The cast of 'Amoy Pulbos ang mga Alabok sa Ilalim ng Riles ng Tren.' Handout photo

MANILA — In the past 14 years of the Virgin Labfest (VLF), veteran playwright-actor-director Rodolfo “Rody” Vera must have read around 1,000 manuscripts. These were the entries submitted since day one of the annual festival of untested, untried, unpublished and never-been-staged plays. 

This was from a trivia about the VLF posted on social media a few weeks ago among theater people. The exact number has yet to be counted but so far, in the last four years, there have been an average of 150 entries submitted from which the final 12 plays have been selected for staging, for a total of 600 plays. 

“Hindi naman 150 from the first year. Noong year one, around eight only. Then second year, mga ganun din,” Vera clarified, trying to recall when the average of 150 entries per year started pouring in. 

“I think sa year four nag-start. So I think around 1,000 [manuscripts] or less pa siguro.”

Vera is founding artistic director and dramaturg of VLF since 2005. He relinquished the post in 2012 and transferred the “crown” to actor-director Tuxqs Rutaquio, though he still is part of the VLF selection process. But one thing is for sure, Vera told ABS-CBN News, every year there are lots of surprises. 

“Magaganda ang plays ngayon. A lot more new voices. Mga bagong playwrights. Exciting,” Vera said. 

With the theme “Silip,” VLF 14 opens on Wednesday, June 27, and ends on July 15 in various venues at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). 

Vera’s assurance is supported by Rutaquio. “Every year exciting ang Virgin Labfest because there are new works and very immediate ang response ng audience sa mga pieces,” he said.

We had a chance to talk with a "virgin playwright," two come-backing playwrights and a three-time director in VLF.

Inspired by ‘Ang Larawan’

Actor JV Ibesate is a virgin playwright with his 'Tulad Ng Dati'. Handout photo

One of the first-timers is JV Ibesate, actor-member of Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the CCP. Ibesate is this year’s co-recipient (with Joshua Spafford) of the Male Lead Performance in a Play award in Philstage’s Gawad Buhay, for his role in TP’s “Ang Pag-uusig,” which, incidentally, will have a restaging the whole month of October this year. 

Ibesate entry is titled “Tulad ng Dati,” a play about the relationship of two brothers. It is directed by actress Olive Nieto. 

He was inspired to write it after watching Loy Arcenas “Ang Larawan," the best film awardee in last December’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Naging interesado po ako sa dynamics ng magkapatid because I know that there exists a special bond between siblings,” he said. But instead of sisters, he came up with a story about brothers because he can easily relate with the characters. “Isa lang ang kapatid ko at lalaki din,” he said.

“It was originally a story about how two brothers and how they will react upon seeing each other again after being separated for long time. I don’t really know what’s gotten into me when I wrote the twist in the end. Na-possess yata ako,” he said, laughing. 

“I also facilitated an acting workshop sa mga inmates ng Makati City Jail. Hence, the angle about a convicted character. The story basically is a collection of my past experiences,” he added. 

“There’s something about the bond between two sisters or two brothers that interests me. And then, naisip ko po, what if I push this special bond to the extremes? Lumabas ang crazy self ko and wrote the rest of the script,” he said. 

Being a first-time playwright in VLF, he finds it refreshing to be off the stage, watching the director and fellow actors Arnold Reyes and Acey Aguilar giving life to his creation. Besides being a member of TP’s Actors’ Company, Ibesate has been acting in VLF consecutively in the last five years. 

Arnold Reyes and Acey Aguilar in JV Ibesate's Tulad ng Dati. Photo by JV Ibesate

He started in 2013 with “Jun Ispater” in VLF 9, followed by “Mac and Naty” in VLF 11. In 2016 for VLF 12, he read for the staged reading of “Ulilang Tahanan,” which commemorates the birth centenary of Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero and acted for “Ang Sugilanon ng Kabiguan ni Epefania. Ibesate returned for VLF 13 last year for the re-staging of “Ang Sugilanon” as part of the Revisited Set. 

“Surreal is the right word to describe this experience. Ganun pala ang feeling nang there are people who breathe life to the characters that I’ve created,” he said. 

Asked to compare the “kaba” of acting and being a first-time playwright, he said he's more nervous of the latter.

“Since I’m new in playwriting, I would say mas nakakakaba siya. A big responsibility kasi rests on your shoulder as a writer because you’re telling a story through your actors. But iba din ang kaba ng acting,” he said. 

