VIRGIN LABFEST 12
PRODUCTIONLINEUP, SYNOPSES AND OTHER PRODUCTION INFORMATION
MAIN LINEUP
SET A
Si Jaya, Si Ronda, Si Barbra at ang Mahiwagang Kanta
Playwright: OggieArcenas
Direction: Roobak Valle
OGGIE ARCENAS
Oggie is an Associate Professor at the U.P. School of Economics in Diliman, where he has been teaching for 10 years. He earned his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University, and worked for the World Bank in Washington DC as an Environmental Economist prior to moving back to the Philippines in 2005. Although regarded more as an academic and a technocrat, Oggie was once an actor during his UP Repertory Company days, and was one of the original members of PETA’s Writers Pool (under Charley dela Paz). Currently, he is an active member of the Writer’s Bloc, an association of playwrights which is based in Metro Manila. This is Oggie’s third VLF play, the other two being Séance and Isang Mukha ng Pandaraya.
SYNOPSIS
What wish does your heart cry out for when you’re alone inside your heart singing a song? This is the question three middle-aged best friends—the spirit conjurer Jaya, Ronda the OFW, and the pretty Jaya, trophy wife of a politician—face when they find themselves competing for the last videoke token made magical by their long friendship. Which wish will the universe grant—true love, acceptance, or emancipation—and what price are they willing to pay for that wish to come true? Who among Jaya, Ronda and Barbra, will win the chance to sing the magic song of wish?
Ang Sugilanon ng Kabiguan ni Epefania
Adapted from Ian Rosales Casocot’sTheSugilanonofEpefania's Heartbreak
Playwright: Alexandra May Cardoso
Direction: Charles Yee
ALEXANDRA MAY CARDOSO
Alexandra May Cardoso is a graduating Creative Writing major from the University of the Philippines - Diliman. Her writing focus is on fiction and writing for the stage. She was one of the ten fellows of CCP’s Virgin Labfest 11 Writing Fellowship Program (2015). She wrote the libretto for UP Dance Company's Haliya and Other Dances (2015), and has also worked as a production and marketing staff for UP Dulaang Laboratoryo's Museong Kayumanggi (2014). Her fiction has won Third Place in the Short Story category of the 2014 Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio Literary Contest. She is a member of the UP Writers Club.
CHARLES YEE
Charles Ivan Ramirez Yee graduated BS Communication Technology Management and BFA Theater Arts from the Ateneo de Manila University. He has received the Loyola School Award for the Arts in Theater. Some of his most recent directorial work include Rene Villanueva’s Kalantiaw - Tanghalang Ateneo, Ang Juan Tamban ni Malou Jacob - Entablado, Laot-Lungsod-Langit: Mga Kuwentong Sama-Dilaut - Tanghalang Filipino Integrated and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWS), and Chipline - VLF9.
SYNOPSIS
A groupofdrunkenmen infrontof asari-sari storesomewherein Negros tellthetaleofEpefania, agirl with afoolish heartandatinge ofmagic.When Epefania falls inlove withthehandsomestboyintown, she is surethatshe has foundthe onethather heartwants. Soshedoeseverythingshecantogethim– andalmostdestroystheuniverse.
Dahan-Dahan ang Paglubog ng Araw
Playwright: Jose Socrates delos Reyes
Direction: Adolf Alix
SOC DELOS REYES
Si Soc Delos Reyes ay nagtapos ng BFA Creative Writing (Playwriting) mula sa Ateneo de Manila University, kung saan naging mentor niya si G. Glenn Sevilla Mas. Naging kasapi siya ng Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program noong 2012. Ang ilan sa kaniyang mga dulang isinabuhay na sa entablado ay ang The Conversationalist (Shaharazade Theater Company; June 2013), Dugtungan (Ateneo Fine Arts Festival; February 2014) at Barya-baryang Bata (Tanghalang Ateneo TA Lab; September 2014). Meron din siyang mga tula na naging bahagi ng Heights Vol. LXII, No. 3 at Heights Senior Folio noong 2015. Kasalukuyan niyang kinukuha ang kaniyang MA sa Panitikang Filipino sa Ateneo de Manila University.
