“ATENG” takes the spotlight: Palanca-winning play by Vincent DeJesus stages at Rampa Drag Club

Produced by RS Francisco and Boy Abunda, the Palanca-winning one-act play “ATENG” by Vincent A. DeJesus is set to take center stage at Rampa Drag Club — where theater meets drag, and storytelling finds new shimmer under the spotlight.

Winner of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature (One-Act Play), “ATENG” unfolds in Marikina in 2005, capturing one stormy night inside a small neighborhood beauty parlor — a place where humor, heartbreak, and humanity collide. Without revealing too much, it’s a story that explores the bonds of siblinghood, the weight of survival, and the fierce beauty of queer resilience — told through DeJesus’ signature mix of biting wit and emotional truth.

A powerhouse creative team
Guiding the production is director Rem Zamora, one of the country’s most respected theater makers known for his nuanced direction in works that champion realism and intimacy.

Production and set design are by the multi-awarded tandem Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije, whose film credits include Heneral Luna, Serbis, and Midnight in a Perfect World. Together known as Ben&Carlo, they have received honors from the Gawad Urian (Serbis, 2009) and Film Academy of the Philippines (Heneral Luna, 2016), and continue to bring their acclaimed visual storytelling to both stage and screen.

D Cortezano, a veteran technical and lighting designer, shapes the play’s tension through light and movement, while Teresa Barrozo, an acclaimed composer and sound designer celebrated for her cinematic and experimental works (Apocalypse Child, K’na the Dreamweaver, Karnal), heightens the production’s sensory and emotional impact.

Faces that carry fire and heart
The cast features a dynamic mix of celebrated and rising talents. Vincent A. DeJesus, the Palanca-winning playwright, alternates as Kiwi alongside Thou Reyes, a theater and television veteran known for his versatility in both comedy and drama.

 
Vincent DeJesus and Thou Reyes share the role of "Kiwi"

Juicy is brought to life by Jason Barcial and Io Balanon — both noted for their engaging turns in independent theater and queer performance spaces. Meanwhile, Onyx is portrayed by Kokoy De Santos, acclaimed for his breakout role in Gameboys and recent film and streaming projects, and Dyas Adarlo, an emerging actor whose raw energy and range have made him one of the exciting new voices in Philippine theater.

 
Jason Barcial alongside IO Balanon as "Juicy"

Kokoy De Santos alternates wiht Dyas Adarlo as "Onyx"

Together, the ensemble delivers a charged and emotional performance that reflects the power and pulse of contemporary queer storytelling.

“ATENG” is more than a story of identity — it’s a reclamation of voice and visibility, blending laughter, rage, and tenderness in a night of unforgettable theater.

The bold and unflinching piece by Vincent DeJesus will be staged at Rampa Drag Club every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 14 to December 7, 2025.

Tickets are now available via Ticket2Me.

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Why watch Himala: Isang Musikal again?

Aside from it's one of the greatest stories ever told in cinema, the iconic "Walang himala!" cry of Nora Aunor on screen, Himala: Isang Musikal is a masterpiece that still very relevant and moving. Combining the great achievement by Ricky Lee and music by Vince De Jesus, seeing it for the second time at Power Mac Center Spotlight, I was still in awe of the spectacular story and performance of this exceptional cast.

The mystical plot while you're immersed in the black box theater where you get to experience how Brgy. Cupang turned from "cursed to blessed" is a one-of-a-kind experience. The cast, led by Aicelle Santos as Elsa, (with Neomi Gonzales as Chayong, Kakki Teodoro as Nimia, Sheila Francisco as Nanay Saling, David Ezra as Orly, Floyd Tena as Pari, Vic Robinson III as Pilo) I was more drawn into the emotions and the story than the first time I saw it. Himala is something that makes you appreciate more and more every time you see it.

Sheila Francisco gives great emotions with just a stare of the eye. The depth of her performance is quite felt. Vic Robinson III is a stronger Pilo than of Sandino Martin and I think they have more chemistry than Neomi Gonzales.

 

Collectively, the whole cast did an amazing job reliving this timeless piece and still worth another award and should not be missed. The story needs to be retold again and again, to wake us from blind beliefs and put faith where it's due. And our Filipino artistry deserves your applause.

The Sandbox Collective's Himala: Isang Musikal is playing (September 20 - October 20, 2019) at the Power Mac Center Spotlight. Tickets are sold at 1000, 1300, 1700 and 2300 via ticketworld.com.ph

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