The question asked over 2,000 years ago by one of the most divisive persons in history still reverberates with haunting relevance: “Ano ba ang katotohanan?” This serves as the heartbeat of “Pilato,” an all-original Filipino musical set to captivate audiences in an era where misinformation spreads faster than light and truth seem to wear many faces.

“Information comes to us in countless forms and modes. But how do we sift through the chaos to uncover the truth? Would we even recognize the truth if we meet it face-to-face?” writer-director Eldrin Veloso shares.

In a time when Holy Week invites reflection and as the country approaches the critical 2025 elections, Pilato emerges as a vital meditation on truth in all its complexity. Through haunting melodies and powerful storytelling, it challenges us to confront the choices we make as individuals and as a society.

With its daring perspective and poignant relevance, the production revisits the so-called “greatest story ever told” — the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ — through the eyes of Poncio Pilato, a man caught at the crossroads of power, faith, and duty.

“Essentially, that is what the play hopes to put out there — a journey that dares to unravel the mystery of truth’s many faces. With our society on the brink of a post-truth era, I believe this is a story that demands to be told, now more than ever,” Veloso explains.

The musical traces Pilato’s journey from his early ambitions in Rome to his appointment as prefect of Judea, a province brimming with religious and political unrest. There, Pilato’s every decision is scrutinized by a constellation of figures: the enigmatic historiographer, Josepo; the calculating high priest, Caiaphas; his wise and foreboding wife, Procla; and Hesus, a mysterious and magnetic presence rumored to be the King of the Jews.

With a cast of seasoned musical theater artists and gifted newcomers, Pilato offers an emotional and intellectual journey unlike any other. It is a poignant reminder that even after two millennia, the search for truth remains both our greatest burden and our ultimate salvation.

This marks the inaugural theatrical venture of The Corner Studio, a creative agency renowned for weaving compelling narratives through its expertise in branding, production, marketing, and design. Now, it steps boldly onto the stage, bringing its storytelling vision to life in a new dimension.

Pilato runs on 4 to 6 April, and 11 to 13 April at 3 PM and 8 PM, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.