“Uyayi sa Digmaan,” as “play within a play,” is an interchange of the scenes of the drama Norhaina, which Teatro Pagariya rehearses, and the off-scene moments between Raizza and Kurt who are the lead actors in the play. The dramatic and real life, as it were, dialectics on stage is what provides momentum in the action and development of “Uyayi sa Digmaan.”

Norhaina, the play within, depicts the long trek of the Moro evacuees of mostly women and children in the wake of the war that breaks out at the Liguasan Marsh between the government troops and the Moro rebels. Raizza, a young Moro member of Pagariya, plays the central character Norhaina. Kurt, a Christian, plays Norhaina’s rebel- leader husband Hassan. Kuya Margo directs the play.

The rendition of the story of Norhaina offers a kind of heroic relief against a backdrop of war. Her heroism is marked from the moment she assumes leadership of the women and the barrio folk of Shariff-Aguak as they all flee across the waters of the Liguasan marsh until they reach the distant banks of Pagalungan. This she does as she carries her infant child. Her will and an abiding faith in Allah and the cause of the Bangsamoro struggle sustain her through the endless nights of their exodus, even as her heart sings constantly the uyayi.

In between the scenes of the Norhaina play, Raizza and Kurt have their own scenes of entanglement. Raizza has staked her personal honor and the pride of her people in her portrayal of Norhaina. But she is confronted with a kind of disquiet gnawing at her heart during the whole season of the rehearsal. Yet, she is enlivened excited by her relationship with Kurt, which, she realizes, has no future. She is a Muslim and Kurt is a Christian.

Norhaina’s ordeal and the trial of a relationship between Raizza and Kurt rise as the play’s songs and music culminates in the premiere of Teatro Pagariya’s production.

Playwright
DON PAGUSARA is a trilingual poet and a Palanca awardee now based in Davao City. He is a Humanities professor of the Ateneo de Davao University.

Choreographer-Director
MARILI FERNANDEZ-ILAGAN is a Mindanaoan theatre artist and a cultural researcher now based in Quezon City. She is finishing her Masters in Theatre Arts at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

Pictures

COMPOSERS

Joey Ayala and Malu Matut

ARRANGERS

Cynthia Alexander and Joey Ayala

VOCAL MASTERS

Mary Jane Alejo and Cholo Gino

LIGHTS DESIGNER / TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Ed Manalo

STAGE MANAGERS

Eliza Marie and Louise Tanate

ARTISTIC CONSULTANT

Bonifacio P. Ilagan

RAIZZA/ NORHAINA

Candy Duarte/Traicy Tapati Tarongoy

KURT/ HASSAN

Dino Pascual

MILKAH

Dessa Rizalina Fernandez Ilagan

NORAYDA

Kevin Becira

FATIMA

Ana Mercy Udaundo

KUYA MARGO

Jani Llave

JAMAL

Brian Arda

MGA MYEMBRO NG TEATRO PAGARIYA

Carlito Camahalan Amalla
Davidson Oliveros
Norielene Victorino

MGA MUSIKERO

Mary Jane Alejo
Erika Bautista
Louie Eslao
Dino Pascual
Traicy Tapati Tarongoy

THE PRODUCTION STAFF

Lights Assistant

EDGAR AGUJA JR.

Set & Visuals

ROSEANNE CORNEJO
JOVEN COTORNO
DAVIDSON OLIVEROS

Sound and Music

AIHA LAGUNERA

Costume Assistant

NORIELENE VICTORINO

Production Assistants

LOUIE ABREU
CARLITO AMALLA
DESSA RIZALINA ILAGAN
MALU REPUNO

Acknowledgments
Bantayog Ng Mga Bayani Foundation
Blessings
Jimi Domingo
Kodao Productions
Linda’s Food Services
Gil Nartea
Serve The Children & Older Persons Foundation