The Vigin Labfest 12: Binyag (VLF
12) hatched from its egg last June 29, 2016. I was able to catch all the 12 new
plays as they saw the light during the first week. Being the cream of the crop
this year with 197 submissions, the plays in VLF 12 tackled various offbeat topics
that would bewilder the audience.
![]() |
The Virgin Labfest 12: Binyag Program and Festival Pass |
There were 5 sets that included
the 12 plays (SET A-D) and the revisited plays, composed of the three best plays last year (SET E). Each
ticket costs Php 350/set. I availed of the Festival Regular Pass for the
Premiere Week for Php 1,400 (with a savings of Php 350). However, with all the
surprises and twists popping right before me for five straight days, what I
spent for The Virgin Labfest 12: Binyag was really worth it.
In my Facebook posts right after
the show, I put my initial thoughts on the plays on each set. I would like to
add my other insights about the plays in this blog entry, particularly, what to watch for in each of the stage plays.
SET A
DAHAN-DAHAN ANG PAGLUBOG NG ARAW
Playwright: Soc Delos Reyes
Director: Adolf Alix
A story of father-daughter love,
this play is about acceptance and letting go. Knowing that the brilliant Mailes
Kanapi is included in the cast, you’re assured that this is a no-nonsense
drama.
![]() |
Cast, Playwright and Director of "Dahan-dahan Ang Paglubog Ng Araw" |
ANG SUGILANON NG KABIGUAN NI EPEFANIA
Playwright: Alexandra Mae Cardoso
Director: Charles Yee
“Sugilanon” (in English, “stories”)
reminds me of one of this year’s revisited plays, “Si Maria Isabela At Ang
Guryon Ng Mga Tala”. While Maria Isabela travels places to collect all the
materials for the gigantic kite that would fly her to the stars, Epefania controls the weather to prove her
love. So much for teenage admiration, huh?! You would love Epefania and the
three drunken men in the play!
![]() |
Cast of "Sugilanon Ng Kabiguan Ni Epefania" |
SI JAYA, SI RONDA, SI BARBRA AT ANG MAHIWAGANG KANTA
Playwright: Oggie Arcenas
Director: Roobak Valle
A story of friendship, “Si
Jaya, Si Ronda, Si Barbra At Si Barbra At Ang Mahiwagang Kanta” is a funny play
that explores the lives and issues of three middle-aged friends, set inside a
videoke bar on a Halloween. Be ready to laugh out loud and roll on the floor
with all the punchlines you’ve never heard before!
![]() |
Cast, Playwright and Director of " Si Jaya, Si Ronda, Si Barbra At Ang Mahiwagang Kanta" |
SET B
BAHAY-BAHAYAN, TAGU-TAGUAN
Playwright: Herlyn Alegre
Director: Ricardo Magno
Herlyn Alegre’s play is
another heart-breaking drama about four refugees of civil war and their quest
to find a new home and start a new life. What I live about Alegre's plays (at least from what I've seen so far) is that she gets inspiration from events abroad and make it "Filipino", like her last year's "Huling-Huli".
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Bahay-Bahayan, Tagu-Taguan |
ANG BATA SA DRUM
Playwright: Dominique La
Victoria
Director: Dudz Terana
The boy who’s always being
punished by his father would opt to stay inside the drum, despite the
persuasion of his sister because he feels safer being inside that container than
outside. I love the accent of the actors in this play, and yes, the whole time,
the boy stayed inside the drum.
![]() |
Cast and Director of "Ang Bata sa Drum" |
LOYALIST
Playwright: Kanakan Balintagos
Director: Law Fajardo
I would guess that this play
is partly autobiographical. The young Kanakan Balintagos, the name of character
in the play (and the name of the playwright, as well) argues with his mom, who’s
a Marcos loyalist, about the truth behind the Marcoses. This, indeed, is a
timely and relevant play that needs to be show to the 14M oblivious voters in
the recent elections who desired to welcome the Marcoses to Malacanang, as if
nothing happened.
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Loyalist" |
SET C
ANG MGA BISITA NI JEAN
Playwright: Ma. Cecilia Dela
Rosa
Director: Ariel Yonzon
Jean and her husband Brad left
the revolutionary movement years back. As they face challenges in their
relationship, Jean, who is in search for love and affection, is left confused.
As she goes through her struggle, her friends from way back visit her, and
reminisce the good old days they shared, leaving her more confused. This play
makes you understand that members of revolutionary movement are also capable of
loving, and they also experience the same problems of ordinary people, in terms
of love. Perhaps, even more complicated.
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Ang Mga Bisita Ni Jean" |
BAIT
Playwright: Guelan Luarca
Director: Mara Paulina Marasigan
A Christian kid eventually
died when he’s pushed by a Muslim classmate from the building, when the former
desecrated the Quran, or Islam’s religious text. The exchange of dialogues
between the teacher and Muslim kid’s father will make you think if it’s a crime
to defend your own faith.
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, Director of "Bait" |
MULA SA KULIMLIMAN
Playwright: Carlo Vergara
Director: Hazel Gutierrez
Fans of comic books would love
this story of a family where the ordinary housewife, a kakanin (rice cake) vendor is perplexed about the revelations from
his husband who claims to be the superhero in the comics “Mula sa Kulimliman”,
and is tasked to defeat Brukuka. Accepted as a staged reading in The Virgin
Labfest 11, “Mula sa Kulimliman” definitely deserves to be staged this year.
SET D
MARTE
Playwright: Eliza Victoria
Director: George de Jesus
Eliza Victoria’s futuristic
play, “Marte”, is set in Mars, where Filipinos would be sent to work in factories. Yes, story opens the possibility of our OFWs finding jobs not only in other countries, but in other planets, as well! However, as the the play postulates, the oppression of workers
would prevail, regardless of location, as long as the system and the leaders perpetuate this. Among all the plays, “Marte” has the most impressive set design for me.
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Marte" |
DADDY’S GIRL
Playwright: Ricardo Novenario
Director: Nicolas Pichay
Expect that the audience would
whisper “Yuck, incest!” initially, but Daddy’s Girl is more than just a forbidden
father-daughter affair. It’s about love and finding your soulmate. Chasing
would never cease, unless you find the one destined for you. You will born,
die, and reborn. I have read the initial script of this play during the Writers’
Bloc session and I already loved it then. With Nick Pichay’s direction and the
acting of Marco Viana and Skyzx Labastilla, the play becomes even more
brilliant. (Spoiler: expect a number of kissing scenes and an audience participation!)
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Daddy's Girl" |
HAPAG-KAINAN
Playwright: Ricardo Patriarca
Director: Chris Martinez
A parody about a typical
middle-class Filipino family, this play is one of the most entertaining plays
this year, and a strong contender for being revisited. Before the dining table,
the family talks about important issues about their members – the daughter’s
unwanted pregnancy, the father’s infidelity, the son’s drug addiction – in a
satirical way. Awesome cast led by Adriana Agcaoili! (Be warned that every line
has “f*ck yous” and “P***ng ina’s”. To say that these expletives are countless
is an understatement.)
![]() |
Cast, Playwright, and Director of "Hapagkainan" |
With these “untried, untested,
unstaged” plays, The Virgin Labfest, proves
that, indeed, the Philippine theater is alive! Catch their remaining
shows until July 17, 2016.
![]() |
Happy me! |
Visit the Virgin Labfest Facebookpage.
No comments:
Post a Comment