As a finale to the 16th Crossroads theater festival of the Office of Culture and Arts (OCA), Benilde’s resident theatre company Dulaang Filipino staged “Lihim” last May 22 at the 6/F Blackbox Theater, School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus.

A one-act play written and directed by ID 118 AB Film student Clarice Cua, Lihim exemplifies one of the challenges that most have experienced as curious teenagers—trying to communicate one’s feelings towards another person.



The play tackles a seemingly normal morning in the lives of high school students Faith, played by Digital Filmmaking alumna Beatrice Ramos, Cassy, and Sim played by ID 118 film students Leia Santos and Hiro Shimoji respectively. As Faith struggles with the dilemma of whether or not to let her feelings come to light, she writes a letter to let her aching heart speak the truth she could not tell Cassy.

In an interview with The Benildean, Cua says the story is one that is extremely personal to her.

“Like Faith, I’m an introverted person. Writing poems and stories are my escape and my way of expressing what I truly feel. Through Lihim, I want my audience to experience how it feels like wanting to say the things that you’ve been locking inside your chest, but couldn’t because of uncertain situations,” she said.

“Lihim” captures the audience’s personal thoughts, experiences, and struggles of the heart, reflected with scenes that alternate between what’s happening inside the classroom and within Faith’s head. The  lights would dim, spotlight shining on Faith as her reactions and pent-up emotions burst in the form of spoken word poetry. What could have been a typical story of young love and unsaid things is taken on from a new angle.

Everything was building up to what seemed to be a conventional confession of one’s feelings. However, the play abruptly ends in a cliffhanger that leaves what happens after to the audience’s imagination, effectively eliciting a divisive reaction to an open-ended conclusion.

Ramos’ performance perfectly depicts the thrills and sheer panic of falling in love, delivering the dialogue with an intensity that places the audience into Faith’s shoes. On the other hand, Santos’ depiction of Cassy encapsulated the vulnerability and concern that is only shown to the closest of friends while Shimoji’s portrayal of Sim was nothing short of spectacular, perfecting a balance between prime comedic relief and an emotional guide to Faith which was received with thunderous applause from the audience.

With it’s simple yet effective stage design, spectacular portrayals— and not to mention its ending with the echoing ring of a bell—Lihim made sure the curtains would close Crossroads XVI on a high note.