What I cherish most about the Virgin Labfest is the unmistakable spirit of community that pulses through every corner of the theater. During its regular run, we often found ourselves at the media-slash-info desk in the lobby of Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater).
It was just a small table — nothing grand — yet it became our quiet little haven amid the festival’s energy. The unofficial tambayan, as we would call it.
There, in between bites of snacks and handfuls of gummies given and shared by friends and families, conversations flowed and connections quietly bloomed. Media friends would stop by before or after the show to exchange thoughts, asking “What’s your favorite play so far?”
Directors and playwrights, tickets in hand, would pause for a quick chat, a laugh, or a moment of stillness before curtain call. Actors would pass with cheerful greetings on their way backstage. Even audience members would linger — some to ask directions, others simply drawn by the shared buzz of anticipation. There were lots who would ask us to take their photos at the VLF photo area.
That small corner was never just a table. It stood witness to the joy, nerves, pride, and kinship that defined VLF. In those small, everyday exchanges, we weren’t just spectators or staff — we were a community, brought together by a shared love for stories, for theater, and for each other.
It was during one of those huddles where Riki Benedicto, director of Mga Magindara sa Siyudad (one of the featured plays in this year’s edition), broke the news about 13th Of September, a play he is directing to be staged in a theater festival in Monaco.
He shared the news while toying with the idea of staging a send-off and fundraising show for 13th of September at the CCP Blackbox Theater — a sneak performance before the production flies to Monaco on Aug. 20 to 27.
During the huddle, Riki shared the premise of the play with those who were curious and willing to listen — an adaptation of Lanie Robertson’s The Insanity of Mary Girard, reimagined by three-time Palanca awardee Eljay Castro Deldoc.
The 13th of September, a reimagining of the one-act play The Insanity of Mary Girard, will represent the Philippines at the 18th Mondial du Théâtre in Monaco this August. This marks the country’s first appearance at the prestigious quadrennial festival since its founding in 1957.
The original work tells the story of Mary Girard, who was institutionalized in 1790 after her husband declared her insane. In The 13th of September, a 56-year-old Mary prepares for her last night at the Pennsylvania Asylum, revisiting memories of her past as she performs her routine with fellow patients.
Produced by Be Our Guest Theatricals (BOGT) Philippines, the play explores themes of injustice, empowerment, and the idea of sanity. It has previously been staged internationally, including in Canada and Germany.
Veteran director-actor Andoy Ranay will take on the lead role, performing alongside Lao Rodriguez and Drew Espenocilla. Ranay, who recently headlined Presidential Suite #2 at Virgin Labfest XX, is also known for his work in ABS-CBN series such as Dirty Linen and The Broken Marriage Vow.
Rodriguez, a longtime presence in Philippine theater and film, has performed in works by Tanghalang Pilipino, PETA, and Atlantis. Espenocilla, a founding member of Tabsing Kolektib PH, creates performances centered on decolonial narratives and community memory in Sorsogon.
BOGT’s nine-member delegation will perform on Aug. 26 and 27 at the Princess Grace Theater, closing the festival alongside entries from Lithuania and Morocco.
The group thanks Fire and Ice Studio, Beyond Concepts Photo Studio, the Office of the First Lady, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines for their support.