To level the playing field, he’ll still be acting in Dustin Celestino’s “Mga Eksena sa Buhay ng Kontrabida,” directed by Roobak Valle. It is part of Set A, which opens the festival on Wednesday with two runs, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Little Theater or the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

Set A also has "Mga Bata sa Selda 43," written by Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina and directed by Ian Segarra; and "Ang Inyong mga Anak: Si Harold at Napoleon," written by Anthony Kim Vergara and directed by Ricardo Magno.

Ibesate’s “Tulad ng Dati” is grouped under Set C, together with "Labor Room" by Ma. Cecilia “Maki” dela Rosa, directed by Jose Estrella and Issa Manalo Lopez; "Ensayo" by Juan Ekis and directed by Eric Villanueva dela Cruz. It opens on Friday, June 29, at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

Allan Lopez's sexual rendezvous

Allan Lopez, as far as he can recall, has about six produced plays in the past VLFs. His entries could be described as “mind f_s (expletive)”. If his plays were paintings, they’re close to the aspirations of Jose Legaspi and Mideo Cruz. Which means Lopez’s entry this year, “River Lethe” is far from the sensibilities of “The Sound of Music” or “The Lion King.” Reasons why we should line up for “River Lethe.”

“Isa siyang sexual rendezvous ng lovers na parehong may terminal cancer,” he said. The idea came from experiencing a recent demise of someone close to him. 

Playwright Allan Lopez. Handout photo

“Gusto kong i-kuwento ang karanasan niya mula sa ibang perspective. Kadalasan kasi ang mga kuwentong kanser ay melodramatic. Gusto kong subukang gumawa ng drama na makikita natin silang in the flesh—bilang mga taong may pagnanasa, hopes, regrets, and all that,” he added. 

“River Lethe” is directed by Chris Martinez. In 2016, he directed Rick Patriarca’s debut play in VLF, the riot-of-a-comedy “Hapagkainan.” This year, he challenged himself with Lopez’s new work. 

In his note posted on Facebook, Martinez said, “'Yung gasgas na gasgas nang kasabihan na ‘do something that scares you everyday’ ang naging guiding principle ko sa pagtanggap, pagbuo at pagdanas ng dula ni Allan Lopez na ‘River Lethe.’ Lampas na lampas ito sa radius ng aking comfort zone.”

The actors are Dolly de Leon and Paolo O’ Hara. It is part of Set D, which includes "Amoy Pulbos ang mga Alabok sa Ilalim ng Riles ng Tren" by playwright Lino Balmes and director Tess Jamias; and "Marawi Musicale" by playwright Tyron Casumpang and director Ariel Yonzon. It will have its first two shows on Saturday, June 30, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., also at the Little Theater. 

Casumpang’s “Marawi Musicale” is among the most talked-about entries this year. On Sunday, Casumpang posted on his Facebook account a long note about the last minute-revisions he did based on suggestions of the cast members and the director, but was later told, the first script was the best version. His revised version has become more about himself, he realized. Still he remains positive about the outcome. “I’m really excited to see the play in its full form,” he said. 

Rehearsing for 'Marawi Musicale.' Handout photo

Yonzon, besides being a veteran director of various productions, concerts and what-have-you’s at the CCP, has directed two plays in the past VLFs. He said “Marawi Musicale” is more challenging for him. 

“Compared to ‘Kudeta, Kudeta,’ which is an allegory, and ‘Ang mga Bisita ni Jean,’ which is introspective, this is challenging because being a musical, in terms of casting and pacing, it has special demands,” said Yonzon. 

For instance, the cast must be able to sing, act and, to a certain degree, also dance. The script also requires three 10-year-old kids to be cast, who should also be "triple threats." 

“Then, when we got the three kids, we got special DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) permits and school excuses plus parental clearances and assistance," he said.

“Finally, on top of being a musical, the script was also dependent on sound effects. The setting, being in a soup kitchen just outside Marawi warzone and there are jet flybys, explosions, sporadic gunfire,” he added.

‘Tatak’ Vergara

Graphic novelist Carlo Vergara may be known more for the Filipino superhero Zsa Zsa Zaturnahh. From the graphic novel, it has been adapted into full-length stage musical and film. 

Carlo Vergara returns in VLF 14 with his new work, 'Edgar Allan Hemingway.' Handout photo

Vergara, like Lopez, has been a regular playwright in VLF. Before “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” was staged as a full-length musical by Dalanghita Productions in 2015 and by Ateneo Blue Repertory in 2017, it had its initial run at the VLF in 2013 as a straight one-act play. 

