It's that time of the year once again when Philippine theater gives birth to untried, untested, unstaged plays that keep this industry alive and continue to give us a promise of a bright future!
WHAT: Virgin LabFest 2014 or VLF 10
On its 10th year, Writer's Bloc Inc. has selected 12 one act plays to be staged for the very first time. They will also re-stage 3 of the most loved plays from last year (Virgin LabFest 9 Revisited Set E). There will also be 3 staged readings and the showcase or culminating activity of the Virgin LabFest 8 Writing Fellowship Program. Plus, "Fragments" of some plays that would be performed randomly, not necessarily on stage.
I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be able to see these plays for almost 5 years now! And it was only through His grace that I was able to be part of last year's VLF 7 Writing Fellowship Program's showcase. Glory to God!
Here are the sets and plays that made it to the cut!
SET A: June 25, 3pm & 8pm; July 5, 3pm; July 6, 8pm
ANONYMOUS
Liza Magtoto
Direction: Audie Gemora
It’s a dreaded reunion between a man and a woman who had anonymous sex two years ago. The man appears at a time the woman is in a relationship. He wants to extort some money from the woman or else he will destroy her by showing a video of their sexual act. The truth is out and puts the current relationship to a test, meanwhile interrogating our own discomfort about this level of sexuality among women.
Liza Magtoto
Direction: Audie Gemora
It’s a dreaded reunion between a man and a woman who had anonymous sex two years ago. The man appears at a time the woman is in a relationship. He wants to extort some money from the woman or else he will destroy her by showing a video of their sexual act. The truth is out and puts the current relationship to a test, meanwhile interrogating our own discomfort about this level of sexuality among women.
SA ISANG HINDI NATATANGING UMAGA, AT ANG MGA ULAP
AY DAHAN-DAHAN PUMAIBABAW SA NABUBULOK NA LUNGSOD
Allan Lopez
Direction: Denisa Reyes
Meg and AJ meet in the most typical friendly lunch at work. Five years afterwards, Meg visits AJ’s house on his 40th birthday – a date he had once said would be the day he’ll kill himself. In the short and nostalgic “birthday celebration,” the ghost of a brief but ultimately dead love story awkwardly looms above them.
AY DAHAN-DAHAN PUMAIBABAW SA NABUBULOK NA LUNGSOD
Allan Lopez
Direction: Denisa Reyes
Meg and AJ meet in the most typical friendly lunch at work. Five years afterwards, Meg visits AJ’s house on his 40th birthday – a date he had once said would be the day he’ll kill himself. In the short and nostalgic “birthday celebration,” the ghost of a brief but ultimately dead love story awkwardly looms above them.
SA PAGITAN NG DALAWANG KAHONG LIHAM
Layeta Bucoy
Direction: Chris Millado
Not wanting to be left alone by his long-time lover Tata, successful actor Tart reminds Tata of their tempestuous yet romance-filled relationship by reading the letters Tata sent him. To justify their separation, Tata fires back at Tart by reading the letters Tart wrote him. As they consume each other’s box of letters, the history of their love affair flashes back with the intermittent singing of Julie Andrew’s “Time is My Friend.” But even as they traverse the romantic rope tying their two boxes of letters, they eventually learn that in matters of the heart, perhaps love is never enough.
Layeta Bucoy
Direction: Chris Millado
Not wanting to be left alone by his long-time lover Tata, successful actor Tart reminds Tata of their tempestuous yet romance-filled relationship by reading the letters Tata sent him. To justify their separation, Tata fires back at Tart by reading the letters Tart wrote him. As they consume each other’s box of letters, the history of their love affair flashes back with the intermittent singing of Julie Andrew’s “Time is My Friend.” But even as they traverse the romantic rope tying their two boxes of letters, they eventually learn that in matters of the heart, perhaps love is never enough.
SET B: June 26, 3pm & 8pm; July 5, 8pm; July 6, 3pm
ANG NAGHIHINGALO
Raymund Reyes
Direction: Dennis Marasigan
Intoy is in critical condition after a ruptured aneurysm triggers a stroke and leaves him unconscious. The doctor recommends immediate surgery but even the down payment for the surgeon’s professional fee is beyond the means of the street ice cream vendor and his wife. Felisa, the wife, calls Intoy’s siblings for help. While their brother’s fate depends on their decision, the reunion between Guido, Doreen, and Linda results into bickering and opens up long-held feelings of animosity, resentment, and envy for each other.
Raymund Reyes
Direction: Dennis Marasigan
Intoy is in critical condition after a ruptured aneurysm triggers a stroke and leaves him unconscious. The doctor recommends immediate surgery but even the down payment for the surgeon’s professional fee is beyond the means of the street ice cream vendor and his wife. Felisa, the wife, calls Intoy’s siblings for help. While their brother’s fate depends on their decision, the reunion between Guido, Doreen, and Linda results into bickering and opens up long-held feelings of animosity, resentment, and envy for each other.
