GEN G: GG na ‘To! Brings Youth To The Forefront of Changemaking

In “Gen G: GG na ‘To!” the word “educational” in PETA becomes front and center alongside unformidable talents and its most interesting element—the audience.

Words Jin Hernandez
Photo Courtesy of PETA Theater and Move to Change Foundation Inc. 
September 29, 2026

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is no stranger to original theater productions. Yet in this newest collaboration with Move to Change Foundation, Inc. (M2C), PETA shows what they do best which is to educate through theater in ways beyond innovative.

“We do different types of theater to cater to different types of audiences depending on their readiness,” Melvin Lee, President of PETA shared, stating that though Gen G is not a popular title it is still inherently PETA.

The most interesting element of the play is perhaps the audience interaction, in which everyone gets a firsthand experience of determining the course of action that the characters get to make. 

From Lyle Viray’s New Character’s name up to the group’s crucial decisions, the audience gets a chance to vote—making the theater experience uniquely communal.

Beyond the bows, the play doesn’t simply end by applause. Instead, the audience can voice their thoughts through the talkback. But what really makes Gen G stand out? 

It’s not just interactive, it is a premonition of a future not too far away from the current climate of the country.

Balangay as a place of survival

The concept of a balangay predates the precolonial era and is hailed as the national boat of the country. In Gen G, it serves as the primary “temporary” shelter of Filipinos in the year 2028 where everything is submerged in flood waters. 

When a group of young people in Balangay G are left by the adults to fend for themselves, from there it becomes a testament of how the youth can make the right choice through the help of each other, from the incredible ensemble up to the audience that is primarily composed of the Filipino youth.

From this, the precolonial purpose of a balangay as trading ships becomes a place of a catalyst for change and a display of resiliency in a place otherwise failed by a system beyond their control.

Are you “G” to make a change?

The interactive play is an evidence of how significant it is to make a choice, and how that choice can have an equivalent consequence. As Zoe Damag who portrays the Joker best puts it, “In theater, it is a rehearsal for change.” 

The youth-centered narrative is the heart of the play that surprisingly provokes one to always assess what makes a choice right and how one can better a situation as worse as the rising waters that challenges Balangay G to think of ways to survive.

In Liza Abaya of M2C’s words, “Every Filipino youth is a changemaker.” 

So as the play tours 12 schools until December 2026, young people would get a firsthand experience of making a choice and shaping the future.

Stay tuned for further announcements on Project GG’s social media pages (@project_gg) to see the schools they will visit next starting September to December 2026.