The Virgin Labfest 19 presents: Pintog, with four sets of untried, untested, and unstaged one-act plays plus a revisited set of last year’s top three hits! Categorized from A to E, each set contains three plays that are sure to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
Here’s the festival schedule this year:
I’ve only watched what my own schedule allowed me to: Set A on June 12 2pm show, Set D on June 15 8pm show, and Set E on June 16 2pm show.
Note: Even though this is my 8th year of watching untried and untested plays, I am in no way a theater expert. These are my personal opinions.
The following parts may contain spoilers.
Set A: Dilema
★ Vengeance of the Gods wanted to touch on so many things! From the poor being credulous to religion, politics, and faux science, to their reluctance to do what’s ‘right’. I wanted to give this a chance, see where all the chatter will go, but it was dragging and spiraling into different places. Having no stage setup gave the impression that its simplicity will be its strength but it highlighted the lack of something to cut through the deadpan-like stretch even more. It feels like I wasted my undivided focus for nothing. Some parts were also hard to understand because the actors would turn their backs while saying their lines. It was confusing and exhausting to watch. One of the worst I’ve seen in the history of VLF. I even wonder how this made it into the final pick.
| Vengeance of the Gods by Hans Pieter Arao Direction: Hazel Gutierrez-Marges and the Anino Shadowplay Collective SYNOPSIS: After a possession in public, Ifan, the town mayor’s chief of staff who claims to know the real reason for the phenomenon, tries to convince Odie, the possessed’s father, to join him in his quest for justice. CAST AND ROLES: Ifan: Jel Tarun Manong Odie: Jonathan Tadioan PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Carlos Siongco Lighting Design: Loren Rivera Sound Design: Datu Arellano & Joshua Tayco Video Design: Joyce Garcia, Jef Carnay, & Teta Tulay Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Dramaturgy: Rafael Mediavillo Poster Design: Paw Castillo Stage Management: Maui Tacto |
★★ Ningas had a wonderful cast. The theatrics were great and performance was fire! But the story itself doesn’t feel like it’s dependent on anything fire-related. So that part felt a bit forced or just thrown out there just to say it’s connected; the title is not justified by what the story was really about. Without the title disconnect, this would have been a 3 out of 5. The concept was alright.
| Ningas by Lino Balmes Direction: BJ Borja SYNOPSIS: Susubukang kumbinsihin ng Babae ang Lalaki na gumawa ng maliit na pabor—ang bigyan siya ng pangalan—na magbibigay buhay sa kanya. Literal. CAST AND ROLES: Babae: Geraldine Villamil Lalaki: Ross Pesigan PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Carlos Siongco Lighting Design: Loren Rivera Sound Design: Joshua Tayco Video Design: Justin Santiago Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Dramaturgy: Sigrid Carreon Poster Design: Federico Joaquin Rivera Directing Apprentice: Alliah Divina & Marielle Apurado Stage Management: Istifen Dagang Kanal |
★★★ Love on the Brain talks about the importance of HIV and AIDS awareness. I like how it follows current trends, gets a feel of the culture of social media and people’s need to ‘maintain an online status’. That, regardless of how much it makes one feel a certain way (trying not to say the word cringe), this is not something to devalue someone for. The actors’ transitions were smooth and it was entertaining all throughout. Perhaps, gay romance in this light is just not my cup of tea.
| Love on the Brain by Rick Patriarca Direction: John Mark Yap SYNOPSIS: Ex-lovers Ryan and Jake realize how grueling modern gay dating can be when the former’s current boyfriend Mike, a popular social media influencer, discovers that they have HIV. CAST AND ROLES: Ryan: Shaun Ocrisma Mike: Rap Robes Jake: Esteban Fulay Jr. PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Carlos Siongco Lighting Design: Loren Rivera Sound Design: Joshua Tayco Video Design: Deidrich Octaviano Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Choreography: Rapah Manalo Dramaturgy: Jao Catarus Poster Design: Zoë De Ocampo Stage Management: Monty Uy |
Set D: Di-Tiyak
★★★★ Si Hesus Naa Sa US portrays the real-life escape plan of most Filipinos who want to make it out of struggling in their own country. This was a great start, which provided a precedent to the set concept of having the human instinct to want to be absolved from our sufferings through an image of a saviour and having to choose between the practical or the morally right decision. Two people having a conversation isn’t boring or dragging if the direction of the story is sensible and the scenes are performed well. I found myself almost tearing up in the middle of the drama; it felt so real! I was in awe!