SYNOPSIS
"Dahan-dahang ang Paglubog ng Araw" is the story of Maya, a high school senior, as she deals with the realities of taking care of her father Joseph, who is battling cancer. Grace - Joseph's older sister and Maya's aunt - often drops by to help and check up on both of them. However, while they try to remain hopeful, individual and family issues persists but are merely repressed. Hope, as they are soon to find out, can be a wicked thing.
SET B
Bahay-Bahayan Tagu-Taguan
Playwright: HerlynAlegre
Direction: Ricardo Magno
HERLYN ALEGRE
Herlyn Alegre is a playwright, screenwriter and fictionist. She graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Creative Writing. Because of her love for Japan, she decided to take her Master 's Degree in Asian Studies (major in Japanese Studies) also at the University of the Philippines while working full-time in a government institution. At present, she is pursuing her PhD in International Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Her first play, “Imbisibol” was staged in 2013 as part of the Virgin Labfest 9 and was restaged the following year as part of the revisited plays of the Virgin Labfest 10. Last March, “Imbisibol” made its onscreen debut as one of the entries to the first ever Sinag Maynila.
SYNOPSIS
“Bahay-bahayan, Tagu-Taguan” follows the story of four refugees who are looking for a new home after they have been displaced by a raging civil war in their home country. Eben, after crossing the border, finds himself in a tent city where he meets Fatima, her son Sami and another refugee named Dan. While Eben is resigned to his unfortunate fate, the others are in search of a better place to rebuild their crumbling lives. In a time of war and devastation, where identities and loyalties are displaced, will they ever find a place to call “home”?
RICARDO MAGNO
Ricardo was a part of the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company from 2012-2015, where he was part of the following productions: The Merchant of Venice; Ibalong; San Andres B: The Opera; Walang Kukurap and Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente. Under Tanghalang Pilipino, he was also Assistant Director for Prinsipe Munti and Kinabuhi ng Batan-on, a Theater for Development touring production in partnership with UNICEF. He recently directed Peratedes, an adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba by Frederico Lorca, and is currently a member of Daloy Dance Company.
Loyalist
Playwright: KanakanBalintagos
Direction: Law Fajardo
KANAKAN BALINTAGOS
Kanakan-Balintagos, the artist formerly known as Auraeus Solito, is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Palawán-Filipino Filmmaker & Playwright. His feature films have been shown in major film festivals around the world including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Montreal and Berlin. He was included in Phaidon Press’ book “Take 100” which featured 100 New Directors who are the Future of Film. His first feature film ‘The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros’ won 15 international awards including 3 awards at the Berlinale (The Teddy award, International Jury Prize and Special Mention from the Children's Jury). It is also the first Philippine film nominated for Best Foreign film at the Independents' Spirit Awards in the US. It has been shown in more than 50 film festivals around the world. He is the first Filipino to make it to the premiere independent film festival in the world, the SUNDANCE Film Festival -two years in a row for both ‘The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros’ and his second feature ‘Tuli’. His dream film ‘Busong (Palawan Fate)’, the first part of the Palawan Trilogy, was recently screened at the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. A filmmaker of all genres, he has also worked on documentaries, short films and a music video “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads which won the Asian Viewer’s Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. He is also a playwright, actor and director of Theater when he was a student at the University of the Philippines, was founder of the UP Tropa Experimental Theater Company and was touted the “Enfent terrible of Philippine Theater” during his time in the University. He recently returned to Theatre with his musical “MANHID”, revived by Ballet Philippines and his Palanca Award-winning play “MGA BUHAY NA APOY ( A Breath of Fire)” which was received with great critical acclaim and awarded by PhilStage’s Gawad Buhay 2016 for Outstanding Original Script. He comes from a lineage of Shaman-Kings from the indigenous Palawán of South Palawan. He is now using his tribal name Kanakan-Balintagos which was dreamt by his shaman-uncle which means “Hunter of Truth”.
Ang Bata sa Drum
Playwright: Dominique La Victoria
Direction: Dudz Teraña
Cast: Raven Relavo and Ron Christian Alos
DOMINIQUE LA VICTORIA
Dominique Beatrice “Vix” La Victoria graduated with a double degree in Creative Writing (2014) and Theater Arts (2015) from the Ateneo de Manila University. She is an alumnus of Ateneo ENTABLADO and is a recepient of the Loyola Schools Award for the Arts in Playwriting. She was a fellow for Playwriting at the 20th Iligan National Writers Workshop and her play Chipline was featured in the 9th Virgin Labfest last 2013. She is currently working to pursue her masters degree.
