Published in Interaksyon Lifestyle June 17 2013
Forget the dire predictions and prognosis that original Philippine plays, which means they are written, by Filipino playwrights and directed and produced by Filipino directors and producers, are an endangered species, to be crushed by the behemoths of foreign touring companies and the tried-and-tested glossy Broadway revivals by English-language local theater companies. Not if a small, feisty but steadily thriving cradle of Filipino dramaturgy being nurtured in the hallowed halls of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has something to say about it.
The Virgin Labfest, which started as an experiment to encourage local playwrights to create new works and then produce them for a new audience, is now on its ninth year. From June 26 to July 7, a total of ten act one-plays will be staged at the CCP’s Tanghalang Huseng Batute and the Bulwagang Amado Hernandez. Many of the writers are virtual unknowns, but some of the directors are either respected industry veterans (Chris Millado, George de Jesus) or experts who crossed over from another field and are trying their hand in drama (Marlon Rivera).
Regardless of their pedigree, chances are none of these new plays—virgins, as they are called—will be playing into an empty house. Gone are the days when CCP producers had to call family, friends, and colleagues just to fill in vacant seats. Last year, during the 8th season, all of Virgin Labfest’s plays were booked solid a week before opening night – and the halls were filled even during a Manny Pacquiao Sunday.
“Mayroon na kaming cult following,” beamed festival director Tuxos Rutaquio during Virgin Labfest 9’s press con.
The cast of 'Kudeta! Kudeta!' by playwright Jimmy Flores with direction by Ariel Yonzon, onstage at the Virgin Labfest on June 26 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and July 6 at 3 p.m. Photo courtesy of Virgin Labfest.
Some of the audience are die-hard fans who had seen a few plays before and stayed on to watch with each coming year. Yet there are also new theater viewers who had been drawn in by word of mouth. Virgin Labfest production manager Nikki Torres describes them: “It’s the indies. This is the yuppie independent market. Sila ang may mga pera, like the ones who work in a call center. They are the ones who are not afraid to try out new plays.”
She also points one interesting fact about the growth of their audience—it flourished though their plays are not the stuff that can be easily marketed to colleges and universities as part of student curricula. “Some of our plays are risqué,” she says.
It does help that many of the well-known theater companies are represented in the Labfest either as actors, directors or playwrights. They already have a built-in hard core theater-viewing fan base that they bring in.
The Virgin Labfest artistic team also enthuses that the increase in numbers can be seen in the number of submissions as well.
In its first year, there were only eight submissions. Torres reminisces wryly, “We had to beg for the writing majors from the Philippine High School for the Arts to join.” That was then. For the 9th season, the Virgin Labfest received 180 submissions.
Theater directors also need no longer be enticed to lend their hand; some of them approach CCP, asking to become part of the festival.
The groundswell of support has also been coming in from the other art-related industries such as film. Torres continues, “Maraming gusto mag-direct o umarte like Gina Alajar, performing for the same rate as [our] very young actors…”
All the plays will be performed in the smaller venues, as the artistic team has good reason for not transferring them to bigger ones like the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino. Rutaquio explains, “[Batute is] very experimental and very intimate. Gusto ng audience na malapit na sila [sa pinapanood nila]. May alienating effect kapag malayong-malayo.”
Given its growth, Virgin Labfest continues to explore ways to expand its reach such as encouraging regional theater companies to send in their manuscripts. Plays written in other dialects are accepted as long as they are accompanied by a translation.
CCP Vice President Chris Millado is confident that the steady enthusiastic response that the Virgin Labfest has been receiving from its audience, playwrights, and other artists will continue. It is a call that they cannot ignore. He muses, “It is the opportunity to be part of the birthing of a new work. You have writers, playwrights discussing with actors, actors discussing with directors…the pages could be fleshed together, and everything comes together on opening night with the audience interacting.”
And magic suddenly is created, and the process replicated every year, bringing new audiences, creating fresh streams for new talent to rise, and supporting an industry that is fighting to keep alive.
The cast of 'Ambong Abo' by playwright Em Mendez, directed by Roobak Valle, at the Virgin Labfest on June 28 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., July 3 at 3 p.m., and July 5 at 8 p.m. Photo courtesy of Virgin Labfest.
The Virgin Labfest is a joint venture of CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino and the Writers’ Bloc, Inc. in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. This year’s plays include Labfest veterans George de Jesus, Liza Magtoto and Em Mendez with Kapit, Isang Daan and Ambong Abo. Also among the works are Virgin-to-the labfest playwrights Benjamin Pimentel’s Pramoedya, Herlyn Gail Alegre’s Imbisibol, Eljay Castro Deldoc’s Owel, Bernadette Neri’s Pamamanhikan, Jimmy Flores’ Kudeta! Kudeta! and Carlo Vergara’s Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady.
Also included is Dominique La Victoria’s Chipline, the very first labfest play which will be totally in Cebuano. From the 8th Virgin Labfest, Em Mendez’s Unang Regla ni John, Aizel Cabili’s Pagsubli and Guelan Luarca’s Kuneho will be restaged.
Directing the plays are Chris Millado, Marlon Rivera, Chris Matinez, Melvin Lee, Charles Yee, Roobak Valle, JK Anicoche, Law Fajardo, Emman dela Cruz, George de Jesus, Ed Lacson and Ariel Yonzon.
Tickets are priced at P300 with festival passes at P1,200. For further inquiries, please call the CCP Dramatic Arts Division at 832-1125 locals 1606 to 1607, or visit the website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
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