When ‘GIGIL’ is Transformed Into Versions of Dance
Discover your own ‘GIGIL’ in this year’s FIFTH WALL FEST at NBS Park.
Words Rica Mae Labbao
Photos courtesy of FIFTH WALL
October 22, 2026
Ea Torrado | Photo by Dom Pamatmat
Restraint. Build up. Release.
Through these words, FIFTH WALL centered the seventh iteration of their international dance movement. Titled ‘GIGIL’, this fest imitates the popular Filipino feeling that captures how tension can be restrained but still undergo build up until it reaches a certain point where it finally releases.
Through various forms of art, FIFTH WALL incorporates dance and movement to present a fluid and dynamic version of it. It has been founded to serve as a way to create spaces that allow movement to exist in between places deemed unconventional.
For this year’s fest, six performances and installations complete the lineup, including ‘The Singer’ by Bunny Cadag, ‘Manila After Dark’ by James Clar, ‘0001’ by Timothy Axibal, ‘Spectral Spectator’ by Tarzeer Pictures, ‘Brown Madonna: Apparition’ by Ea Torrado, and a Club GIGIL Event featuring Tohru Dance.
Each artist is going to present their own version of GIGIL: from a personal ode to journey, reflection of life, exploration of the body, and the relationship of physical movement to light.
In different ways, FIFTH WALL encourages the audience to rediscover dance with fresh eyes, excitement, and creativity.
“With GIGIL, we wanted to continue FIFTH WALL's advocacy of creating new contexts for audiences to encounter dance through contemporary, cross-disciplinary, and experimental programming,” FIFTH WALL Founder and Director Madge Reyes mentioned.
Since the beginning of their journey six years ago, the movement also celebrates the transition for this year. They started online, but they managed to create a physical space and collaborate with NBS Park for this edition.
“We’re looking to build a community here and I feel that the way that NBS Park has been built is over that sense. We're both trying to build a community for people to experience greater things together and bring their time together.”
FIFTH WALL FEST ‘GIGIL’ will run from October 22 to 25 with different scheduled events and performances for each day, open from 10 AM to 10 PM at NBS Park Pioneer. Get your tickets and GIGIL passes onsite and online via helixpay.
