Bringing Real Motherhood Stories to the Stage in The Mommy Monologues

Happening on November 21 at Rockwell’s Proscenium Theater, The Mommy Monologues reveals the invisible weight mothers carry every day

The constant feeds, the silent 3:00 AM spirals, the mental tabs that refuse to close, and the career goals parked indefinitely under the banner of “just for now.” Then comes the complex task of unlearning how you were raised so you can mother your own children with gentler hands.

Through it all, mothers make it look remarkably seamless. And because it looks seamless, almost no one stops to ask: How are you actually carrying all of this?

That question forms the heart of The Mommy Monologues: Stories We Carry, the debut theatrical production from family and parenting community Mommy Mundo. Rather than relying on fiction, the production draws directly from real stories – the authentic journals, personal essays, recorded memories, and cultural research contributed by Filipino mothers.

Brought to life by lead playwright Leah Eriguel, director and co-writer Lesley Leveriza-Lina, and Mommy Mundo founder Janice Villanueva, this isn’t simply a theater production—it is a collective mirror held up to the reality of raising a family in the Philippines today.

A Vision Years in the Making

For Janice Villanueva, seeing The Mommy Monologues reach the stage marks the end of a ten-year wait. The concept first took shape a decade ago, and the initial draft was written before life intervened. Between growing children, expanding an advocacy, and running a business, the script had to take a backseat.

“Life had to be prioritized,” Janice reflects. Even today, the universal tug-of-war between duty and devotion remains ever-present. Just recently, she found herself driving to an appointment in tears after leaving her sick daughter at home—battling the familiar, heavy cloud of working-mom guiltMom GuiltThe nagging feeling that a mother is not doing enough, whether about work, feeding, screen time, or time spent with her kids. Recognizing that perfection is impossible, asking for help,.

While Janice recognizes she is now in a position to finally bring this long-held dream to life, her focus remains squarely on the community: “What about those who struggle more—the new moms, the unsupported moms? These are their stories, too.”

What to Expect In The Mommy Monologues

Unlike traditional theater narratives, the show bypasses generic maternal tropes to let raw, unfiltered voices speak. The performance unfolds across five thematic acts:

1. The Life We Carry – The seismic shift of stepping into motherhood.
2. The Load We Carry – The invisible domestic, physical, and mental burden.
3. The Pain We Carry – The unspoken grief, postpartum struggles, and personal sacrifices.
4. The Power We Carry – The quiet resilience forged through everyday mothering.
5. The Light We Carry – Healing, community, and the enduring legacy passed down to our children.

While the emotional depth runs deep, the script makes generous room for laughter. From forgotten school appointments and misplaced keys to classic “mombrain” lapses, the humor springs from instant self-recognition. Blending spoken word, music, video projections, dynamic movement, and purposeful silence, the show crafts an experience where tears give way to shared nods of relief.

Giving life to the stories are Iya Villania-Arellano, LJ Moreno-Alapag, Issa Litton, Bea Garcia-Choy, and Lesley Leveriza-Lina. Joining them are Trisha Cruz-Mitra, Anna Deroca Pastor, Myka Magsaysay Sigua, Elle Velasco, and Katrina Ting.

Staged in The Black Box at the Proscenium Theater, audience members sit close to every breath and line. It is not an event observed from a polite distance; it is an environment designed to be felt.

The emotional resonance also reflects sociological truth. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family revealed that mothers shoulder an average of 71% of their household’s mental load. Much of that labor stays invisible simply because women carry it with practiced competence.

“Every mother deserves to be seen, to be asked how she’s doing,” notes Janice.

The Start of a Movement

While the journey begins in Makati, Manila is only the first stop. Mommy Mundo has confirmed plans to tour the production internationally, with Canada slated as its first overseas destination.

Whether you come with your mother, your daughter, your partner, or your core circle of fellow moms, The Mommy Monologues offers a shared space of validation.

The Mommy Monologues happens on November 21 at the Black Box Theater with times at 2PM and 8PM. For tickets, check out Ticket2Me at ticket2me.net for different bundles and rates, and themommymonologues.net

A Portion of all ticket proceeds directly benefits MOMSHARE, Mommy Mundo’s outreach initiative dedicated to assisting marginalized and vulnerable mothers across the Philippines. After supporting 1,125 mothers in 2025, MOMSHARE aims to impact 10,000 mothers by December 2028.

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