Cover Revisit ‘Presidential Suite #2’ in this year’s Virgin Labfest (VLF) (Photo: Kiko Cabuena)
Revisit ‘Presidential Suite #2’ in this year’s Virgin Labfest (VLF) (Photo: Kiko Cabuena)
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The Virgin Labfest (VLF) officially comes of age in its 21st edition, returning this June 3 to 28 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater)
Known as the country’s premier theatre festival of untried, untested and unstaged one-act plays, this year’s edition promises to offer a deeper understanding of the human experience through 12 “virgin” scripts.
Guided by the theme Hubo’t Hubad, VLFXXI sheds all pretence of innocence to showcase the bold Filipino voice and spirit. The festival invites audiences to engage with works that expose vulnerability and layers of identity and memory. By nurturing emerging and established artists, VLFXXI revels in fearless storytelling and unbridled truths of humanity’s essence.
Featuring new works by eight debut “virgin” playwrights and four returning playwrights, the festival elaborates on a passionate community of untold narratives:
Read more: Virgin Labfest (VLF) 2025 courageously opens difficult conversations
Anthony Kim Vergara’s ‘Password 123, Pilipinas 321’
Above Anthony Kim Vergara’s ‘Password 123, Pilipinas 321’
Anthony Kim Vergara’s ‘Password 123, Pilipinas 321’
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Centring on Blackteam, an underground cyberspace operation disguised as a technical support centre, this play follows a cybersecurity expert as he questions his chosen path and his identity as a Filipino while his cousin leads the team’s troubling methods.
Elijah Felice Rosales’s ‘Human Rights Story of the Year’
Above Elijah Felice Rosales’s ‘Human Rights Story of the Year’
Elijah Felice Rosales’s ‘Human Rights Story of the Year’
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This play follows a reporter preparing to receive an international award. A former colleague publicly declares at her farewell party that she does not deserve the recognition.
Floyd Scott Tiogangco’s ‘Pataying ang mga Surot’
Above Floyd Scott Tiogangco’s ‘Pataying ang mga Surot’
Floyd Scott Tiogangco’s ‘Pataying ang mga Surot’
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The story unfolds on the last night of Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency. Tension builds as a couple conducts their own extermination of bedbugs while an Oplan Tokhang operation occurs right outside.
Neil Arkhe Azcuna’s ‘Balos’
Above Neil Arkhe Azcuna’s ‘Balos’
Neil Arkhe Azcuna’s ‘Balos’
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This play is about a wounded fighter who stumbles into a small Marawi hospital. Because of his arrival, four medical workers must choose between staying silent to save lives or speaking up and risking everyone’s refuge.
Read more: Virgin Labfest (VLF) 2024 explores ‘uncertainty’ bringing audiences to the edge of their seats
Alab Usman’s ‘Haram’
Above Alab Usman’s ‘Haram’
Alab Usman’s ‘Haram’
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This play portrays three queer Muslims struggling to manage faith and love across borders and barriers.
Gab Mactal’s ‘Lualhati’
Above Gab Mactal’s ‘Lualhati’
Gab Mactal’s ‘Lualhati’
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The titular character in this play reunites with a former nun-turned philosophy professor. Their shared memories of faith and romance emerge on the last night of a wake held at the Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn convent.
Duston Celestino’s ‘Elehiya’
Above Duston Celestino’s ‘Elehiya’
Duston Celestino’s ‘Elehiya’
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This play showcases an impressionistic montage of conversations between fathers and sons that could have taken place, but did not.
Ron Evangelista’s ‘She’s Electric’
Above Ron Evangelista’s ‘She’s Electric’
Ron Evangelista’s ‘She’s Electric’
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This tells the story of a former womaniser who meets the love of his life. His friends make a discovery that sparks an insightful discussion about the sexual and philosophical nature of relationships.
Faith Ferrer Lacanlale’s ‘Betamax’
Above Faith Ferrer Lacanlale’s ‘Betamax’
Faith Ferrer Lacanlale’s ‘Betamax’
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This play follows a woman who begins to see “human pigs” following a minor road accident. As she descends into madness, the darkness surrounding her family is brought to light.
Jerom Canlas’s ‘Footprint’
Above Jerom Canlas’s ‘Footprint’
Jerom Canlas’s ‘Footprint’
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Personally resonating with the playwright’s own experiences, this play shows a grieving family turning back time through a virtual archive of memories. While they scramble to make sense of a tragedy, their unspoken feelings inflict a much harsher truth.
John Lapus’s ‘Taksyapo!’
Above John Lapus’s ‘Taksyapo!’
John Lapus’s ‘Taksyapo!’
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Set in Tarlac, this play follows two strangers uncovering an unexpected connection by exchanging tales of love and disappointment within the walls of a rage booth.
Gerald Manuel’s ‘Buhaghag’
Above Gerald Manuel’s ‘Buhaghag’
Gerald Manuel’s ‘Buhaghag’
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This play follows a young lady haunted by a long-haired enigma. She is ultimately cornered into choosing between self-preservation and self-destruction.
‘Polar Coordinates’ by Ade Valenzona
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In addition to the new plays, VLFXXI will revisit three standout stories from last year’s festival. Polar Coordinates by Ade Valenzona follows a confused student who fails his Math exam. He struggles to carve his own path while dealing with a fragile family and strange feelings for his tutor. The Late Mr Real by Rolin Cadallo Obina takes place in a COVID-19 isolation facility. Separated by a wall, an estranged couple reexamines the clashing views that led to their marriage’s failure. Presidential Suite #2 by Siege Malvar focuses on a senator accused of money laundering. While she recovers from a heart attack, her children rally to salvage their family’s reputation.
Jose Victor Torres’s ‘Mga Tatsulok’
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Continuing its core mission to celebrate both budding and veteran talents, VLFXXI features several educational components: Stripped-down reading performances will bring several submitted scripts to life. These include Jose Victor Torres’s Mga Tatsulok, M Manalastas’s The Devoured, Dingdong Novenario’s Manang, Rafael Jimenez’s Suor, Juan Ekis’s Kasal(anan) and Jay Fernandez’s Ang Huli. The Taiwan International Play Reading Festival (TIPR) will also hold a special staged reading of Ihot Sinlay Cihek’s How Romantic: A Guide to Modern Pangcah Life, alongside the National Art Centre’s Prison Dancer.
Headed by award-winning playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, VLF will host a two-week mentorship on dramatic writing that culminates in a thrilling showcase. Meanwhile, a forum series on the creative processes behind theatre will feature TIPR speaker Cheng-Han Wu. Jin Yim and Cui Yin Mok of the Asian Producers’ Platform will also share insights alongside Takuya Maehara of the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center. Lastly, VLF’s Playwrights Fair hosted by the festival’s founder and Palanca-awardee Rody Vera, Liza Magtoto and Glenn Sevilla Mas will include guest speakers Tanya Lopez, Dessa Quesada-Palm and Sari Saysay to explore the essence of Visayan theatre, herstories and settings today’s artistic landscape.
Above Virgin Labfest (VLF) XXI
Virgin Labfest (VLF) XXI
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VLFXXI shows are scheduled daily for a 2pm matinee and an 8pm gala, with educational components slated at 5pm. Further updates on schedules and ticket-selling can be found on the official pages of VLF, CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation Inc., and Writers’ Bloc on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
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