Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4 (PETA)

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Dedicated thespian Eugene Domingo (Eugene Domingo) invites her dear industry friends to a dinner meeting at her house, where she will propose a modernized restaging of Aurelio Tolentino’s Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas. Among the invitees are: producer Melvin Lee (Melvin Lee); director Marlon Rivera (Marlon Rivera); Palanca hall of fame playwright Joshua Lim So (Joshua Lim So); fellow unapologetic actors Andoy Ranay (Andoy Ranay), JC Santos (JC Santos), Stella Cañete-Mendoza (Stella Cañete-Mendoza), and Meann Espinosa (Meann Espinosa). Eugene aims to play the lead role and she has a plethora of visions to execute, most of them going against Melvin’s budget, Joshua’s script, and Marlon’s creative direction. To make matters more complicated, she has adopted a group of street urchins called the “Ugenggengs” whom she plans to rehabilitate through the power of theater. One of her demands is to stage the play on a Philippine navy ship at the West Philippine Sea, as a sign of protest.

Endo (PETA)

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Leo (Royce Cabrera) has been juggling jobs given to him by a temp agency but he cannot seem to catch a break and only lasts a few weeks before getting kicked out of each opportunity. It doesn’t help that he is also the breadwinner of the family, what with his sickly dad and a brother he is supporting currently at university. His girlfriend Candy (Iana Bernardez) is looking for better opportunities and breaks up with him, choosing a life in Singapore with a much older man of better financial standing. In this regard, the prophecy of the shop attendant who sold him the shoes he gifted his ex comes true. Tanya (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) believes that footwear is a bad present because the person it is given to is bound to leave the giver. Leo and Tanya cross paths some more and begin a situationship threatened by her impending job opportunity in Switzerland. She wants to move there with Leo, but his reluctance puts her own dreams on the line.

Walang Aray (PETA)

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Stage superstar Julia (Lance Reblando) uses her powerful voice to tantalize an audience through song, as evidenced by her horde of fans. She is in love with boy-next-door Tenyong (Gio Gahol) but in secret, because her mother Juana (Gold Villar-Lim) has a different plan for her altogether. The widow is eyeing metrosexual ilustrado Miguel (Rendell Sanchez), the most eligible bachelor in their town and son of a wealthy widower, to be her daughter’s husband. When the revolution begins, Tenyong decides to join after his parents are victimized by cruel friar Padre Alfaro (Roi Calilong). While they can’t bear to be apart, the lovers maximize their roles with her serving as his spy as he plans their attack from afar. When push comes to shove and Julia almost falls for the dashing Miguel, she asks for the assistance of her household help Monica (Kiki Baento) and Tenyong’s caretaker Lucas (Carlon Matobato) to find him so he can rescue her from the clutches of arranged marriage.

Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (PETA)

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Military man Joel (Martin del Rosario) befriends impoverished couple Emma (Elora Españo) and Nardo (Ross Pesigan) who are caught in the crossfire between the army and the rebels that they are pursuing on the mountains. The three spend late afternoons together at the couple’s hut, just playing cards and even having simple dinner together with what Emma can come up with from the occasional sardine tin can that Joel smuggles from their headquarters. The unlikely friendship becomes the talk of the town. For many, both parties seem to have something to gain from the unexpected camaraderie. They believe that Joel is suspecting the couple of being in cahoots with, if not being part of, the rebels themselves. What they do not know is that Joel and Emma are having an affair right under her husband’s nose. As feelings begin to develop, lines are blurred between mission and lust. In the end, who is really playing whom?

One More Chance (PETA)

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Popoy (CJ Navato) and Basha (Nicole Omillo) have been a couple for the last five years. They finish each other’s sentences and are constantly planning for their wedding next year, which involves a lot of cost-cutting. Unable to keep up with her fiance’s suffocating demands, she decides to call it quits so she can enjoy some space and have some leeway to find herself. Belonging to the same circle of friends, things immediately get awkward during Thursday barkada nights. But that’s what friends are for. Pessimistic Anj (Via Antonio), happy-go-lucky JP (Jon Abella), hopeless romantic Chinno (Johnnie Moran), and couple Krizzy (Rica Laguardia) and Kenneth (Poppert Bernadas) do everything they can to be supportive of both friends. Soon, Popoy finds new love with Tricia (Kiara Takahashi) while Basha gets platonic friendship from new co-worker Mark (Jay Gonzaga). Just when the tension appears to have simmered down, romantic feelings are suddenly rekindled, shaking up the dynamics yet again.

Tabing Ilog the Musical (PETA)

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A group of friends vow to return to their childhood town of San Juan but never do. Conservative barrio lass Eds (Jhoanna Robles) wants to be a teacher despite her mother prodding her to opt for something more practical. Her boyfriend Rovic (JL Toreliza) is sweet and all but is secretly romancing other girls nearby. Badong (Jude Hinumdum) is running for a councillor position. Amboy James (Kobie Brown) is at odds with his mother regarding his potential relocation to Cebu. He gets a surprise visit from schoolmate Andoy (Omar Udin) who might have feelings for him. George (Andi Abaya) hands out crystal bracelets for good vibes and wants to lead the group on a spiritual journey. Her ex-boyfriend Fonzy (Vino Mabalot) is still avoiding all of them after their break up while his sister Corrine (Miah Canton) gets a surprise pregnancy scare. Will the death of a teacher bring the gang back together or is it about time to just call it quits?

