Ricky Lee’s ‘Para Kay B’ takes a leap from page to stage

“Me quota ang pag- ibig. Sa bawat limang umiibig, isa lang ang magiging maligaya.”

Ricky Lee, Para Kay B.

IT looks like Valentine’s is here to stay as Ricky Lee’s best-selling novel, ‘Para Kay B’, takes the stage at the Doreen Black Box Theater in Ateneo de Manila University this March.

A beloved masterpiece by National Artist Ricky Lee, Para Kay B was his first novel. Now, it comes to life on stage, adapted by another brilliant mind, Eljay Castro Deldoc, a three-time first prize winner of the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards—often regarded as the “Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines” and one of the highest honors a Filipino writer can achieve.

It will be directed by Yong Tapang, known for his 2019 short film, Doon sa Isang Sulok.

The production will be a collaboration between Fire & Ice Live and Tungo at Liwanag sa Teatro Inc. They said that the adaptation will remain true to the central theme and essence of the book, while attaining a fresh presentation for its theatrical adaptation. 

“Fire & Ice Live is about creating experiences and amplifying stories of the unseen, and Para Kay B embodies that—it’s a raw, witty, and unfiltered exploration of love’s unpredictability, the heartbreaks we endure, and the rare but magical exceptions to the rule,” said Liza Diño, acting CEO of Fire and Ice Live.  

Diño also stars in the play as Ester. 

“Being part of this production, both as an actress and as a producer, feels like coming home to a story that has touched so many hearts. Playing Ester is deeply personal, as it mirrors my own journey of discovering love beyond expectations,” she said. 

‘Para Kay B’ was originally published in 2008. It tells the intertwined stories of five characters namely Irene, Sandra, Erica, Ester, Bessie, and ultimately, Lucas as they pursue their stories of love in the backdrop of the tumultuous Philippine political setting. 

As with most of Lee’s works, ‘Para Kay B’ is rife not only with love lessons but also with social and critical commentaries about the Philippine system and issues. 

The show will run from March 14-30, with the tickets priced from PHP1,800 for free seating and PHP2,000 for reserved ones. 

Tickets will be available at ticket2me.net.