Across Metro Manila, stages are stirring with new energy. From bold reinterpretations of classic works to original plays that speak to today’s audience, this week’s performing arts scene offers a glimpse into a world shaped by movement, voice, and vision.
For those seeking something beyond the screen, this is your invitation to enter the artistic space and let the stories unfold. Here is a curated look at the performances shaping the cultural landscape this week.
Ang balyena
A stage play confronting toxic Filipino masculinity and the trauma faced by male sexual assault survivors will run at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Design + Arts Theater starting Saturday, July 19.
Produced by Aninag Theatre, a student-led theater company from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Arts, Culture, and Performance (SACP), the two-hour production centers on Jonah, a man at the height of his career who is forced to confront his past and bury long-suppressed truths during a quiet gathering with loved ones.
Directed by Joy Delos Santos and written by Palanca awardee Jay Crisostomo VI, the production reflects current Filipino society. The lack of coverage and support for Filipino male sexual assault survivors prompted the students to address silence and stigma, while confronting issues of censorship within the play itself.
Ang balyena premieres Saturday, July 19, at 1:00 p.m. and runs from July 21 to 25 at 6:00 p.m. All shows will be staged at the 5/F Theater of the Benilde Design + Arts Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila. Tickets are P400, with discounts for Benildeans, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens. The gala is set for July 26 at 1:00 p.m., with tickets at P500, inclusive of Aninag Theater merchandise. Registration: tinyurl.com/AngBalyena.
Intramuros evenings:
CCP’s Ganito na kami noon, paano na ngayon?
Paano na Ngayon?’ as part of the Intramuros Evenings series
The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Intramuros Administration bring history and heritage to life with Ganito na kami noon, paano na ngayon?, a devised theater piece from the CCP Out-of-the-Box Series. It opens the Intramuros Evenings on July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Centro de Turismo, Intramuros, Manila.
Written by Jose Victor Torres and directed by CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan, the piece draws from the works of National Artists Alejandro Roces (We the Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers), F. Sionil Jose (Po-on), and Eddie Romero (Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?).
Featuring the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company, the story follows Kulas, an aging farmer detained in the 1950s on suspicion of leading the Huk, as he navigates questions of memory and identity.
The production marks the 46th anniversary of the Intramuros Administration and continues its partnership with CCP in promoting Philippine arts and culture.
“This is an appropriate opening for the revival of Intramuros Evenings,” said Marasigan. “It looks back at history to provide insight into our past.”
Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
VLF XX: Extended
The Virgin Labfest returns for a one-night-only extension on July 24 at 8:00 p.m. at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater). VLF XX: Extended features three plays from the festival’s 20th edition: Minating ni Mariah ang manto ng Mommy ni Mama Mary by Eljay Castro Deldoc, Presidential Suite #2 by Siege Malvar, and Don’t meow for me, Catriona by Ryan Machado.
Deldoc’s play follows former con artist Mariah, who joins a Lenten exhibit to repent but is accused of stealing the antique veil of St. Mary Magdalene.
Malvar’s debut is a dark comedy about Senator Zaragoza, who falls into a coma amid a money laundering scandal. Her children scramble to protect the family’s public image.
Machado’s work features a daughter waiting for a bus with her mother as she reflects on dreams and strained family ties. For the extended show, actress Manok Nellas will take over the role originally played by Angelica Panganiban.
Tickets are P800 (regular) and P1,000 (premium), available via TicketWorld, Ticket2Me, and the CCP TIG Box Office.
