MANILA, Philippines — Every mother carries stories. Some are shared openly; others remain unseen, unspoken, or tucked away in the quiet spaces of her life.
On November 21, 2026, Mommy Mundo brings these stories to the stage through THE MOMMY MONOLOGUES: STORIES WE CARRY, an original, community-driven theatrical production exploring the many dimensions of Filipino motherhood. Featuring two performances at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM at The Black Box, Proscenium Theater at Rockwell, the production invites audiences to look beyond the familiar role of Mom and discover the woman, the experiences, and the stories behind it.
Drawing from stories gathered through Mommy Mundo’s community over the years, the play weaves together experiences that reflect the joys, uncertainties, invisible work, pain, strength, and enduring love that can shape a mother’s journey. It is a production that seeks not only to acknowledge what mothers carry, but also to honor and celebrate the women they are: their resilience, individuality, humor, and humanity.
Because motherhood isn’t made up of serious moments alone. There is also the everyday comedy of momlife: the never-ending mental checklist, the forgotten appointments, the multitasking that somehow becomes second nature, the familiar mombrain moments, and the little absurdities that mothers learn to laugh about. Alongside the more poignant stories, these lighter, relatable experiences offer audiences opportunities to laugh, recognize themselves, and remember that sometimes humor is one of the ways mothers get through the day.
Organized into five acts—The Life We Carry, The Load We Carry, The Pain We Carry, The Power We Carry, and The Light We Carry—the production reflects the many experiences that shape motherhood. From the transformation of becoming a mother to the daily demands of caring for a family, from the pain that may go unspoken to the strength mothers discover and the values they pass on, the play recognizes that there is no single way to experience motherhood, and no single story that can define it.
More Than a Play About Mothers
The Mommy Monologues: Stories We Carry is not intended only for mothers themselves. It is a storytelling experience for everyone who has had a mother—for daughters and sons, partners and families, and anyone whose life has been shaped by a mother’s presence, sacrifices, struggles, or love.
By bringing these stories to the forefront, Mommy Mundo hopes to spark greater awareness and understanding of what women experience as they step into and navigate the role of Mom. The production invites audiences to recognize experiences they may have overlooked, consider perspectives they may never have understood, and see the people closest to them with greater compassion.
And where there is room for it, these stories may also open doors to healing: within individuals, between mothers and their children, and across generations.
The intention is not to prescribe what motherhood should look like or to present mothers as perfect, endlessly selfless figures. Rather, it is to create space for the fullness of their experiences—to honor their joys and triumphs, acknowledge their struggles, celebrate their humor, and recognize the women behind the role.
A Dream More Than a Decade in the Making
For Mommy Mundo founder Janice Villanueva, the production represents the realization of a dream more than a decade in the making.
Rooted in Mommy Mundo’s longstanding work of listening to mothers and building a community around their experiences, the project brings the organization’s advocacy into a new creative space: the theater.
“Every mother carries stories, both seen and unseen. When a woman becomes a mom, she steps into a role that can transform her life in ways she may never have imagined. There are beautiful moments, difficult moments, funny moments, and moments that leave her wondering if anyone else truly understands what she’s going through. So much of what she experiences can remain unseen or unspoken.
I wanted to bring these stories to the forefront—not only to honor and celebrate mothers, but to help the people around them understand them better, too. This play is for mothers, but it is also for everyone who has had a mother. My hope is that audiences will laugh with us, recognize themselves or someone they love in these stories, and perhaps begin to see their own mothers differently. If we can spark greater awareness, compassion, and, where possible, healing, then we will have created something meaningful beyond the stage.”
— Janice Villanueva, Founder of Mommy Mundo and Creator and Co-Writer of The Mommy Monologues: Stories We Carry
Bringing the Stories to Life
Turning a collection of personal experiences into a cohesive theatrical production requires more than putting words on a page. It means finding the emotional truth in each story, creating a rhythm that moves between laughter and reflection, and translating individual experiences into moments audiences can see, hear, and feel.
For director and co-writer Lesley Leveriza-Lina, the challenge is to bring these stories to life onstage while allowing each one to retain its own voice and truth. Lina brings to the production her decades of advocating storytelling, writing, acting and also producing her own passion-borne projects.
“What makes these stories powerful is their honesty and their humanity. Motherhood can hold so many emotions at once—joy and exhaustion, pride and uncertainty, laughter and tears. As a director, I want to create a theatrical experience that allows audiences to feel that full range. Some moments may make you laugh because they feel so familiar; others may stay with you long after the show because they touch something personal. My hope is that, as these stories unfold onstage, audiences will recognize a little of themselves and the people they love in them.”
— Lesley Leveriza-Lina, Director and Co-Writer
Finding the Heart of Every Story
At the center of the production is the work of lead playwright Leah Eriguel, who brings together the different voices and experiences that form the play. Eriguel, a Palanca-award winning writer, as well as a narrative coach and advocate of healing the “mother wound” brings even more depth to the production.
Through the craft of storytelling, the individual accounts are shaped into a theatrical narrative that preserves their distinct perspectives while revealing the emotions and shared truths connecting them.For Eriguel, the power of these stories lies in their ability to help people recognize what may be difficult to articulate in their own lives, while also providing poignant shifts in places we might not expect.