DUDZ TERANA
Director, Actor, Writer, Choreographer and Teacher. Has performed, choreographed and directed plays both in the Philippines and abroad. He is the Associate Artistic Director of Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Artistic Director or Far Eastern University Theater Guild. He directed Makikitawag Lang ako, Ang Buhay ay Pelikula, Dreamweavers, Sala sa Pito, Ang Unang Aswang, Call Time, Kahapon Ngayon at Bukas, Infanta, Dr. Love Please, Babae Yata to’, Mga kuwentong Asyano. His play “BATANG RIZAL”, a children’s musical about the life story of Philippine National hero, frequently performed since it debuted in 2007 has more than 250 performances all over the country.
SYNOPSIS
It is a quiet afternoon in the mountains of Northern Mindanao, and a child punished in the strangest of ways finds comfort conversing with his sister.
SET C
Ang Mga Bisita ni Jean
Playwright: Ma. Cecilia dela Rosa
Direction: Ariel Yonzon
Cast: Jelson Bay, SheenlyVeeGener, Randy Villarama
MAKI DELA ROSA
Ma. Cecilia “Maki” de la Rosa is a poet whose poems were recognized in University of the Philippines’ SP Lopez Literary Contest 2012 (first place) and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino’s Talaang Ginto 2013 (honorable mention). She was a fellow for poetry in Palihang Rogelio Sicat 5 and Saringsing Bikol Writers Workshop. She has also written a few essays, dagli (flash fiction) and children’s stories. She is a member of Kataga, Samahan ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, Inc.
SYNOPSIS
Jean’s search for genuine love & affection has left her confused, miserable and alone as she struggles with Brad on their marriage. Having left the movement years ago, former comrades pay her an unexpected visit; talking, arguing, singing…just like the old times! Now, Jean returns to an old, familiar crossroads…
Bait
Playwright: GuelanLuarca
Direction: Mara Marasigan
Cast: Renante Bustamante, KalilAlmonte
GUELAN LUARCA
Guelan is an actor, director, writer and translator. Some of his recent works: a translation of Ariel Dorfman's Death and the Maiden (La Muerte y La Doncella) for Ateneo Fine Arts, and a one-act play titled "...Is Merely A Madness," whose lines were all taken from Shakespeare's works and was premiered at a Shakespeare conference in Elsinore, Denmark for the Bard's 400th death anniversary. He has also translated Karol Capek's R.U.R. for Tanghalang Ateneo, and penned the Romeo and Juliet adaptation, #R</3J for Dulaang UP. As an actor, he was last seen as "Fool/Lukayo" in Dulaang UP's King Lear/Haring Lear. He recently directed a Bisaya version of Tim Dacanay's VLF play "Ang Huling Lektyur ni Mrs. Reyes" for Ateneo Fine Arts, and Jerome Ignacio's "Kublihan" for VLF XI. He is finally graduating from his AB Literature course at the Ateneo.
SYNOPSIS:
A school incident involving desecration and bullying results in a Muslim boy pushing his Christian classmate from off the third floor. He lands on the gutter, in critical condition. The Muslim boy’s father meets with his teacher to discuss the repercussions of the incident. Bait explores the themes of bigotry, discrimination, hatred, and the courageous hope to believe in the promise of peace and forgiveness.
Mula sa Kulimliman
Playwright: Carlo Vergara
Direction: Hazel Gutierrez
CARLO VERGARA
Carlo Vergara is a two-time National Book Award-winning graphic novelist and Urian Award nominee. His acting credits include “Angels In America,” “The Lottery,” and “Towards Zero.” His one-act plays “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” and “The Missing Peace” have been staged in previous Virgin Labfest festivals, the former moving on to becoming an acclaimed full-length stage musical produced by Dalanghita Productions. His graphic novel, featuring the character Zsazsa Zaturnnah, has likewise been adapted into a successful full-length musical by Tanghalang Pilipino, as well as a feature film by Regal Films.