“Leading Lady” was his first entry in VLF, followed by “The Missing Peace” in 2014. He only had a one-year break before making it again with the fantasy comedy, “Mula Sa Kulimliman” in 2016, which became part of the Revisited Set. 

The following year (2017), he had the underappreciated but very engaging historical fantasy tragi-comedy “Dear and Unhappy,” which turned out to be the last one-act play for the late Bernardo Bernardo, opposite the consistently magnificent Cris Villonco. “Dear and Unhappy” was simultaneously staged with “Kulimliman.”

This year, Vergara's entry is the intriguingly titled, “Edgar Allan Hemingway,” directed by playwright-actor George de Jesus III. The actors are Guelan Luarca, Ricci Chan and Rafa Siguion-Reyna. 

Actors Rafa Siguion-Reyna and Ricci Chan in Carlo Vergara's 'Edgar Allan Hemingway'. Handout photo

We asked Vergara if it’s that literary, given the word play of two giants in world literature in the title. 

“Well, one of the characters in the play mentions Poe and Hemingway as his favorite writers. That bit will figure in a somewhat major way in the play,” Vergara teased.

It will have its first run on Thursday, June 28, at Little Theater as part of Set B, together with Jose Dennis Teodosio’s “Rosas,” directed by Charles Yee' and Sari Saysay’s “Ang Mga Propesyunal,” directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna.

Three plays in the previous edition of the VLF will be staged at Tanghalang Huseng Batute, starting June 29 (8 p.m. only). Collectively called the Revisited Set or Set E, these are: "Birdcage" written by Rick Patriarca and directed by Ian Segarra; "Sincerity Biker’s Club" by Adrian Ho and directed by Jenny Jamora; and "Pilipinas kong Mahal With All the Overcoat" by Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Roobak Valle and Rutaquio. 

The cast of 'Pilipinas kong Mahal With All the Overcoat.' Handout photo

For the staged readings, there are two sets (A and B) with two plays each. Set A has “Without the Drama" by playwright-director Jay Crisostomo IV, directed by Renate Bustamante; and "Dolorosa" by playwright Peter Zaragoza Mayshle, directed by Chic San Agustin. The reading is at 6 p.m. on July 6 at Bulwagang Amado V. Hernandez.

Actor John Lapus’s “Bagyolanda” is part of Set B, together with “Asalto” written by Dominic Lim and directed by Yong Tapang. They will be read starting 6 p.m. on July 13 also at Bulwagang Hernandez. 

“What is exciting is that it is John's first foray into playwriting. Ito po ay comedy pero looking into the Filipino's resiliency in the time of the tragedy that was Yolanda,” said Rutaquio, who will be directing.

The Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program, a two-week (July 3 to 15) mentorship program on the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage, will also be held as part of the festival. 

The fellowship program, which is a project of CCP Artist Training Division of the Arts Education Department, aims to train young aspiring playwrights through a series of lectures, script critiquing, writing sessions and interactions with playwrights, directors and selected actors.

This year, the 10 lucky fellows accepted are Venise Buenaflor, Michelangelo Roger Castro, Rouchelle Dinglasan, Samuel Evardone, John Emmanuel Inojosa, Ma. Lorellie Lucas, Rhon Kenneth Mercado, Mikaela Adrianne Regis, Anne Kamille Tandog and Precious Amor Tulay. The fellows will be given access to all Virgin Labfest 14 plays and selected rehearsals as part of their mentorship.

They will be mentored by award-winning playwright and Ateneo de Manila University professor Glenn Sevilla Mas. The program will conclude in a staged reading of the fellows’ works directed by Dennis Marasigan on July 15 at Bulwagang Amado Hernandez, starting 6 p.m. This culminating program is free of charge and open to the public.

VLF is being held in partnership with TP and the Writer's Bloc Inc., a group of aspiring and veteran playwrights headed by Vera that gives free script analysis every other Sunday in various venues in Quezon City. 

This brings us to the conclusion that Vera has been reading more manuscripts from aspiring playwrights. Most of the plays that were staged in VLF and eventually had won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Awards have gone through intense critique at the Writer’s Bloc sessions. 

More than anything, the VLF is about the stories by these playwrights. It is a playwright’s festival. The play’s the king. 

Nikki Garde-Torres, who has been production manager and everything-in-between of VLF since 2005, said it best. 

In her 16th blog entry titled “Life at the Labfest,” she wrote the Labfest is “the story of the audience member who falls in line, year after year. The story of the actor who gives up lucrative jobs to find his art. The story of the playwright who sits in a darkened theater as his work is brought to life.” 

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