ALSO IN THEATER

...........is Etic's son, John Victor Villareal:

June 28, 2006

Virgin Labfest 2006 at the CCP

After the sensational hit of last year’s Virgin Labfest, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino and the Writers Bloc, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, proudly present its second edition of untried / untested / unpublished / unstaged works, from July 7 to 16, 2006 at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute.

This year’s festival features fifteen new plays culled from the year-long regular series of readings by the Writers Bloc, and penned by some of the country’s finest breed of vibrant and prolific playwrights:

I. Opening July 7, 2006 (Friday) 8PM

A glimpse of Virgin Labfest 2 featuring three new works from the roster.

II. Like a Virgin July 8, 2006 (Saturday) 3 & 8 PM

(previously staged works directed by the Dulaang Sipat Lawin Ensemble & J. William Herbert Sigmund Go feat. the Dulaang Sipat Lawin Ensemble)

Dulaang Sipat Lawin’s PRAGRES

A musical adaptation of F. Sionil Jose’s story. Set during Martial Law, a provincial senior clerk is sent through an arduous affair of going to Manila to seek the endorsement of her promotion. As she encounters one bureaucrat after another, she drowns in incompetence and corruption.

Alfonso Dacanay’s FIRST SNOW OF NOVEMBER

Palanca-winning play based on Bienvenido Santos’ The Day the Dancers Came. A Filipino expat in Chicago longs for home. When a group of Filipino dancers arrives for a performance, he is determined to invite them to a night of bonding and reminiscing. But how does one win the hearts of complete strangers when he himself is a stranger in a foreign land?

Rody Vera’s ANG UNANG ASWANG

The legend of the aswang: Ang unang aswang ay naulilang sanggol na sumuso sa dugo ng bangkay niyang ina. Ang kaniyang tanod ay ‘sang pusang itim, ‘sang asong may pangil at ‘sang baboy ramong nagpasuso sa kanya. Nang ang unang aswang ay magdalaga, sinipingan siya ng ‘sang binata, at nang magbunga’y kinain ang sariling supling. Ang lahat ay tumuro sa kanyang pagkabata, wala ni isang nagbintang sa binata.

III. Hora de PeligroJuly 9, 2006 (Sunday) 3 & 8 PM

J. Dennis Teodosio’s BAKA SAKALI (directed by Catherine Racsag featuring Nanding Josef & Joel Garcia)

One dreary midnight, a grandfather eagerly convinces his grandson to push their luck further. A noon time show promises instant fortune and taking a chance at it won’t harm them. Their talk gives them high hopes until fate plays its trick the next morning. Is dreaming risky?

Layeta Bucoy’s ANG ANAK NI GLORIA (directed by Tess Jamias featuring May Bayot & Mayen Estañero)

In order to avoid prostituting herself again, Gloria clings to her Dutch boyfriend’s promise to take her to Holland. But after failing to send her money, Gloria begins to think that her lover has abandoned her. When he resurfaces, she moves heaven and earth to convince him that the dark, ugly, Pinoy-looking baby is his.

Rogelio Braga’s MAGANDA PA ANG DAIGDIG (directed by George de Jesus III featuring Ama Quiambao)

A family tries to cover up a crime committed at the height of EDSA Dos Revolution. After finding a way to dispose the remains of a dead boy, the family faces a new challenge: how to free their conscience of the committed crime, as the mother of the dead boy arrives for a tête-à-tête with them.

IV. DespArate Voices July 13 & 14, 2006 (Thursday & Friday) 8 PM

Nicolas Pichay’s TRES ATAQUES DE CORAZON (directed by Vincent de Jesus featuring Eric Bisa, Andoy Ranay & Jef Dee)

Three short monologues about three characters dealing with triple blockages in the heart. Rody Vera’s THE RETURN OF FLOR(directed by Rody Vera featuring Mailes Kanapi) God is playing a joke that nobody understands, and nobody’s laughing. God sends Flor Contemplacion back to earth to console Gwen, a Filipina who is also accused of a grisly murder in Singapore while Flor’s twin sons are also imprisoned for selling drugs. Flor brings along a microphone to sing and lull Gwen to sleep, as her two sons also sleep in prison. Some joke!

Rene Villanueva’s ISANG DAKILANG MAMAMAYAN NG REPUBLIKA (directed by Regina Ronquillo featuring Mae Paner)

Sa Recto, nagtitinda ng banana cue si Lola, exasperatingly over weight at laging mamantika. Sa kanya naiwan ang tatlong apo, anak ng anak niyang nakapag-asawa ng adik. Ang bunsong apo ay laging nagkakasakit at wala siyang perang pampagamot. Akala mo melodrama ito, wrong answer! More like a suspense thriller pa!

V. Hopelessly Umaasa, July 15, 2006 (Saturday) 3 & 8 PM

Job Pagsibigan’s THE PALANCA IN MY MIND (directed by Roobak Valle featuring Wenah Nagales, Clottie Lucero, Eric Cruz & the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors’ Company)

See how far Dory, a call center agent, can go to have a crack at the country’s premier literary competition. Up to the challenge, albeit mentally-challenged herself, one can catch a glimpse of what goes on in the minds of aspiring winners, even the most delusional of them.

Debbie Tan’s DRAGON’S BREATH (directed by J. Victor Villareal featuring Marj Lorico)

The prospect of losing one’s sight is daunting but meeting someone who has already lost it keeps life in perspective. Dragon’s breath is a dream where inner fantasy is hope, where oriental myth merges with reality.

Niel de Mesa’s PAG-UWI ‘PAG UNDAS (directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio feat. Chromewell Cosio & Carmela Magtuto)

Undas: Dalawang taong naghihintay sa isang dinumog na sementeryo. Isang babaeng mainipin at isang lalaking masigasig. Ano nga ba ang saysay ng buhay kung lagi na lang tayong pinaghihintay ng ating mga mahal sa buhay? E, ano nga ba ang hinihintay natin? Baka mas mabuting umuwi na lang. Pero sayang naman ang paghihintay kung mauuwi lang sa uwian.

VI. Naked Truths July 16, 2006 (Sunday) 3 & 8 PM

Liza Magtoto’s HUBAD (directed by Denisa Reyes featuring Nonie Buencamino & Irma Adlawan)

A middle-aged couple is discontented with their married life, so they start to engage in sex games. As they play roles and act out their fantasies as student-teacher, driver-master and even cross dressing, the woman realizes that she just wants to be accepted as she is.
Argel Tuason’s PALABAS / EXIT(directed by Rolando Inocencio featuring Noel Escondo & Jejie Esguerra)

Sa sinehan, hinihintay ni Borji ang isang misteryosong lalaking nakaulayaw niya nuong nakaraang buwan, si Rey. Si Rey ay isang sakristang umibig sa isang pari, bagay na di nakaligtas sa mga mapang-usyosong mata ng mga taga-simbahan. Sa pag-alis sa simbahan, anong mga sagabal ang bumabalakid sa muling pagtatagpo nina Rey at Borji?

Dennis Teodosio’s PAYB-SIKS (directed by Phil Noble featuring Gerard Pizzaras & Arnold Reyes)

Kapag may umuutang, sino ba ang mas may power, ‘yung nangungutang o ‘yung inuutangan? A seduction play about the politics of money and sexual dominance.


Tanghalang Pilipino 832-3661; 832-1125 locals 1620 / 1621(0920) 953-5381(0920) 953-5419 ccptanghalan(at)yahoo.com
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