JC Santos goes meta: Playing himself in ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4’

Reunions, too, come full circle. Santos last crossed paths with director Andoy Ranay as co-actors back in 2009, when he was still in college, long before life took him overseas as an OFW.

Now, standing on the PETA stage once again, he embraces both the familiarity and the thrill of the unknown. “And of course, performing at PETA is always a delight,” he says. “Lalo na at bagong material. Nakaka-excite!”

A role that hits close to home

If the Septic Tank universe is known for anything, it’s its delicious chaos—and this stage version leans all the way in.

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4” promises a sharp, laugh-out-loud take on Philippine theater-making, pulling audiences behind the curtain only to gleefully tear it apart. 

Ego, ambition, absurdity—it’s all laid bare in a production that thrives in its own beautiful mess.

For Santos, the role is as tricky as it is intriguing.

“I’ll be playing JC Santos, the actor, so medyo meta siya,” he reveals.

In theater, “meta” or metadrama draws attention to itself as a performance, often breaking the so-called fourth wall. In this case, Santos isn’t just playing a character. He is playing a version of himself, while simultaneously dissecting how he, as an actor, would approach the role.

“Parang I’m playing myself, pero at the same time, ina-act ko kung paano i-a-approach ni JC Santos ang role,” he explains.

It’s unfamiliar territory, even for someone as seasoned as him. “Honestly, first time ko itong gawin, so medyo nangangapa pa ako,” he admits, laughing.

Landing the role, meanwhile, came with its own process. The production went through a screening to find the right mix of theater voices—and Santos was more than willing to throw his hat into the ring.

Why theater always calls him back

For all his success in film and television, theater remains Santos’ creative home base—the place he instinctively returns to.

Just last year, in early 2025, he stepped back onstage for “The Foxtrot,” part of the “Dedma” twin bill by Theatre Titas. There, he played Diego, a dance instructor opposite Jackie Lou Blanco’s Anna—a role that once again grounded him in the discipline of live performance.

And it’s a discipline he never tires of. “Iba talaga ‘yong tama sa ’kin ng bawat bagong role na natututunan ko kapag nasa teatro,” he says.

For Santos, the stage is less a platform and more a playground—one that constantly expands his limits.

“Para siyang playground kung saan mas matutuklasan mo ang lawak ng pwede o kaya mo pang gawin beyond sa akala mong ito lang kaya mo.”

Unlike screen acting, where the camera guides the audience’s gaze, theater demands the full presence of the actor—body, voice, and behavior working in sync.

“Ibang disiplina rin ‘yong pag-arte kasama ng buong katawan,” he explains. “Sa teatro, bida ang behavior at clarity ng lenggwahe.”

It’s precisely this depth that keeps him coming back. “Also, kailangan ko rin talaga siyang gawin. Dito kasi mas malawak ang range na na-eexplore ko as an actor. Mas may oras kang himayin at aralin ang kwento ng mga characters—kung bakit sila kakaiba, kung saan sila nanggagaling. That process is something I keep coming back to.”

 

 

I’ll be playing JC Santos, the actor, so medyo meta siya…Parang I’m playing myself, pero at the same time, ina-act ko kung paano i-a-approach ni JC Santos ang role.

JC Santos

 

 

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