What to expect from Virgin Labfest 19: ‘Pintog’ this June 12-30

With 12 new scripts, this year’s Virgin Labfest promises narratives dealing with the complex layers of human experience. Creating a safe environment, the festival has planted the seeds for a bountiful harvest, with works coming to full bloom, ready to burst (pintog) onstage.

12 NEW PLAYS

VENGEANCE OF THE GODS by Hans Pieter Arao

In this play, a person is possessed in public. The town mayor’s chief of staff claims to know the reason behind the phenomenon and tries to convince the father of the possessed to join him in his quest for justice.

NINGAS by Lino Balmes

A woman asks a man for a simple favor: to give her a name.

LOVE ON THE BRAIN by Rick Patriarca

Ex-lovers realize how grueling modern gay dating can be when a former flame discovers that they contracted HIV.

PAGKAPIT SA HANGIN by Joshua Lim So

Set during the COVID-19 delta wave in 2021, this play narrates what happens when a relative of a patient catches the scheme of a doctor and his nurses working in a public hospital to limit the oxygen supply of patients nearing their deaths.

LIPISTICK AT PULBURA by Ara Jenika Vinzon

A censor for the Japanese planning to unearth her guerrilla fighter friend, the lead character in this play gathers charred scraps of paper like puzzle pieces, revealing her final memory of their friendship before the battle.

THE FOXTROT by Chesie Galvez-Cariño

Dancing highlights the complexities of relationships in this play. It revolves around a middle-aged matron of substantial means and her respectable dance instructor who rehearses for an amateur ballroom dance competition.

SA BABAENG LAHAT by Elise Santos

Three young girls reflect on their relationships with religion, sexuality, and themselves in this poignant play.

ANG MUNTING LIWANAG SA MADILIM NA SULOK NG SERBESERYA SA MAYNILA by Dustin Celestino

This play recounts the visit of two psychology professors to a beer house, and the conversation they have on love, marriage, and privilege.

SI HESUS NA’A SA U.S. by Neil Azcuna

Separated lovers revisit their past on their way to the airport as one of them contemplates a new lover’s plan to immigrate to the United States.

SENTENARYO by Herlyn Alegre

Relatives arrive at a centenarian’s birthday celebration, hoping to get a share of his free government money. But what happens when the celebrant dies before the arrival of the barangay captain who will give the money?

THE DIVINE FAMILY by Dip Mariposque

This play navigates the complex dynamic of family members when they are forced to stay under one roof because of the pandemic.

IDENTITE by Jhudiel Clare Sosa

This play scrutinizes the complicated relationship between a daughter and mother.

3 REVISITED PLAYS

Three plays from last year’s Virgin Lab Fest (VLF 18: Hitik in 2023) will be revisited in this year’s edition.

ANG AWIT NG DALAGANG MARMOL by Andrew Estacio

This play tells the story behind the controversial historical song Jocelynang Baliwag. Following the production crew who will perform in their town’s new theater, the play sheds light on the challenging yet fulfilling process behind the curtains.

DOMINADOR GONZALES: NATIONAL ARTIST by Dingdong Novenario

This play shows the conversation between a young man and his former mentor-lover, tackling the compromises the mentor had to make to achieve his National Artist status, and how the young man is ready to make compromises for his own to get what he wants.

ROOM 209 by Zheg Arban

This play 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. “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.

4 STAGED READINGS

Moreover, chosen from the script submissions received for VLF 19, there will be four staged readings:

HULING SALITA by Christa De La Cruz,
PABILI NG CHRISTMAS TREE by Dia Sales,
SHIVER by Atria Pacana, and
PATAYIN ANG MGA SUROT by Floyd Scott Tioganco.

PLAYWRIGHTS FAIR

A major educational component of the theater festival, the Playwrights Fair features discussions with veteran playwrights and writers. Among the highlights of this component is the conversation with the Festival’s founders – Herbie Go and Rody Vera.

WRITING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The VLF Writing Fellowship Program continues this year, with eight fellows being mentored by Glenn Mas on the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage, and with CCP Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan directing the Culminating Program on June 30.

THEATER TALKS

Catch the Theater Talks, a forum series on the creative and production process in theater, and the Dramaturgy Fellowship Exhibit showcasing the process of the VLF 19 dramaturgs.

See you at the theater!