After the curtain fell on the 20th Virgin Labfest (“VLF XX: Hinog”), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation Inc. (TP), and the Writer’s Bloc Inc. have announced the official lineup of new works for the 21st edition of the annual theater festival. “Virgin Labfest 21,” slated for 2026, will feature 12 untried and untested one-act plays by emerging and returning playwrights, including works by seven first-time VLF participants, or “virgin” playwrights.
Among the selected new plays are “Balos” by Neil Arkhe Azcuna, “Footprint” by Jerom Canlas, “Elehiya” by Dustin Celestino, “She’s Electric” by Ron Evangelista, “Betamax” by Faith Ferrer Lacanlale, “G. Taksyapo!” by John Lapus, “Lualhati” by Gab Mactal, “Mga Tutubi, Mga Guni-Guni” by M. Manalastas, “Buhaghag” by Gerald Manuel, “Human Rights Story of the Year” by Elijah Felice Rosales, “Patayin ang mga Surot” by Floyd Scott Tiogangco, and “Password123, Pilipinas321” by Anthony Kim Vergara.
Festival directors Tessa Jamias and Marco Viaña also revealed three revisited plays that will be restaged as part of the next edition. These are “Presidential Suite No. 2” by Siege Malvar, “The Late Mr. Real” by Rolin Migyuel Obina, and “Polar Coordinates” by Ade Valenzona.
