HappeningPH Stages! 3 Reasons to Watch MORYON—FEU Theater Guild’s 93rd Season Opener Is Grounded!

Written and directed by Dudz Teraña, the Far Eastern University Theater Guild (FTG) officially kicks off its 93rd season with MORYON—a striking, emotionally charged Filipino reimagining of Guy de Maupassant’s classic short story Mother Sauvage. Set against the stark backdrop of Mogpog, Marinduque during the Japanese Occupation, the play intersects the island’s iconic, penitential Moriones tradition with the visceral realities of war, grief, and maternal sacrifice.

If you are looking for theatrical intensity that lingers long after the curtain falls, here are the Top 3 Reasons to Watch MORYON at FEU:

1. Visceral Environmental Immersion & Atmosphere

When FTG stages a production, they don’t merely present a story—they transport you into its living, breathing earth. In MORYON, the studio floor is transformed with real, organic soil and water. Audiences can physically feel the damp ground beneath, smell the wet earth, and watch feet leave heavy imprints in the mud as characters navigate their world. This tactile staging grounds Maupassant’s tragic narrative into genuine Marinduque soil, bridging visual art and sensory reality in a way few local stage productions attempt.

2. Utterly Naturalistic Performances from Student Actors

Despite being non-theater majors, the ensemble delivers line after line with the effortless cadence, colloquial flair, and emotional weight of native Marinduqueños and occupying soldiers. From the lively, chaotic banter of local townsfolk to the sharp, tense repartee of the Japanese unit stationed in their home, the cast throws dialogue with such raw authenticity that nothing feels memorized or rehearsed. Anchoring the story is Maria Ysabel R. delos Reyes as Caridad (alternating with Maria Alexandra Mayano) and Mark Dave C. Bambang as Esteban (alternating with Aldin Covarrubias), who bring aching vulnerability to a family caught in the crossfire of imperial conflict.

3. A Potent Intersection of Religious Penance and War

Set specifically on Holy Thursday in Mogpog, MORYON uses the solemnity and masked anonymity of the Moriones festival as a mirror for human suffering, hypocrisy, and divine reckoning. Under Dudz Teraña’s masterful direction, sacred iconography collides with military occupation—punctuated by visually striking tableau sequences like a haunting recreation of The Last Supper—asking how a mother holds onto faith when war demands everything she loves.

COMPLETE PRODUCTION CAST LIST

The Lead

• CARIDAD: Maria Ysabel R. delos Reyes (alternating with Maria Alexandra Mayano)
• ESTEBAN: Mark Dave C. Bambang (alternating with Aldin Covarrubias)

The Marinduqueños

• LOR: Janae Maxiel C. Dionisio
• FRANCISCO: Shawn Christopher P. Tarala
• NESTING: Julian Rafael R. Anabo
• MARTA: Margarita Viktoria M. Barrameda
• TIKRE: John Andrei S. Cruz
• JOAQUIN: Aldin Dave V. Covarrubias
• BATANG JOAQUIN: Edrud Adriyel T. Madalan
• INENG: Marjorie E. Uson
• ARTEMYO: Arvin Jade Javier
• SOCORRO: Ashley Kate C. Zamora
• MARINDUQUE EXTRA 1: Charlene F. Libo-on

The Japanese Soldiers

• TANAKA: Kirstan Erin Wayne Orbegoso
• ISHII: Samuel Josh T. Siasoyco
• SATO: John Gabriele R. Lazaro
• NAKAMURA: Kevin Acheles Q. Ricaforte
• JAPMAM: Melenne Andrea L. Hokase
• OPISYAL NA HAPON: Cane-Jharelle Villalobos
• JAPANESE EXTRA 1: Kristian Mark A. Samson
• JAPANESE EXTRA 2: Cris Jay B. Cabides

SHOW DETAILS & TICKETING

• Venue: FEU Center for the Arts Studio (Ground Floor, Engineering Building, FEU Manila)
• Show Dates: Select dates throughout October and November 2026
• Ticket Rates:
  • ₱150 – FEU Students / Faculty / Staff / FTG Alumni (with Alumni ID)
  • ₱250 – Non-FEU Students (with valid ID)
  • ₱500 – FTG Alumni (without Alumni ID) / Senior Citizens & PWDs
  • ₱700 – General Public

For show schedules, reservations, and updates, visit the official Far Eastern University Theater Guild social media pages.

#Moryon #FEUTheaterGuild #DudzTeraña #HappeningPH #FEUCenterForTheArts #PhilippineTheater #CultureAndArts #CulturePH #TheaterReview

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