Ep. 66 Melvin Lee (ENDO)

Ep. 69 Dustin Celestino

In this episode, we are joined by Dustin Celestino, an award-winning filmmaker and Playwright. We discuss his upcoming films and stage plays: 1. Hydra: A film reflecting on the effects of disinformation, political grief and hope in today's political atmosphere. It releases in theaters nationwide starting June 3. :https://www.imdb.com/title/tt40707480/ 2. Animal: An upcoming film about rival political families and their scandal involving unethical treatment of animals. It can be seen at the upcoming Cinemalaya Film Festival. See more info here:https://www.cinemalaya.org/films/2026-finalists/ 3. Elehiya is featured VLF XXI Set C. It discusses masculinity and the "death of patriarchy" through monologues between fathers and sons. You can buy your tickets here: https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/Show.aspx?sh=VIRGLABC26 You can find more about Dustin's films at Sinemetu: https://www.facebook.com/studiosinemetu Recommendations: 1. Duyan ng Magiting 2. Decalogue: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092337/ 3. Screenwriting Software:https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/screenwriting-software/ 0:00 Intro 1:12 How Dustin Began his writing Journey 4:40 How Dustin handles Political topics 7:20 Dustin's shift from fiction to film 11:15 Dustin's influences 12:40 Early Works 15:30 Utopia 19:30 Duyan ng Magiting 29:30 Hydra 33:00 Hydra a Kakampink film 36:00 Hydra and Greek Mythology and Animation 39:00 Hydra and non-kakampinks and villains 45:40 Animal 47:20 Why Animals? 48:40 The cast of Animal 51:20 Animal as Title 52:30 Elehiya: VLF Play 57:40 Set C VLF 58:46 Dustin's Concluding Remarks 1:01:40 Tips for Writing 1:04:00 AI as a writing tool 1:06:30 Recommendation

Ep. 68 Siege Malvar

In this episode our guest is Siege Malvar, Author and Playwright. We discuss his unique writing style and brand of social commentary he uses in his books, Oral Hystery, Team Building and Stratplanning. His Play, Presidential Suite #2 is also being revisited in this year's Virgin Labfest (VLF)under Set E from June 3–28, 2026. The play follows the Zaragoza Famlly as they decide what to do with their ailing Senator Mother. It deals with political dynasties, political surveys and how family drama becomes a political crisis. You can buy his books here:https://www.myavenida.com/products/strat-planning You can read more about Virgin Labfest here: https://theaterfansmanila.com/guide-the-virgin-labfest-2026-synopses-cast-and-more-details-announced/ You may purchase your VLF tickets here: Buy your tickets now! For single tickets: 🎟️ bit.ly/VLF21TicketWorld 🎟️ bit.ly/VLF21Ticket2Me For Festival Passes: 🎟️ bit.ly/VLF21FestivalPassPremiereWeek 🎟️ bit.ly/VLF21MidWeekFestivalPass 🎟️ bit.ly/VLF21RepriseWeekFestivalPass You can read my review of Siege Malvar's works here: https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/books-and-art/the-unserious-satires-of-siege-malvar-a8141-20260311-dyn Recommendations: Ang Susunod na Kabanata:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIRt9dUIzdxX8rvRI6MAPZKkFze3nJwgz Veep: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1759761/?ref_=fn_t_1 Hacks: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11815682/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_Hacks The comeback:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434672/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_The%20comeback The Thick of it:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459159/ 0:00 Intro 1:55 Siege's origins as a writer 5:30 Siege Malvar and horror 9:40 Social Commentary 12:40 Siege Malvar's Writing Style 20:00 Avenida's Eskinita Series 25:00 Oral Hystery 34:00 Team-Building 45:00 Strat Planning 47:40 VLF: Presidential Suite #2 56:00 Working with Theater Production 1:02:00 Revisiting Presidential Suite #2 1:04:00 Taking Risks with Storytelling 1:08:00 Recommendations

Ep. 67 Karl Suyat of Project Gunita

In our Mayo Uno Special, we are joined by Karl Suyat, founder of Project Gunita. We discuss his early political awakening about Martial law, his experiences as a student journalist and his founding of Project Gunita as an archive so that nation will remember 0:00: Intro 1:30 Karl Suyat's activism 4:20 Political Awakening 13:00 Batas Militar 19:00 Synthesizing different opinions on Marcos and Martial law 28:00 Student Journalism 33:00 Finding the truth 43:40 What is Project Gunita 51:00 Gathering Materials 1:03:00 Highlights of Project Gunita 1:17:00 What do we do moving forward? You can find Project Gunita here: Website:https://www.projectgunita.com/ Email:archives@projectgunita.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectgunita/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/projectgunitaph/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Y1lRb72zWUSj7QciXsrUL

