‘Virgin Labfest’ comes of age with ‘Hubo’t Hubad’
After two unsuccessful attempts, comedian and director John Lapus finally made it into this year’s Virgin Labfest (VLF), proving that the third time truly is the charm.
His first try was in 2018. Recalling the experience during the “Virgin Labfest XXI: Hubo’t Hubad” presscon held at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex in Pasay City, Lapus quipped, “My first was in 2018 during the staged reading, so kumbaga parang laplapan lang yun. Dito na devirginized na ako finally. It’s like joining Miss Universe, semi (finalist) lang ako. But this time, pasok na ko sa finals.
“When I joined the staged reading in 2018, I was also studying directing under the Cinemalaya Foundation, so I had access to watch the plays na tumalo sa akin nung 2018. I’ve watched two, three plays, ‘Huh? Pumasok yan? Ako hindi.’”
Realizing that acceptance often boils down to the judges’ tastes, he tried again in 2019 but still failed to make the cut. After watching selected plays, he recalled having the same reaction: “Huh? Pumasok yan?”
It prompted him to take a break from submitting after that. “So I said, pause muna. Dapat yung pangatlo kong pagsali, pumasok na.”
His patience paid off on his third attempt with his comedy “TAKSYAPO!.” Set in Tarlac, “TAKSYAPO!” tells the story of two strangers who uncover an unexpected connection by exchanging tales of love and disappointment within the walls of a rage booth.
But what exactly makes a script worthy of being staged at the VLF?
Festival founder Rody Vera admitted that it is a tough question to answer, considering the large number of submissions they receive each year, covering a wide range of themes. “It has become a challenge and at the same time, an exciting experience,” he said.
For Vera, what matters more is how a story is told in a fresh and distinctive way, as well as whether it explores topics that have yet to be tackled. “It doesn’t have to be linear. It doesn’t have to follow a unified time and space. Alam mong personal yung kanyang mga pinipiling desisyon sa pagkwento ng isang bagay.
“I’m also interested in experiences that I haven’t read yet. I become more interested in events from history that are rarely discussed… I’m also interested in how beautifully a story is written.
“For example, if it’s a simple romance or BL (boys’ love) or even yung like a different situation or a different condition that looks like a typical story but that whole condition will create a big difference. So these are just examples,” he added.
Vera also shared that he is often surprised by how much a script can evolve during the script development stage. “Minsan hindi ko pinili pero pinili ng iba but ‘pag nailagay na sa script development, it blooms, malaking pagbabago.
“Hindi natin masasabi na maari yung hindi natanggap like what Sweet (Lapus) said, maaring hindi natanggap sa taon na yun, hindi ibig sabihin hindi siya pantay dun sa mga natanggap. It doesn’t work that way.”
For co-festival director Marco Viaña, the scripts that stand out are those that offer fresh insights and perspectives.
“We read hundreds of scripts and there’s a tendency for writers to submit stories on similar topics. But one active approach in our selection process is whether a script offers a new insight even though the situation is similar.”
He cited Elijah Felice Rosales’ “Human Rights Story of the Year” and Lapus’ “TAKSYAPO!” as examples.
“Many writers submitted plays about EJK (extrajudicial killing) but in Elijah’s, he told it through the lens of a journalist. The story delivers a new insight. We also received many submissions about mental health. But through the lens of John Lapus, he used comedy as his approach,” Viaña explained.
12 ‘Virgin’ scripts
The theme of “VLFXXI: Hubo’t Hubad” is “a celebration of adulthood, raw energy and fearless storytelling” where “the Filipino voice and spirit are laid bare to tell stories without restraint.”
The 21st edition features 12 “virgin” scripts by eight “virgin” playwrights and four returning playwrights. These include Anthony Kim Vergara’s “Password123,” “Pilipinas321”; Floyd Scott Tiogangco’s “Patayin Ang Mga Surot”; Neil Arkhe Azcuna’s “Balos”; Alab Usman’s “Haram”; and Gab Mactal’s “Lualhati.”
Also part of the lineup are Dustin Celestino’s “Elehiya”; Ron Evangelista’s “She’s Electric”; Faith Ferrer Lacanlale’s “Betamax”; Jerom Canlas’ “Footprint”; and Gerald Manuel’s “Buhaghag”.
Three revisited plays from last year’s edition will also be staged: Ade Valenzona’s “Polar Coordinates”; Rolin Cadallo Obina’s “The Late Mr. Real”; and Siege Malvar’s “Presidential Suite #2.”
The festival will also mount staged readings, the Writing Fellowship Program and Showcase, Theater Talks and the Playwrights’ Fair throughout its run from June 3 to 28 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater).
VLF tickets and passes are available at the CCP TIG Box Office, TicketWorld and Ticket2Me. For more updates on the festival schedule and ticket-selling, visit the official pages of VLF, CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation Inc. and The Writer’s Bloc across Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
‘Generational event’
In her opening remarks, CCP president Kaye Tinga said that “VLF finally comes of age this year.”
“Bearing the theme ‘Hubo’t Hubad,’ it brilliantly captures the maturity and artistry expected at twenty-one while continuing to harness the magic of theater and the arts.”
During the press event, excerpts from this year’s plays were performed by the cast — CJ Navato and Justine Peña for “Human Rights Story of the Year,” and Dennis Marasigan and John Sanchez for “Elehiya.”
Tinga lauded the cast and playwrights and noted how they, along with their fellow playwrights, “serve as testaments to what ‘Virgin Labfest’ has bloomed into: a talented community of individuals devoted to nourishing our nation’s cultural tapestry.”
She further thanked the people who worked behind the scenes and on stage, as well as festival directors Toni Go-Yadao and Viaña.
CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan, on the other hand, expressed delight at seeing his former students, including his son, take part in VLF. He also mentioned the parent-and-child tandems participating in this year’s edition, such as Rafael Siguion-Reyna and his father Carlos, Angel Aquino and her daughter Iana Bernardez, and Peewee O’Hara and her son Paolo.
“Kaya masasabi natin na talagang generational na ang Virgin Labfest,” he declared.
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