SYNOPSIS
Estranged from her parents, an ordinary housewife is faced with the shocking truth about her husband, and she is forced to come to terms with a reality that she had believed to be mere fantasy. “Mula Sa Kulimliman” had originally been accepted in the staged reading set of The Virgin Labfest 11.
HAZEL GUTIERREZ
Hazel Gutierrez began directing plays for the CCP Virgin Labfest while still earning her undergraduate degree in theater arts at UP Diliman. She is a musician in her own right, currently jamming with the percussion group Brigada. She teaches animation at the Ateneo De Manila Grade School and is currently the Resident Production Manager of Tanghalang Pilipino.
SET D
Daddy's Girl
Playwright: Ricardo Novenario
Direction: Nicolas Pichay
DINGDONG NOVENARIO
Dingdong is still where he was when he started writing for Virgin Labfest six years ago: still working in an IT company, still working as a fitness instructor, and still pursuing his passion in writing for theater. All because this is the life he loves. He continues to explore different topics in his works for the Virgin Labfest - from his gay revisionist Kafatiran to the subtly romantic Wendy Wants To Be A Housewife, and this time with a tale of love that transcends time and decency with Daddy's Girl. He is a member of the Writers Bloc and plans to continue learning, sharing, and writing for the rest of his life.
SYNOPSIS
Every owl needs to be with his pussycat, and vice versa. If it comes to the point that the need to be together has caused so much pain to both parties and to the souls around them, to the point of defying decency, then perhaps the time has come to end the cycle and cut off their cosmic ties. All it needs is for both parties to declare they are done with the endless pursuit of each other and it will be over. All with the power of their word.
Hapagkainan
Playwright: Rick Patriarca
Direction: Chris Martinez
RICK PATRIARCA
Ricardo 'Rick' Patriarca graduated cum laude from Cavite State University, Indang campus with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication major in Journalism. He currently works as a web content writer for a BPO company in Eastwood, Quezon City. This is his first time to join the Virgin Labfest. ‘Hapag-Kainan’ is his first foray into stage plays. He is 20 years old.
SYNOPSIS
The simple, ordinary dinner of a middle-class family turns into a battleground of opinions when the 16-year-old a dughter confesses her unexpected pregnancy. Big issues and dark family secrets will be passed around the dinner table as the four members of the family devour a sumptuous tinola... If conversation makes the meal, then there could be no more interesting dinner than this one. Inspired by Saturday Night Live's Family Dinner, 'Hapag-Kainan' is a black satirical comedy that depicts a dinner conversation of a dysfunctional Filipino family.
Play Synopsis
The play takes us into the dining room of a middle-class Filipino family one evening, where the mother, a committed housewife, has cooked a scrumptious tinola. The father, a stern man yet a passionate husband, just came home from work. Their two children, a rebellious son and a teenage daughter, are all set to have dinner. Like an ordinary happy family, they share stories and laugh at each other’s jokes as they pass food around the table. Everything seems perfect, until the teenage daughter breaks her silence and announces her unexpected pregnancy. The room erupts with exclamations and colorful opinions, leading to a series of shocking revelations and discoveries of the family's most dirtiest, darkest secrets... If conversation makes the meal, then there could be no more interesting dinner that this one.
HAPAGKAINAN is a satirical play that experiments on familial relations and communication, and aims to discuss some of the most important issues that touch the lives of the members a common Filipino household.
CHRIS MARTINEZ
Chris Martinez is a director for films, theatre and tv commercials, playwright, screenwriter and author. His writing credits include Bridal Shower, Bikini Open, Sukob, Caregiver, 100, Kimmy Dora 1, 2 and 3, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, I Do Bidoo Bidoo (The Apo Hiking Society Musical), The Gifted. He is a winner of Cinemalaya Best Screenplay for 100 and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank. Asian Film Awards and Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominee for ang Babae sa Septic Tank. A multi-Palanca Award Winner for his plays including Last Order sa Penguin. He was part of the VLF 1 and Revisited as playwright for Ars Poetica (co-written with Dr. Eugene Y. Evasco) and as director for for VLF 2013 and Revisted 2014 for Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady.