Virgin Labfest continues fostering its garden of brave narratives with 12 new scripts that’ll introduce audiences to fresh, diverse perspectives.
Celebrating two decades of nurturing emerging and established playwrights, directors, actors, and designers, the Virgin Labfest (VLF) returns with an exciting lineup of 12 untried, untested, and unstaged one-act plays. This year’s Virgin Labfest, VLFXX: Hinog—which runs from June 11 to June 29, 2025 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater)—takes inspiration from the Filipino word hinog. A nod to ripeness and creative maturity, it offers a dynamic mix of fresh premieres and returning favorites that capture the spirit and evolution of contemporary Philippine theater.
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Meet This Year’s Plays
Featuring 12 new scripts by 8 virgin male and female playwrights and 4 returning playwrights in its milestone year, Virgin Labfest is poised to open up new conversations and perspectives, cultivating a passionate community of unheard voices and bringing people closer through truthful and compelling storytelling.
A group of friends makes the most of their summer vacation with a mystery game in YOJ’s TBT: Takbo, Batang Tondo. Albin, the policeman in their little world, is baffled when the real “suspect” isn’t punished.
Liane Carlo Suelan’s Ang Bata Kag Ang Ilaga is set in St. Jerome’s Home for Children. One of the orphans, Isaac, misses his chance to take a baby rat in when it goes missing.
Polar Coordinates by Ade Valenzona centers on Igo’s frustration toward polar coordinates. With the looming dilemma of repeating the 10th grade, he prepares for the final exams amid a family conflict.
Former con artist Mariah repents by joining the annual Lenten Exhibit in Eljay Castro Deldoc’s Minating ni Mariah ang Manto ng Mommy ni Mama Mary. However, things turn when Mariah is accused of stealing the antique veil of St. Mary Magdalene.
Ivan Villacorta Gentolizo’s Unang Araw has four strangers accomplishing a job for the mayor. As they drive into a remote forest in Mindanao, clashing political ideals and hidden motives are revealed.
Senator Zaragoza, author of a landmark bill, is accused of money laundering during the senate hearing in Siege Malvar’s Presidential Suite #2.
In Chris Joseph Junio’s Mga Magindara sa Siyudad, entertainers Maureen and Maylene struggle to keep their shows afloat on their makeshift stage of plywood, bamboo, and iron scraps.
Ang Problema sa Trolley by Imuthis (Harvey Rebaya Sallador) unveils on Pandacan’s rails. An attempt to jump into the river comes with a damning secret, leaving the trolley driver and passenger wondering what to push next.
Ex-spouses Boyet and Raquel face the tragedy of nostalgia and letting go in Rolin Migyuel Obina’s The Late Mr. Real. Separated by COVID-19 isolation rooms, the two discuss the future of their only child, Carl.
Anniversary, written by Nelsito Gomez, follows Rob to the cemetery on his wife’s death anniversary. An older woman approaches him, sparking a conversation on regrets, grief, and deep-seated beliefs.
Jobert Grey Landeza’s Mommy G introduces a new family member on her 65th birthday, testing her bond with her children.
A daughter finally pursues her dreams in Ryan Machado’s Don’t Meow For Me, Catriona. While waiting for the bus with her mother, she reflects on the complex familial love that binds and breaks families.
VLFXX: Hinog will also revisit three plays from last year’s edition, retelling diverse narratives that have graced the festival.
Jhudiel Clare Sosa’s Identite navigates the complicated relationship between a traditional mother and her now liberated daughter.
In Joshua Lim So’s Pagkapit sa Hangin, a patient’s relative catches the scheme of a doctor and his nurses. The play narrates the tough decisions made in public hospitals during the COVID-19 delta wave in 2021.
Religion and sexuality intersect in Elise Santos’s Sa Babaeng Lahat as it centers on the lives of three girls in a Catholic school.
Backstage At The VLF
Apart from celebrating budding and veteran playwrights, VLFXX: HINOG prides itself on planting seeds of wisdom through its educational components, namely its Staged Readings, Theater Talks, Playwrights’ Fair, Dramaturgy Fellowship Exhibit, and Writing Fellowship Program and Showcase.
Staged Readings presents stripped-down reading performances of selected script submissions from VLFXX: Hinog. In this edition, Andy Abellar’s Wala Ginakamatisan ang Itlog; Matt Ordoñez’s Patay na si Rizal; M.E. Mejaro’s Isang Malaking Tipak ng Bato sa Gitna ng Ilog; and Rex Sandro Nepomuceno’s Ganimide take the VLF stage.
The forum series, Theater Talks, highlights the creative and production processes behind performances. Playwrights’ Fair will host conversations with renowned playwrights, as curated by veteran writer and VLF founder Rody Vera.
Then, delve into the science of VLFXX: Hinog’s theater-making under the mentorship of Jonas Gabriel Garcia with the Dramaturgy Fellowship Exhibit. Meanwhile, the VLF Writing Fellowship Program and Showcase is the culmination of a two-week mentorship program under the guidance of award-winning playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas. CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan will direct.
Presenting new tales of diversity and challenging perspectives, VLFXX: Hinog shows will have a 2 PM matinee and 8 PM gala, while the educational components are at 5 PM.
For more information on the festival schedule and ticket prices, visit the official social media accounts of VLF, CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino, and The Writer’s Bloc on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Photos courtesy of the CCP.
