By Mariela Angella Oladive
The 11th Iloilo Theater Festival spotlighted Ilonggo culture and culinary pride with the theme “Add Theater to Taste,” fusing local cuisine with performance art.
Held from May 2 to 4 at the University of San Agustin, the festival featured 17 productions and brought together more than 300 artists from Iloilo and Negros.
Festival Artistic Director Eric Divinagracia said this year’s theme was inspired by Iloilo’s recent international recognition in the culinary world.
“Iloilo City was recently named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, so we thought, why not work around that?” he said.
“What is theater when you mix it with food? Does life have more flavor when there is theater?”
One of the highlights was “Halo-Halo Atbp.,” a showcase featuring four short plays—ISSUE-PAO, BATCH’S CHOICE, FEE’S BALL, and Sa—Kapehan.
Performed on the festival’s final day, the plays tackled student life, social issues and youth perspectives, using humor and local cultural references.
Divinagracia said the featured plays were written by students and grounded in their real-life experiences, adding that the integration of epicurean themes deepened the festival’s impact.
He thanked partners, stakeholders and the theater community for their continued support of the festival.
Other featured performances included Pilit by Teatro Sinag of Iloilo Doctors’ College and Karen-derya by Teatro Dagami of West Visayas State University.
Also featured were Mitnamit Kaya by Kapawa Performing Arts of Balasan, Iloilo, and Lab-as Nga Paglaum by Teatro Laragway of Enrique B. Magalona National High School.
These performances offered diverse narratives and artistic styles, combining local stories with interpretations of contemporary themes.
A Blue Verie Cheesecake Mystery by Theatre Kids Collaborative of Iloilo City—a whimsical mystery—captivated audiences of all ages.
Other standout pieces included Eat, Vlog, Gha! by Teatro Bugsay Layag of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Villa, Kakusog, Kabakod, Kaanyag kag Kagutom by Balangaw Artists Collective of Bacolod City, and Bittersweet by Daglaw Experimental Theater of Iloilo City.
The day’s performances concluded with Luuk Banca by Teatro Tayo from WVSU College of PESCAR, offering a poignant reflection on tradition and change.
The festival also welcomed notable guests from the local and international theater scenes.
Among them were Bernice Aspillaga and She Maala of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, filmmaker Elvert Bañares, U.S.-based theater writer Amanda Cruz and Dr. Anton Juan of the Sigrab Conference.