“Sometimes, a story gives us the words for something we’ve felt for years but haven’t quite known how to express. Other times, it helps us understand an experience that has never been our own. I believe there is something deeply meaningful about hearing another person’s truth without needing to judge it, fix it, or compare it with our own. These stories invite us to pause, listen, and make room for the many realities of motherhood. If someone leaves the theater feeling more understood, more compassionate toward their own mother, or more able to understand themselves, then the stories have done something important.”
— Leah Eriguel, Lead Playwright
The Cast: Real Moms, Real Stories, Shared Experiences
Leading the cast are Iya Villania- Arellano, LJ Moreno- Alapag, Issa Litton, Bea Garcia-Choy, and Lesley Leveriza-Lina, alongside Trisha Cruz-Mitra, Anna Deroca Pastor, Myka Magsaysay Sigua, Elle Velasco, and Katrina Ting.
The production brings together familiar faces and women who have their own lived experiences of motherhood. These performers are not simply portraying the idea of a mother; they are women who navigate the realities of motherhood in their own lives while bringing their craft, perspective, and emotional understanding to the stage.
Their participation adds another dimension to the production’s central idea: behind every public persona, professional role, and familiar face is a person carrying stories of her own. Onstage, the cast gives voice to experiences that extend beyond any one woman’s life, helping audiences connect with the many women and families represented in the stories.
A Community at the Heart of the Production
Supporting the production is The Story Circle, composed of Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, Luna Griño Inocian, Yvette Fernandez, Jeannie Castillo, Roki Ferrer, and Monica Javier.
The Story Circle brings together women and key opinion leaders whose perspectives and personal experiences contribute to the production’s wider conversation about motherhood. Their involvement reflects the community-driven spirit of the project and Mommy Mundo’s belief that stories can build bridges between people, generations, and experiences.
The production is created by Janice Villanueva, with Leah Eriguel as lead playwright and Lesley Leveriza-Lina as director and co-writer.
Supporting Mothers Beyond the Stage
For Mommy Mundo, the production is an extension of its long-standing commitment to supporting mothers through connection, community, and advocacy.
Proceeds from The Mommy Monologues: Stories We Carry support MOMSHARE, Mommy Mundo’s initiative providing support to mothers in need. The program reached 1,125 mothers in 2025, with the goal of reaching 10,000 mothers by December 2028.
Through the production, Mommy Mundo hopes to extend its work beyond providing resources and community support by creating a shared experience that encourages people to listen to mothers, appreciate their journeys, and recognize the importance of their well-being.
While this inaugural staging is taking place in Manila, the larger vision is to explore how these stories may eventually reach other communities, allowing more people to encounter and connect with the experiences of mothers.
Ultimately, The Mommy Monologues: Stories We Carry is an invitation to listen, laugh, reflect, and connect. It celebrates mothers not because they have everything figured out, but because they are human—growing, struggling, loving, learning, and carrying stories that deserve to be heard.
Because when we make space for a mother’s story, we make space to understand the person behind the role.
How To Get Involved
Mommy Mundo invites individuals, companies, and foundations to join the movement behind The Mommy Monologues:
- Sponsors and benefactors. Inquire at marketing@mommymundo.com.
- Tickets. Tickets to the November 21 performance are available , including group-buy rates, Mom and Dughter/ Son bundles, get tickets at Ticket2me.net and themommymonologues.net.
- Join the movement. Mothers and allies are invited to share their own stories – mommymundo.com/storieswecarry.
With Gratitude
Mommy Mundo thanks the partners who have already stepped forward to make this production possible: The Proscenium Theater and Rockwell Land, for hosting The Mommy Monologues at The Black Box; and Solbac, Centrum Kids, ProAge Beauty, Baby Dove, Cycles, Cradle, Oh So Healthy! for their valuable support. Official Broadband Partner : PLDT Home. Projection partner, Panasanic. Styling partner, LuxMe, Hair and make up stylists Piandre Salon, Photography partner: Next by MetroPhoto.
Mommy Mundo also thanks its media partners for helping carry these stories to a wider audience: WhenInManila.com, Our Awesome Planet, Best of the Best MNL, Discover MNL, Newlyweds at Work, TryLocalPH, Modern Parenting, theAsianparent.com, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, and Official Radio partner RX 93.1..
And to the community of mothers who have shared their stories, joined MomConnect sessions, and supported this movement since it began — thank you for carrying this with us.
About Mommy Mundo
Founded by Janice Villanueva, Mommy Mundo is a pioneering platform and community for mothers in the Philippines. Through events, content, programs, and advocacy initiatives, it creates opportunities for mothers to find information, build connections, access support, and feel empowered throughout their motherhood journey. Having supported more than a million mothers in a span of more than two decades, Mommy Mundo champions mothers and their well-being, creating programs and spaces for learning, growth and connection from pregnancy to parenting, and beyond. Learn more at mommymundo.com.
Event Details
THE MOMMY MONOLOGUES: STORIES WE CARRY
Date: November 21, 2026
Showtimes: 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Venue: The Black Box, Proscenium Theater at Rockwell, Makati City
Tickets: Available through Ticket2Me at ticket2me.net
Website: themommymonologues.net
Group ticket purchases and partnership inquiries: partners@mommymundo.com
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