Cover Mark Labella directing a scene of the upcoming iWant series, ‘Nurse the Dead’
Mark Labella directing a scene of the upcoming iWant series, ‘Nurse the Dead’
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‘Nurse the Dead’ isn’t merely a story about the ghosts that haunt hospital corridors. It’s a profoundly human reminder that sometimes, the most courageous way to honour the dead is to ensure the living never lose their ability to laugh
There is a distinct kind of survival humour found in the breakrooms of hospital wards—a pitch-black, rapid-fire banter that only makes sense to those who spend their days cheating death. For Filipino nurses, who have long been the unseen backbone of the global healthcare system, this laughter is not merely a distraction; it is a lifeline. This profound intersection of sorrow and comedy pulses through the veins of Nurse the Dead, an upcoming eight-episode limited series shot entirely in Los Angeles.
Spearheaded by showrunner Mark Labella and co-directors Wesley Villarica and Drea Castro, the Philippine-backed production boldly blends supernatural thrills with grounded medical drama. But beneath its chaotic, ghost-filled workplace premise lies a deeply personal tribute to the Filipino healthcare workers lost during the pandemic, operating on a poignant truth: that the darkest of rooms often necessitate the brightest, most unapologetic humour.
Read more: What two years can do? Tatler reports how COVID-19 changed our lives
Above Mark Labella, Wesley Villarica and Anthony Jennings interviewed by ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol
For Labella, the journey to creating Nurse the Dead began long before the first script was written. He initially fulfilled a classic familial expectation by earning a medical degree, humorously noting that he proceeded to “traumatise” his mother by pursuing a career in entertainment, yet still managed to create a medical show. But the pandemic shifted the tone of his dream. Coming from a family of medical professionals and serving as a frontliner alongside his mother, Labella experienced the devastating realities of the crisis firsthand.
“With a family of medical folks, we were constantly on video calls, talking through medical decisions, trying to understand what was happening, trying to be calm because we knew the science,” Labella recalls. The crisis soon breached their inner circle. His mother’s best friend, a registered nurse, passed away, and shortly after, Labella lost his Papa Dodong. Suddenly, the tragedy was no longer just about medicine; it was about his own family experiencing grief in real time.
Above Poster of ‘Nurse the Dead’
Poster of ‘Nurse the Dead’
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Villarica, too, was carrying the heavy weight of recent bereavement, having lost his own mother nearly two years prior to the production. For both creators, the project became a vessel for healing. Villarica poured his personal journey with grief into the characters and the series’s visual language. They both discovered a poignant truth: when confronted with unbearable sorrow, humans often turn to comedy for survival.
“I couldn’t write a show where everyone just cried every week,” Labella explains. “I mean, I’m Filipino. We cry, then someone brings food, then someone makes an inappropriate joke, then somehow everyone survives dinner. That’s grief, too.”
Above On set at the Los Angeles Downtown Medical in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, January 25, 2026 (Photo: Sthanlee B Mirador)
On set at the Los Angeles Downtown Medical in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, January 25, 2026 (Photo: Sthanlee B Mirador)
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Thus, the supernatural element was born. Introducing ghosts allowed the narrative to address death without allowing it to suffocate the storyline. The comedy, Labella insists, never exists to disrespect the pain; rather, it exists precisely because the pain is so palpably real.
Visually translating this delicate balance fell heavily on Villarica, a renowned photographer stepping into the director’s chair alongside Labella and Castro. Rather than relying on virtual sets or LED volumes, the team made the daring choice to film entirely on location to evoke the visceral sensation of a real hospital.
Above Ruby Rodriguez to make her television comeback through the limited series ‘Nurse the Dead’ on the streaming platform iWant
Ruby Rodriguez to make her television comeback through the limited series ‘Nurse the Dead’ on the streaming platform iWant
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When it came to portraying the spirits of Ward 5, Villarica deliberately steered away from traditional horror tropes. Through the protagonist Noa’s perspective, ghosts simply exist as part of the natural environment, akin to weary coworkers or demanding patients.
“The comedy comes from treating the supernatural as normal, then letting the timing, performances and workplace chaos do the work,” Villarica notes. The ghosts are opinionated, emotional and frequently inconvenient, blending seamlessly into the rhythm of the hospital.
Above On set at the Los Angeles Downtown Medical in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, January 25, 2026 (Photo: Sthanlee B Mirador)
On set at the Los Angeles Downtown Medical in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, January 25, 2026 (Photo: Sthanlee B Mirador)
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Authenticity extended beyond the visual aesthetic; it was woven into the very script. As a bilingual series, Nurse the Dead tackled the complexities of “Taglish”. Labella was acutely aware of the pitfalls of “TV Taglish”, which often sounds manufactured or clichéd. He drew from his own upbringing as an immigrant child who once started editing himself and speaking English internally simply to survive socially.
