MANILA – Nearly a decade since it debuted as a stage reading in 2008, George de Jesus III’s award-winning play “Kung Paano Maghiwalay” finally gets a full run as the season opener of the fairly new theater group Egg Theater Company.

It has been a long journey for this bittersweet play which was initially presented as a one-act play at Virgin Labfest back in 2008. A second act was added when it had a limited run at Teatrino in Greenhills and the play was also staged by university-based groups from the University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.

De Jesus also turned it into a screenplay, which won second prize at the 2013 Palanca Awards.

“This staging is actually nearer to the screenplay version that won sa Palanca,” De Jesus told ABS-CBN News.

Given the "hugot" trend that has swept local movies and pop literature, this seems to be the perfect time for “Kung Paano Maghiwalay” to shine and find a receptive audience, particularly among millennials.

The breakups in “Kung Paano Maghiwalay” involve interconnected characters and the vignettes are presented in a non-linear manner, giving the play a contemporary vibe that should appeal with younger theatergoers.

The venue itself, at Makati's hip creative space Pineapple Lab, lends well to the play's artsy energy.

As soon as the audience enters the studio, they are greeted by a video projection of a heart beating, which immediately sets the tone for the play that yes, this is about heartbreak, but expect a different treatment.

The play opens with married couple Ben and Anita getting ready to leave the hospital after he had a heart attack. Then Ben announces that he is not going back with her.

From this first breakup, the play branches out to the other characters, starting with the couple's two children and how they split up with their respective partners. The breakups range from restrained to melodramatic, from cute to violent.

De Jesus, who also directed this staging, succeeds in finding the right words for each of the characters in the play, brought to life by a a fine ensemble led by Juliene Mendoza and Stella Cañete-Mendoza.

The dialogue always sounds natural, which all the more makes the play relatable to a range of theatergoers. While there seems to be a conscious decision to show all kinds of couples -- long-time married middle-aged couple, young and straight, gay, and lesbian -- everything feels authentic.

De Jesus also doesn't just have an ear for dialogue, he also picks just the right song to set the mood from local indie pop like Johnoy Danao's "Ikaw at Ako" and SUD's "Sila" to the standard "All the Things You Are."

The big revelation that ends Act 1 hints at the play's one-act origins and indeed it could have ended there.

Act 2 follows the theme of "Kung Paano Naging Tayo" and the audience gets to see how these couples started. While there is that bittersweet knowledge of how their relationships would end, De Jesus makes sure that the audience would leave on a high note and not a depressing one.

It may be a cliche but indeed, 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, De Jesus seems to be reminding the audience.

"Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila na okay lang na magmahal," a wistful Ben tells Anita. "Na 'wag silang matakot masaktan. Kasi pagkatapos ng lahat, ng anumang sakit, 'yun pa rin ang maiiwan. Ang pagmamahal. Wala ng mga tanong. Wala ng pagdududa. Walang hinanakit. Walang kahit ano bukod sa pagmamahal."

The "hugot" is definitely strong with this one.

“Kung Paano Maghiwalay” has performances on May 26, 27 and June 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. and on May 28 and June 4 at 7 p.m. at Pineapple Lab in Makati City.