WENDY WANTS TO BE A HOUSEWIFE
Ricardo Novenario
Direction: Joshua Lim So
Ricardo Novenario
Direction: Joshua Lim So
THE MISSING PEACE
Carlo Vergara
Direction: Marlon Rivera
It is the year 2045, and the world is teetering towards explosive widespread conflict, the likes of which it hasn’t seen in almost a century. But that won’t stop the Miss Universal Empress beauty pageant from taking place in Barcelona, Spain. The pageant is of particular importance to the Philippines, as the South East Asian nation has so far won four of the world’s top five beauty competitions. A grandslam seems inevitable, but then there’s, well… the prophecy.
Carlo Vergara
Direction: Marlon Rivera
It is the year 2045, and the world is teetering towards explosive widespread conflict, the likes of which it hasn’t seen in almost a century. But that won’t stop the Miss Universal Empress beauty pageant from taking place in Barcelona, Spain. The pageant is of particular importance to the Philippines, as the South East Asian nation has so far won four of the world’s top five beauty competitions. A grandslam seems inevitable, but then there’s, well… the prophecy.
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SET C: June 27, 3pm & 8pm; July 2, 3pm; July 4, 8pm
LAST 10 MINUTES
Joy Icayan
Direction: Tami Monsod
Two strangers find ways to connect over loss and past experiences during the last few minutes in a motel room.
Joy Icayan
Direction: Tami Monsod
Two strangers find ways to connect over loss and past experiences during the last few minutes in a motel room.
MAPAGBIRONG HAPLOS
Kevin Tabora
Direction: Melvin Lee
Kevin Tabora
Direction: Melvin Lee
ANG GOLDFISH NI PROF. DIMAANDAL
Eljay Deldoc
Direction: Roobak Valle
Prof. Dimaandal (a.k.a Ma’am D), a retiring cranky Science teacher, demands justice for her beloved goldfish. Allegedly murdered by three students, her pet becomes the center of chaos inside the Principal’s office as concerned parents, who turn out to be alumni of the school and former sweethearts at that, obliquely resolve their open-ended past; while faculty members struggle to grasp the logic of seeking justice for a dead fish. Based on real events, “Ang Goldfish ni Prof. Dimaandal” portrays how absurdity can effortlessly prevail in places where things are expected to be normal, even in the academe. Because after all, does anything even make sense?
Eljay Deldoc
Direction: Roobak Valle
Prof. Dimaandal (a.k.a Ma’am D), a retiring cranky Science teacher, demands justice for her beloved goldfish. Allegedly murdered by three students, her pet becomes the center of chaos inside the Principal’s office as concerned parents, who turn out to be alumni of the school and former sweethearts at that, obliquely resolve their open-ended past; while faculty members struggle to grasp the logic of seeking justice for a dead fish. Based on real events, “Ang Goldfish ni Prof. Dimaandal” portrays how absurdity can effortlessly prevail in places where things are expected to be normal, even in the academe. Because after all, does anything even make sense?
SET D: June 28, 3pm & 8pm; July 2, 8pm; July 3, 3pm
BETANG
Joanna Katanyag
Direction: Ed Lacson
Joanna Katanyag
Direction: Ed Lacson
SA LILIM
Reya Laplana
Direction: Jenny Jamora
“Sa Lilim” is a play about best friends, Lai and Hani, who reunite after a year of separation. Lai returns to her hometown from the city where she takes her secondary studies, while Hani is struggling with her own education from the local high school. As they start off from a series of awkward confrontations, there unfold secrets that they have never shared with each other, not until now.
Reya Laplana
Direction: Jenny Jamora
“Sa Lilim” is a play about best friends, Lai and Hani, who reunite after a year of separation. Lai returns to her hometown from the city where she takes her secondary studies, while Hani is struggling with her own education from the local high school. As they start off from a series of awkward confrontations, there unfold secrets that they have never shared with each other, not until now.
BAGO ILIBING
Maynard Manasala & Uzi Eliserio
Direction: JK Anicoche
Kiko’s uncle abused her. Now he is dead. Kiko can finally bury the shame and the pain. But first, she has to reveal the truth to her mother, who, unfortunately, has secrets of her own. A testament to the strength of children and the power of women, Bago Ilibing is a play about love, loss, and distributing snacks at Filipino wakes.
Maynard Manasala & Uzi Eliserio
Direction: JK Anicoche
Kiko’s uncle abused her. Now he is dead. Kiko can finally bury the shame and the pain. But first, she has to reveal the truth to her mother, who, unfortunately, has secrets of her own. A testament to the strength of children and the power of women, Bago Ilibing is a play about love, loss, and distributing snacks at Filipino wakes.
SET E (Virgin Labfest 9: Revisited): June 29, 3pm & 8pm; July 3, 8pm; July 4, 3pm
IMBISIBOL
Herlyn Alegre
Direction: Law Fajardo
The play is set in 1992 on an ordinary Sunday in Tokyo. Two Filipino friends, Benjie and Manuel, both illegal workers in Japan, gather at the house of their Filipina friend, Manang Linda, to collect the letters their families send to fictional names they created to hide their true identities. At the middle of the happy lunch, Rodel, another young Filipino illegal worker, barges in, declaring he had just killed a man who threatened to report him to the police. His friends suggest that he moves deeper underground by moving to another prefecture, finding a new day job, cutting ties with his family and friends, keeping a low profile, changing his name, and staying hidden for good. Would Rodel choose to stay invisible not only to the police but also to his family and friends to keep his freedom and continue working for his family’s sake?