Ep. 66 Melvin Lee (ENDO)

In this episode, we continue our coverage of ENDO: the stageadaptation with Director Melvin Lee. We discuss his work with PETA, his approach in updating the movie, the use of staging and choreography in dramaand the importance of portraying precarious work 0:00 Intro 1:00 Direk Melvin Lee’s Career in Theater 4:15 Direk’s focus on realism and PETA 6:20 People’s Theater 12:00 Wobbly stage and the unstable world of ENDO 14:00 Choreography and Physical Storytelling 18:20 Gadgets, Apps and New Hierarchy of Labor 20:20 Casting Actors 24:30 How Characters Evolved 27:20 Handling the Romance scenes 31:30 Gender and Labor 37:00 Candy and the Ensemble 41:00 Why watch ENDO You can get your tickets at Ticketnet You may purchase your tickets here :https://www.ticket2me.net/event/22737 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblNNazlUUjdUbTZ3WkpzNGpabXNCOWZEcmNDQXxBQ3Jtc0tuYnVqQndlS1NiNzExNkZKN2dRN21WV0l1SF9PeURxeGJBbHR6SG44eG9DcmhUM3VXc3RuSGJXQm9KenVzY0dvbTZ5ZGV3ZW5Nb192eUJ3SkdkVHhJajAydW1MN0JRUVJvNjBrMmdpcFJMQmhRb2lrUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticket2me.net%2Fevent%2F22737&v=dTKuP74PFac] You can find more shows here: https://www.ticket2me.net/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGpBbWdtMmVadGE0OXVWaVgzMldVcEpEazRQZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuTWxzNnJ6LTI2NktoMTlNaVljcEVaaXg2OC1ta3RwY0JRT1BYaHZUb3lKTVVKMlFKa21KdVEzbWRjYl90a2VyVDBaOWpzbXVEeUowZFhtd2hMOHdIZ2h5R0FUOVI5ZVVyMnBGWG9xZ202dGhkdVdJYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticket2me.net%2F&v=dTKuP74PFac] You can find more about PETA here: https://petatheater.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjZyaTFkU0g0WnV0MkU4Vk9XZkdrenFNYjRSZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsR1lBM1UwUG1aNG9fX2FRenVVcE9acFJQYTg1UHRFWEZRME9vN0dXWHJ5N0tsUGJZb1JZRU9HYzBEYm53YmZkWUQ2dHNJR01FYTdMRUYzMV94NHdIdmx1VC00ZGFrOE5xWnY5VHVNaXJTYWFydG1nRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpetatheater.com%2F&v=dTKuP74PFac]

Ep. 65 Liza Magtoto, PETA and ENDO

PETA and Ticket2me presents the stage adaptation of ENDO(2026) or "end of contract", based on the 2007 film about a love story between two workers in the gig economy. The play will run from April 10 to May 10. In this episode, we are joined by Liza Magtoto, award-winning playwright of ENDO. We discuss her body of work in theater, her collaborations with PETA, and her approach to adapting ENDO onstage. We also talk about the importance in telling the story of precarious labor in the Philippines and the role of theater in instilling socio-political awareness, hope and solidarity. 0:00 Intro 1:40 How Liza Magtoto got into Theater 7:40 History of PETA 11:00 Peta's 59th Anniversary 13:30 Liza Magtoto's Mission in Theater 20:00 Liza Magtoto's most important work and legacy 24:30 Background of staging ENDO 25:10-25:17 32:00 ENDO as a love story 37:00 Dealing with social realities 40:30 Updating ENDO 42:00 Why watch theater about social realities? 46:50 Writing Political Theater 49:00 Hope in Theater 52:09 Why the Phiippines needs theater 57:00 Recommendations 1:00:30 On the Cast You may purchase your tickets here:https://www.ticket2me.net/event/22737 You can find more shows here: https://www.ticket2me.net/ You can find more about PETA here: https://petatheater.com/ Recommendations- 1. Endo (2007)-https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/4790450211914240 2. Remaindered life by Neferti Tadiar-https://unipress.ateneo.edu/product/remaindered-life 3. continuing the narrative of Philippine theater the story of Peta-https://petatheater.com/a-continuing-narrative-on-philippine-theater-the-story-of-peta/ 4. Birthings: A Journal of Shared Lives by Liza Magtoto-https://petatheater.com/birthings-a-journal-of-shared-lives/ 5. Bienvenida de Soltera by Liza Magtoto-https://shopee.ph/Bienvenida-de-Soltera-Tatlong-Dulang-Ganap-ang-Haba-by-Liza-C.-Magtoto-i.291137203.5545679547 6. Control Shift-https://www.ticket2me.net/ControlShift