| Si Hesus Na’a sa US by Neil Azcuna Direction: Phil Noble SYNOPSIS: Ang hiwalay na magasawang si Luna at Marlon ay papunta ng NAIA para sunduin ang AFAM ni Luna na magdadala sa kanya sa America. Habang papunta sila sa Airport ay mahahalungkat ang kanilang nakaraan. CAST AND ROLES: Corazon: Sheryll Ceasico Marlon: Roi Calilong Luna: Kiki Baento PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Io Balanon Lighting Design: Roman Cruz Sound Design: Arvy Dimaculangan Video Design: Bene Manaois Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Dramaturgy: Alab Uzman Poster Design: Phoebe Guillermo Stage Management: William Guillermo |
★★★★ Ang Munting Liwanag sa Madilim na Sulok ng Isang Serbeserya sa Maynila will leave you with a lot of food for thought to ponder upon. It had the right amount of comedy without sacrificing the seriousness of the story. I especially like how Gary described being the image of a saviour for his favorite sex worker. How being a customer at the moment gives the girl hope that she’ll someday escape this kind of life [with him], but he has enough self-awareness to know that he isn’t the greatest catch. And once he takes Bea out of the beer house to be together, being with him will soon be her new definition of hell.
| Ang Munting Liwanag sa Madilim na Sulok ng Isang Serbeserya sa Maynila by Dustin Celestino Direction: Toni Go-Yadao SYNOPSIS: Si Gary at si Joseph–dalawang professor ng psychology–ay nagpunta sa isang beer house para dalawin ang paboritong GRO ni Gary. Habang nandoon, mapag-uusapan ng dalawa ang kani-kanilang paniniwala tungkol sa kasal, pag-ibig, at pribilehiyo. CAST AND ROLES: Gary: Joshymae Bea: Jorrybell Joseph: Dyas Adarlo Mommy Tess: Heart Puyong Jake Lazaro: Bon Lentejas PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Io Balanon Lighting Design: Roman Cruz Sound Design: Arvy Dimaculangan Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Dramaturgy: Kesi Aquino Poster Design: Janel Gutierrez Stage Management: Kate Loreno |
★★★★★ Sa Babaeng Lahat was so unassuming, yet so impactful. It speaks volumes on the dangers of keeping the youth ignorant from perceived sensitive topics like sex, so much so that not being able to keep their repression to it makes them think that they are truly becoming the next Immaculate Conception. It’s funny but also alarming how much kids don’t know about these things and is so guilt-filled to take on the journey of discovering their full selves. The comedic timing was perfect and did not take away from the core message of the story. The young actors held authority of the whole thing and gave their respective characters justice. Bravo!
| Sa Babaeng Lahat by Elise Santos Direction: Caisa Borromeo SYNOPSIS: A few days before the celebration of National Bible Week at an all-girls Catholic school in Quezon City, 14-year-old Marie believes God has chosen her to be the next Immaculate Conception. However, she is unsure and not quite ready to accept her fate. Meanwhile, her best friend Regina struggles with her feelings for Gab, the school’s resident tibo, as they practice for the Bible Week singing competition. The play follows the three girls’ interconnected journeys towards figuring out their relationship with religion, sexuality, each other, and ultimately, their own selves. CAST AND ROLES: Marie: Jam Binay Regina: Cheska Dela Cruz Gab: Yani Lopez PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Io Balanon Lighting Design: Roman Cruz Sound Design: Arvy Dimaculangan Video Design: GA Fallarme Costume Styling: Allie Eguia Dramaturgy: Thea Renon Poster Design: Zoë De Ocampo Stage Management: Axl Fernandez |
Set E (Revisited): Sagad
★★ Dominador Gonzales: National Artist is faced with a decision to accept the rumor that he’s up for the national artist title. His former mentee, Oliver, who he also had relations with, believes it signifies Dmon’s conformation away from his true style, which is why Oliver wants Dmon to collaborate with him and create ‘real’ art instead of accepting an evidently politicked award. What made this score low for me was how it also kind of touches on too many things. There’s the subject of [possible] rape, imbalance of power, and career politics. Even though these sound like they go together, I think the direction could have focused more on Dmon being undeserving for the national artist title because of sexually abusing playwright hopefuls like Oliver and not because his body of work is filtered to soothe the taste of the average masses. The real turning point of the plot—of Oliver having something over Dmon’s head to get him to agree to revive his playwright career—was also downplayed by too much reminiscing and not enough emphasis on real intentions.