Herlyn Alegre
Direction: Law Fajardo
The play is set in 1992 on an ordinary Sunday in Tokyo. Two Filipino friends, Benjie and Manuel, both illegal workers in Japan, gather at the house of their Filipina friend, Manang Linda, to collect the letters their families send to fictional names they created to hide their true identities. At the middle of the happy lunch, Rodel, another young Filipino illegal worker, barges in, declaring he had just killed a man who threatened to report him to the police. His friends suggest that he moves deeper underground by moving to another prefecture, finding a new day job, cutting ties with his family and friends, keeping a low profile, changing his name, and staying hidden for good. Would Rodel choose to stay invisible not only to the police but also to his family and friends to keep his freedom and continue working for his family’s sake?
ISANG DAAN
Liza Magtoto
Direction: Ed Lacson
Ting has a Katipunero hero for an ancestor. In fact, a street is named after him. He wants his Fil-am daughter, Bituin, to feel that Pinoy pride by showing her that. The bad news is that the street will soon give way to a highway, which is being built through a mayor’s initiative. Bituin couldn’t care less, but Ting wants to preserve the legacy of his great-grandfather. An informal settler and an NGO worker also seem to have reasons to stop the mayor from building this highway. What’s in this street anyway that they have to fight for it? Perhaps a quest for immortality, survival or something else?
Liza Magtoto
Direction: Ed Lacson
Ting has a Katipunero hero for an ancestor. In fact, a street is named after him. He wants his Fil-am daughter, Bituin, to feel that Pinoy pride by showing her that. The bad news is that the street will soon give way to a highway, which is being built through a mayor’s initiative. Bituin couldn’t care less, but Ting wants to preserve the legacy of his great-grandfather. An informal settler and an NGO worker also seem to have reasons to stop the mayor from building this highway. What’s in this street anyway that they have to fight for it? Perhaps a quest for immortality, survival or something else?
KUNG PAANO AKO NAGING LEADING LADY
Carlo Vergara
Direction: Chris Martinez
Being a maid is tough enough, but when Mely finds employment under a group of unconventional employers, she steps up to the unique challenge for the sake of her family. When Mely’s sister Viva enters the picture, Mely is reminded of a disturbing past, made complicated by an unsettling romantic revelation made by one of her employers. All this in a tragicomedy about domestic help, sibling rivalry, and shattered dreams.
Carlo Vergara
Direction: Chris Martinez
Being a maid is tough enough, but when Mely finds employment under a group of unconventional employers, she steps up to the unique challenge for the sake of her family. When Mely’s sister Viva enters the picture, Mely is reminded of a disturbing past, made complicated by an unsettling romantic revelation made by one of her employers. All this in a tragicomedy about domestic help, sibling rivalry, and shattered dreams.
STAGED READINGS
One-Act Plays: June 26, 6pm
LAGALAG
Samantha Dadolfalza
Samantha Dadolfalza
NOCTURNE
Juan Ekis
Juan Ekis
Full-Length Play: July 3, 6pm
MGA BUHAY NA APOY
Aureaus Solito
Aureaus Solito
WRITING FELLOWSHIP SHOWCASE
Staged Reading: July 6, 6pm
Staged Reading: July 6, 6pm
FRAGMENTS
Harlequin Theater Guild
Harlequin Theater Guild
WHERE: Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
The Festival Plays would be staged at Tanghalang Huseng Batute. It's at the right side of the Box Office at the right entrance of CCP. Well, I think if you ask around, you'll be able to find your way.
The Staged Readings will be held at Bulwagang Amado Hernandez. Okay, it's a bit tricky to give directions on how to get there, and I'm directionally challenged. So, I guess, I'll put it this way: it's near the left entrance that's on the parking area. Ha! I hope you find your way around. It's a good opportunity to explore CCP.
WHEN: June 25 - July 6, 2014
The plays are scheduled to run at 3:00 PM or 8:00 PM beginning June 25. The Premiere Week is from June 25 - 29. The Encore Week is from July 2 - 6.
The Staged Readings and the Showcase will start at 6:00 PM on June 26, 28, July 3 and 6.
Fragments are always a surprise! ;)
HOW MUCH?
Individual tickets of the sets are for Php 300.
If you plan to watch at least 4 sets, you can avail of the Virgin Pass for Php 900. Just choose between the Premiere and Encore weeks.
Or better yet, watch all 5 sets and get the Extra Virgin Pass for only Php 1,200. Again, pick either the Premiere week or the Encore week.
Weeeee! Thank God for this year's festival! I'm all set and excited! See you at the theater!
Here are my previous take on past VLF seasons:
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