The dialogue in the show mirrors the true linguistic chaos of Filipino-American households, where individuals switch languages based on whether a moment requires humour, gentleness, or an emotional depth that English simply cannot hold.
Above Jelynn Malone leads the show, ‘Nurse the Dead’, spearheaded by directors Wesley Villarica, Drea Castro, and showrunner Mark Labella
Jelynn Malone leads the show, ‘Nurse the Dead’, spearheaded by directors Wesley Villarica, Drea Castro, and showrunner Mark Labella
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To breathe life into this multifaceted world, the directors assembled a cast that bridged generations and borders. They sought actors who carried emotional history in their expressions—people who genuinely looked as though they had loved, sacrificed and worked double shifts.
The presence of veteran star Ruby Rodriguez provided an immediate sense of cultural familiarity and maternal warmth, with her character mirroring her real-world experiences as a Filipino mum in America. Meanwhile, Princess Punzalan, a beloved actor who was more active on television and films in the Nineties and early 2000s and now a real-life registered nurse in the US, brought unparalleled authenticity. Punzalan remarkably arrived on set straight from punishing 6am hospital shifts, displaying sheer grace and discipline without a single complaint.
Above Behind the scenes of ‘Nurse the Dead’
Behind the scenes of ‘Nurse the Dead’
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Younger talents like Anthony Jennings were brought into the fold, matching the veterans with an open-hearted, ego-free professionalism that thoroughly impressed the showrunners.
Villarica describes the on-set chemistry as “magic from the first week”, noting how the cast openly shared their personal experiences with the filmmakers. This collaborative spirit was safeguarded by a strict “no divas” rule enforced by the directing trio. The responsibilities were expertly divided: Castro brought a crucial female perspective and emotional intelligence, Labella nurtured nuanced performances from the cast, and Villarica orchestrated the visual world-building.
Above A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
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“We couldn’t make a show about compassion while treating people poorly behind the scenes,” Labella asserts. As leaders, they practised service leadership, ensuring they were the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the last to eat.
Producing a Philippine-backed series in Los Angeles presented an enormous logistical hurdle, primarily due to the stark discrepancies between a Filipino budget and the exorbitant costs of the Hollywood system. The survival of the production relied heavily on the quintessential Filipino trait of bayanihan—communal unity and cooperation.
Above A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
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The wardrobe alone reflected this collaborative ethos, featuring an East-meets-West blend of Alaga scrubs made from indigenous Filipino materials alongside donated pieces from Fabletics. Behind the camera, Labella found himself wearing countless hats, from showrunning and directing to waking up at 4am to load cameras and even making hospital posters during his lunch breaks.
However, it was the overwhelming generosity of the community that truly saved the show. Local businesses like Arko Foods provided daily meals for the cast and crew, asking for nothing in return. Even more astoundingly, real doctors—some of whom had served alongside Labella on a medical mission in Panama—flew to Los Angeles solely to volunteer their assistance on set.
“There were moments when I looked around the set and realised that Nurse the Dead was not only a show about service. It was being built by people living service in real time,” Labella reflects.
Above A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
A scene from ‘Nurse the Dead’ (Photo: courtesy of Mark Labella / iWant)
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Both Labella and Villarica view Nurse the Dead as far more than just a television series; it is a proof of concept for the immense potential of Filipino storytelling on the global stage. The cultural tide is shifting, evidenced by milestones like a Filipina winning an Oscar for cinematography, Bini performing at Coachella and the international explosion of Jollibee. The world, Villarica notes, is finally ready to listen.
Yet, at the heart of this soaring ambition remains a grounded, sombre truth that the series desperately wishes to convey. Filipino nurses are frequently stereotyped as the warm, snack-providing figures in hospital corridors, but they are highly trained, courageous warriors.
Scenes from the trailer release party of ‘Nurse the Dead’
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Labella cites a shattering statistic: “Filipino nurses make up roughly 4 per cent of the nursing workforce in America, yet nearly 30 per cent of nurses who died from Covid were Filipino.”
Behind these numbers are mothers, fathers and children who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst holding the hands of strangers. With Nurse the Dead, the creators have built a world where these sacrifices are neither romanticised nor forgotten. Instead, they are honoured with the beautiful, chaotic and uniquely Filipino symphony of tears, resilience, and unapologetic laughter.
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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.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
