Originally released in 2007, Endo became one of the defining films of the independent cinema movement, earning praises for its portrayal of love under economic pressure. It told the story of ordinary Filipinos trying to build relationships while trapped in the instability of contractual labor. Endo has been endowed with awards such as Special Jury Prize, the Gawad Urian Award for Best Screenplay, and the TANGLAW Award for Best Picture for its honest portrayal of ordinary Filipinos navigating love while living paycheck to paycheck under the uncertainty of contractual work.
After almost 2 decades, this Cinemalaya film is now being adapted on the theater stage featuring Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Royce Cabrera.
Recently, Curtis-Smith joined the cast of Scene Change’s powerful and intimate theatre production, 3Upuan. She first gained critical attention for her work in Transit, followed by notable performances in Baka Bukas and Siargao. More recently, she starred in the horror-drama In My Mother’s Skin and the MMFF entry Manila’s Finest, while continuing her television work in the GMA series Asawa ng Asawa Ko
For Cabrera, Endo marks a return to live performance after earlier theatrical exploration. While he has primarily built his reputation through film and television from independent titles like Fuccbois to TV dramas such as Widows’ War, he has previously dipped his toe into theater. In late 2025, Cabrera took on a pivotal role in the one-act play The Foxtrot as part of Theatre Titas PH’s twin-bill production Dedma.
Curits-Smith stars as Tanya, a spirited dreamer who wants more out of her life while Cabrera plays Leo, a young man caught in a cycle of temporary jobs and fleeting relationships, searching for stability in love and life. Adding further layers to this theatrical take is Kate Alejandrino as Candy, a character whose past history with Leo injects complications into the central relationship. The production also features Rissey Reyes-Robinson, Esteban Mara, and Iana Bernardez as alternates.