The Moon and The Bakunawa: A Tender Tale of Memory, Love, and Filipino Folklore Takes the Stage

From L-R: Remus Villanueva, Arlene Abuid-Paderanga, Director of The Moon and The Bakunawa, Divine Cavestany and Phil Panganiban

At the recent media conference, the press were given an intimate first look at The Moon and The Bakunawa, an upcoming theater production that promises to deliver a deeply emotional and culturally resonant experience. The creative team revealed that the play is inspired by a true story — a touching narrative about a mother living with dementia and her devoted son who eventually moves to Australia, carrying with him memories shaped by love, sacrifice, and loss.

Blending reality with mythology, The Moon and The Bakunawa fuses the raw emotional struggles of dementia caregiving with the timeless symbolism of Philippine folklore. The result is a tender theatrical piece that explores the enduring bond between a mother and her child — a love that persists even as memory slowly fades.

The story centers on Mamay, a woman battling dementia, and her son Benny (Tongyong), who becomes her full-time caregiver for eight years. Through constant retelling of cherished memories, the play immerses audiences in the fragile world of dementia, where familiar moments can suddenly feel unfamiliar and everyday interactions become emotional challenges for both patient and caregiver.

As revealed during the mediacon, a short snippet of the play was presented, offering a glimpse into its quiet yet powerful storytelling. The preview highlighted the emotional rhythm of the production — intimate conversations, fragmented recollections, and the delicate balance between remembering and letting go.

More than a story about illness, the play reflects on patience, devotion, and the invisible emotional labor carried by caregivers. It portrays how love evolves when roles reverse, as a child learns to care for the parent who once cared for them.

Arlene and Remus

Divine and Phil

Bringing Mamay to life on stage are acclaimed performers Divine Cavestany and Arlene Abuid-Paderanga, alternating in the role. Meanwhile, Phil Panganiban and Remus Villanueva take turns portraying Tongyong, the son whose journey anchors the emotional core of the narrative.

By weaving Filipino mythology — particularly the legend of the Bakunawa, the moon-devouring serpent — into a modern, personal story, the production creates a poetic metaphor for memory itself: fleeting, cyclical, and constantly at risk of disappearing, yet always returning in fragments of light.

The Moon and The Bakunawa invites audiences to reflect on family, memory, and the quiet resilience found in everyday acts of care.

The show runs on April 15–16 and April 25–26 at the Jayne Offemaria-Abuid Auditorium, AIMS Tower, Pasay City.

Tickets can be purchased via Ticket2Me: https://ticket2me.net/event/22883