by different women.

Since the 14-year old daughter is now under the custody of the DSWD, I didn’t get the chance to talk to her. However, I had a long and candid interview with Dennis and Marilyn, who sat side by side with each other in front of an altar bearing three large images of the Infant Jesus.

Dennis, 29, claims he fell for Marilyn because "she knows how to take care of her man." She washes Dennis’ clothes herself – by hand. Never mind the fact that she is also in charge of bringing food on the table. Street-smart, she lends money for profit and sells dried fish on the side. But the big bonanza really comes from the P60,000 monthly pension she gets from her late husband who was once a member of the US Air Force.

Dennis vehemently insists that he has no hand in the disbursement of the monthly pension. It is for the children – Marilyn’s kids whom, so he claims, he has learned to look after like his own. The 14-year old daughter, now six months pregnant by him, obviously gets more than her share of care and affection from Dennis.

Dennis entered Marilyn’s life and home in February 2001. By September of last year, he had already started carrying a special relationship with the 14-year-old girl.

Marilyn says that she already cautioned all her daughters against parading at home in flimsy attire – especially with Dennis around. But they even insist on using the bathroom in the master’s bedroom. "And that girl," referring to her 14-year old daughter, "would walk around in nighties even with Dennis there."

Late last year, her intuition already told her Dennis was being unfaithful to her, but she thought it was with another girl – certainly not her daughter. Dennis claims she and the 14-year-old girl would hold their trysts outside – in motels sometimes.

When Marilyn eventually found out about Dennis’ affair with her daughter, she flew into a rage – with Dennis, with her daughter and with herself. But there was nothing else she could do. Her daughter was already pregnant. And so was Marilyn, except that she suffered a miscarriage.

Dennis claims he still loves Marilyn and yet, in a strange fashion, also loves her 14-year old daughter. This he proclaims in the presence of Marilyn who has since turned numb with the ugly developments in her life.

If her daughter comes back home she’ll gladly accept her back – along with the child sired by Dennis. But she feels it is best for Dennis to choose between her and her daughter. But Dennis wouldn’t make that decision as of yet. He has a lot of things in his head to think about romance at the moment. He may be enjoying temporary liberty right now, but he doesn’t discount the possibility that if and when the pendulum of justice swings unfavorably to his side, there’s a chance he may fry to death.

This unusual love triangle for sure would leave your stomach turning – especially those protected by their antiseptic environment. But life is not a fairy tale. The romance between Dennis and Marilyn may end in prison – where it started, to begin with. (They met at the Pasig City jail – with Dennis for his usual drug case and Marilyn, for serious physical injuries after she stabbed her second husband in the abdomen.)

My only hope is for this strange love triangle not to have life imitating art and finish with the bloody ending of Insiang.