Ampalaya Monologues started as a simple stage show and slowly grew into something bigger, a creative movement, a community, and a safe space for stories.
It began in August 2015, when playwright and director Mark Ghosn staged Ampalaya Monologues, a collection of Tagalog monologues and spoken word poetry about love, heartbreak, and everything in between. The early shows were held in cafes, bars, and small venues, but the stories connected fast. People saw themselves in the characters, in the bitterness, in the humor, in the healing.
By 2018, Ampalaya Monologues evolved into an artist collective, the first creative group in the Philippines to mix spoken word poetry and monologues into a shared movement. What started as a play became a community of performers, writers, and audiences who wanted to talk honestly about love, life, and the human experience.
Over the years, Ampalaya Monologues expanded beyond the stage. It was adapted into a book under Summit Books and later into a TV series on iWantTFC, proving that these stories could live beyond theatre and reach a wider audience.
Today, Ampalaya Monologues is known as The Country’s Hugot Group. But more than titles, the group’s heart has always been the same: turning bitterness into something better.
Ampalaya Monologues grew beyond performances. The group now focuses on creating spaces where people can share stories, learn, and feel heard.
Projects and events include:
Annual shows and festivals like Spoken Fest every August, Anti-Valentine or Singles Awareness Day shows every February, and an anniversary show every October during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Workshops that teach people how to write and perform monologues and spoken word poetry.
Open mic nights where anyone can share real stories without judgment.
Mental health awareness is a core advocacy. Ampalaya Monologues creates events where people can talk about the bitterness of love, how it affects them, and how telling stories—or simply watching them—can help them feel less alone.
Ampalaya Monologues has also been adapted into a book published by Summit Books and into a TV anthology series on iWantTFC, bringing its hugot stories from stage to page and screen.
What started as a stage play is now part of the independent theatre scene in the Philippines, especially in spoken word poetry and monologue performance. Ampalaya Monologues continues to inspire people to share their voices, not just for entertainment, but for healing, connection, and growth.
Because in the end, bitterness is part of being human. And together, we can always move from bitter to better.
