Independent alternative group Bulakta Theatre is moving beyond simple conversations about local flooding. Instead, they are taking direct action on the stage. The group recently launched an open-call workshop created specifically for artists living in Bulacan. By bringing together creatives from various disciplines, they aim to focus on one main mission:
reflecting the raw truths of braving storms and rising waters in the Bulacan.
Houses on Waters (A Performance Forum)
This open-call workshop draws direct inspiration from Bulacan’s rough roads and puddles, which quickly snowball into severe floods. Bulakta developed the forum in collaboration with Melvin Waje of The Postscriptum. Together, they aim to dissect the deep emotional impact that natural calamities leave on the Bulakenyos.
As a pioneer of this movement in Bulacan, Bulakta strives to unite local creatives across all fields, including writing, visual, performance art, and filmmaking. Priority is given to artists who currently reside in Bulacan. Rather than getting bogged down in heavy institutional art rules, the workshop sets technicalities aside. Instead, it pushes every local artist to discover their authentic personal truth from within. Ultimately, this forum serves as Bulakta’s initial step toward building “Leptospirasi 26″—a devised performance centered on houses on waters that will mark their very first staging production.
Leptospirasi ‘26
Founder Laurence De Vera, a prolific director and deviser, spearheaded this project alongside Bulakta’s Artistic Director, Rhain Alcoriza. Together, they envisioned a stage piece inspired by director Bong Joon-ho’s cinematic poetics on climate and human reality. In fact, the movie Parasite served as a major creative inspiration. Through this project, Bulakta aims to champion a distinct Asian and Filipino perspective on climate change, placing it directly within Bulacan’s flood-prone waters.
Originally, Bulakta planned to adapt the Korean film The Host and even scheduled it on their production calendar. However, as time progressed, they realized that capturing the true Bulakenyo experience required an original approach. Consequently, they shifted focus to staging a newly devised performance rooted entirely in the lived experiences of local artists.
The Kids Are Alright
To champion regional artistic voices, founder Laurence De Vera leads the initiative alongside collaborator Melvin Waje, founder of the independent literary movement The Postscriptum. Notably, The Postscriptum began by giving away free original poetry on the streets of Malolos Convention Center. Later on, this initiative expanded into free street workshops and pop-up events.
Reflecting on the overwhelming community response, Laurence De Vera, founder and managing director of Bulakta Theater, shared a sentimental post. De Vera noted that this rapid response reveals key insights about young local talent:
One, The kids still want to make art and connect (majority of applicants are projecting in their expectations that they want to meet other young artists and widen their skillset!)”
Furthermore, he emphasized that local art groups must find better ways to make their creative processes accessible to newcomers. He added:
Internal connections are great—but if in one day there are THIS MUCH young people who wants to participate in such workshops. Let this be an urgent reminder to local groups that practices are meant to be shared and passed on. NOT GATE KEPT”
Along with this sentiment, he advocates for government support for local arts initiatives across Bulacan. Due to the high volume of sign-ups, Bulakta is now considering a batch system so they do not have to close registration early. This approach will ensure open access for all interested Bulacan creatives.
If you are an artist from Bulacan looking to join the movement, you can sign up at bit.ly/HousesOnWatersForm. The workshop takes place on September 12, 2026 (Saturday) in Malolos, Bulacan.
Ultimately, this performance forum serves as one of Bulakta’s foundational steps toward building “Leptospirasi 26″—a devised performance on houses on waters.
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