| Dominador Gonzales: National Artist by Dingdong Novenario Direction: George de Jesus SYNOPSIS: Oliver visits former mentor and lover Dmon with a proposal to collaborate. Dmon is rumored to be in the running for National Artist and this collaboration will certainly help revive Oliver’s career as a playwright. As the pair reminisce about the simplicity of old times, Oliver holds to Dmon’s face the compromises he had to make to achieve his National Artist status, ready to make compromises of his own to get what he wants. CAST AND ROLES: Dmon: Joel Saracho Oliver: Bong Cabrera Edward: AJ Sison PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Julio Garcia Lighting Design: Loren Rivera Sound Design: TJ Ramos Dramaturgy: Aima Graciela Noblejas Poster Design: George De Jesus Stage Management: Dolly Dolot |
★★★★★ Room 209 is the real world, and the real world is full of assholes who are placed in seats of power. The real world is where crimes go unpunished if you can provide the right amount, hold the right information, or know the right people. It’s bold, brave, grim, and enraging! This is how you tell a story.
This is the best play I’ve ever watched in my life! It started out really simple with four rolling walls that move around, but it was the greatest element I haven’t seen used that seamlessly on stage before. The story progressed with gradual intensity and delivered a climactic end. This is what theater is all about! And unfortunately, this is also what life is all about. Art and theater can only do so much—pay tribute to those who have suffered enough from life’s cruelty.
| ROOM 209 by Zheg Arban Direction: Delphine Buencamino SYNOPSIS: “Room 209” presents the experiences of Cadet 4th Class Anghelo Perez inside the Philippine Military Academy. From a brave and hopeful cadet ready to serve his country, he discovers that everything about the academy is not what he envisioned. History does not lie (but our forefathers did). A room has become a witness to a culture that has lived on since men have started throwing stones against their neighbor. “Room 209” is a testimony that puts this age-old culture into sharp focus for us to pay attention to how it has affected individual lives. CAST AND ROLES: Anghelo Perez: Jao Catarus Captain Anthony Perez: Gino Ramirez Koro: CJ Barinaga Koro: Earvin Estioco Koro: James Lanante Koro: Miguel Delos Santos Koro: Aksel Panlilio PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: David Esguerra Assoc. Set Design: Jeremy Bravo Lighting Design: Roman Cruz Sound Design: Jose Buencamino Video Design: Elle Toledo Costume Styling: Carlo Pagunaling Dramaturgy: Gentl Mapagu Poster Design: Gerson Abesamis Stage Management: Janji Gamboa |
★★★ Ang Awit ng Dalagang Marmol translates to The Song of A Marbled Maiden. This actually derived from a real Filipino historical novel which is alternatively entitled Si Liwayway ng Baliwag. It basically tackles the revisionism and misinterpretation of certain parts of history during the American war, but it’s focused on the blended fact and fiction over romance for the marbled maiden, *Liwayway. It’s somewhat an educational play with talented cast members who can really sing and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. However, I feel like this couldn’t have been the best from last year.
| Ang Awit ng Dalagang Marmol by Andrew Estacio Direction: Nazer Degayo Salcedo SYNOPSIS: Isang bagong dula ang binubuo ng isang grupo ng mga artista’t aktor hinggil sa isang popular at kontrobersyal na awitin sa kasaysayan ng bansa, ang “Jocelynang Baliwag” na matagal nang kinilala bilang ‘Kundiman ng Himagsikan’ at inihahambing sa larawan ng Inang Bayan. Nakatakdang maisadula ito bilang pagpupugay para sa isang bagong tayong tanghalan ng kanilang probinsya, ngunit sa kanilang pag-eensayo at ibayong pagtuklas, masisiwalat sa kanila ang mga hindi pa naikukuwentong katotohanan hinggil sa nasabing kundiman–mga bagong impormasyon na maghahamon sa titulo ng idinambanang awitin at makukumbinsi sa mga aktor na pagpanibaguhin ang dramatikong pihit ng kanilang dula–nasaan na nga ba talaga si *Jocelynang Baliwag? CAST AND ROLES: Direktora: Adrienne Vergara Dramaturgy: Kath Castillo Aktres: Jasmine Balunes Aktor 1: Andrew Cruz Aktor 2: Enzo Lapresca Pianisita: Chris Salvador Matandang Pepita Tiongson: Mia Bolaños ASM1: Mush Yahya ASM2: CJay Malipot ASM3: Geanne Rose PRODUCTION TEAM: Set Design: Julio Garcia Lighting Design: Loren Rivera Sound Design: TJ Ramos Dramaturgy: Janet Llorin Poster Design: Samantha Teoxon & Rainiel Abadejos Stage Management: Sheña Parnoncillon |
Read also: [EVENT RUNDOWN] VLF 18: Hitik
M.K. Permejo 
Leave a comment