Under My Skin (PETA)

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Dr. Gemma Almonte (Roselyn Perez) appears onstage, breaks the fourth wall, and begins lecturing the crowd about the human immunodeficiency virus. The spotlight then shifts to a group of patients from different walks of life waiting for their HIV test results. Syd (Eko Baquial) accompanies his sick friend Jonathan (Miguel Almendras) to the doctor as he suffers from what seems like pneumonia that came out of nowhere. When he finds out that he’s HIV+, he faces the dilemma on how to tell his boyfriend Greg (Anthony Falcon) that he might have it, too. Crossdressing parlorista (Duds Teraña) takes his friend to a clinic and also decides to get tested on a whim, finding out that his friend is negative but he is not. Sex worker Mary Rose (She Maala) is diagnosed positive but isn’t at all surprised. Teenager Louie (Miko Esquivel) also tests positive, much to the bewilderment of his loudmouth mother Aling Loida (Kitsi Pagaspas), who is about to discover a secret crime committed against her son. Different people, same virus, one fight against an epidemic without a cure.

Rak of Aegis (PETA)

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After a series of typhoons and torrential rain showers, Baranggay Venizia becomes a maze of flooded streets and alleys, yet the residents make do by virtue of their resourcefulness and optimistic outlook in life. Aileen (Kim Molina) wants to capitalize on their misfortune to pursue her dreams. The plan is to record a video showcasing her pipes while wading in the leptospirosis-infested waters. The video will reach Ellen Degeneres, leading to a guesting that will make her famous. Her father, Kiel (Renz Verano), does not agree, and instead tells her daughter to take her full-time job seriously. As the town continues to get significant attention from the outside world after the video goes viral, Baranggay Captain Mary Jane (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) must decide whether to embrace their new livelihood heavily reliant on the flood or to get to the bottom of it and solve the problem once and for all, losing their newfound fame.

'night, Mother (PETA)

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An otherwise routine evening takes an interesting turn when Jessie (Eugene Domingo) tells her mother out of the blue that she is going to commit suicide before the night is over. Alarmed, Thelma (Sherry Lara) works hard to convince her daughter that life is worth living. She also makes it a point to repeatedly blame herself for her daughter’s choice, believing that she has failed her as a mother. For her part, Jessie is steadfast, already convinced that her decision to end it all is the best solution for all parties involved. As the evening gets darker and emotions start to run amok, secrets are revealed and tears are shed, but will all the drama suffice to save one of them from the clutches of impending death?

Ako Si Josephine (PETA)

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In a fictional place called Allegra, social conduct and behavior are dictated by a principle referred to as Musiconomy. Banning every other musical genre, despotic leader Monotomia (Ricci Chan) controls everyone through constant streaming of HYP music, whose repetitive beats turn the citizenry into lifeless drones who live to work and serve the current social system in place. Josephine (Via Antonio) aids Chinito (Joaquin Valdes) in the production such trance music, directly contributing to the perverse status quo. In her heart, though, she jives to a different kind of rhythm, that of diverse musical styles from a past that now lives only in their memory. As she yearns for both romantic love and liberty from the twisted regime, her compositions become an avenue for rebellion and revolution, much to her friends’ reluctance, in fear of getting exiled on Isla Sintonados where all insurgents are shipped, never to return.

Changing Partners (PETA)

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Alex is 45. Cris is turning 30. The former is the COO of a reputable company and loves watching replays of Glee when doing nothing at home. The latter prefers anime, and frequents Greenhills to patronize class A Nikes. The 15-year age gap serves as a recurring source of friction between the couple, yet somehow they find ways to make the relationship work. Age disparity aside, Cris’ BFF Angel (always mentioned but doesn't appear) is also a perpetual bone of contention, with undying suspicions that an affair is taking place. As their live-in setup reaches its six-year anniversary, cracks begin to manifest as their arguments multiply and become more and more repetitive day after day. The two attempt to mend fences from time to time through conversation and song, but sometimes some relationships are just not meant to last.

D' Wonder Twins of Boac (PETA)

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Viola (Cris Villonco) and Bastian (Chrome Cosio) are the Wonder Twins of Boac, a triple threat duo set to capture the hearts of many as they leave their humble town in Marinduque to embark on a movie career in the big city. These aspirations, however, are stalled as the ship they are on sinks, separating the two. Later, Bastian becomes a stuntman, while Viola puts on her best Elvis look as cross-dressing Cesar to pursue her dream of making it big in the business. Together, they get entangled in the complicated world of showbiz as they are used as pawns by two bickering film studio heads trying to merge their companies to evade bankruptcy. They are once again reunited, in not so ideal circumstances, but are they both fit to survive the demands of a dying industry that is on the constant lookout for something new? This is one hilarious take on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night that you simply should not miss, as it gives you a fun-filled trip down memory lane, back to the 60's after Philippine Cinema has reached its peak.
 

Bona (PETA)

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Call center agent and Nazarene devotee Bona (Eugene Domingo) places her family aside and her career on hold to support the dreams of struggling wannabe actor Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman), who gets eliminated first from a TV talent show called Star of Tomorrow. Despite the warnings of her friends and the arrival of a potential life partner in the person of the condominium’s landlord, Bona opts to prioritize Gino’s career up to the point of shelling out her hard-earned money that her sister and nephew need, distancing herself from her friends, and heating the water for his daily morning bath. In short, she is no longer just a fan, but a worshipper of someone who is obviously just using her.

I have not seen the Lino Brocka movie, and so I would not have the right to compare, although that one seems to have been a pure drama and very well-received by critics. As for the theater adaptation, it is more of a comedy, which is perhaps just apt since Domingo is already known for her acting prowess when it comes to this genre. The first half is pure comedy, while it is in the second half where the serious underlying issues start to surface. About two or three of the supporting actors are not alien to the theater scene, while the rest of the cast seem to be rather unknown, but still effective in portraying their roles.