Apothecary Productions brings Deaf Filipino artist CJ Reynaldo’s comic Whatcha Saying? to the stage this November, with performances in Quezon City and La Union. Written and directed by Heart Romero, Whatcha Saying? – A Stage Adaptation explores friendship, love, identity, and college life through the experiences of a Deaf student navigating a predominantly hearing world.
The one-act play follows CJ, a Deaf freshman student who meets his schoolmates Liam and Sarah. As the three build connections, they discover new ways to communicate and understand one another, navigating the challenges and discoveries of college life. Blending humor and warmth, the production highlights how communication can go beyond spoken words and how understanding can begin with the hands.
The stage adaptation is based on Reynaldo’s comic book, published by Komiket under his artist name, Caldatelier. A finalist at the 39th National Book Awards, the comic uses humor to introduce readers to Filipino Sign Language (FSL) while offering a glimpse into the everyday experiences of Deaf people in a hearing world.
Deaf actor Cocoy Quiambao leads the cast as CJ, with Nathan Molina and Raymond Lance Aguilar alternating as Liam, and Onix Valerio as Sarah. The ensemble includes Aura Payawan, Bev Palileo, Lucky Charles Historia, and Wayne San Juan. Deaf & Terp Corporation serves as the community and consultancy partner, providing guidance on FSL and Deaf culture to support the production’s representation.
Presented in partnership with Thames International and Lorma Colleges, alongside the National Development Company and the Philippine Innovation Hub, the production will run from November 4 to 7, 2026, at the Thames International Auditorium, 27 Calle Industria Street, Quezon City, and from November 14 to 16, 2026, at the Lorma Colleges AVR along MacArthur Highway, Barangay Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union.
In Quezon City, performances are scheduled for November 4 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; November 5 and 6 at 8 p.m.; and November 7 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at Php 800. In La Union, performances will be held daily from November 14 to 16 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with tickets priced at Php 500.
Performed in Filipino Sign Language, Tagalog, and English, the production runs for approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Tickets for both locations are available through Ticketnation Philippines.
