Walang Aray's Return Is for Every Filipino Trying to 'Fight Back in a World Full of Aray'

"Walang Aray reminds us na kahit may sugat, may saya. Kahit may aray, may pagmamahal. At kapag tumindig at umibig ka, may pag-asa, may paghihilom," said PETA Artistic Director J-mee Katanyag in her notes about the third iteration of the award-winning musical. The all-original Walang Aray, which dominated the Gawad Buhay awards with eight major recognitions (including Outstanding Musical), is set to run from August 29 to October 12 with 38 shows at the PETA Theater Center, Quezon City.

Its other Gawad Buhay awards include: Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical (Ian Segarra), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Rody Vera), Outstanding Original Score (Vince Lim and Rody Vera), Outstanding Choreography (Gio Gahol), Female Featured Performance in a Musical (Neomi Gonzales), and Female Lead Performance in a Musical (Shaira Opsimar).

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'Walang Aray' Original Cast - Left to right: Jarred Jaicten, Gie Onida, Johnnie Moran, Neomi Gonzales, Carlon Matobato, Gerard Dy, Csairus Habla, Ada Tayao, Bene Manaois, Ayla Garcia, Yeyin de la Cruz, Kiki Baento

Walang Aray as This Generation's Sarswela

Walang Aray by Rody Vera is a refreshing take on Walang Sugat, which is one of Father of Filipino Drama Severino Reyes' opus. The 1902 piece described the Filipinos' struggles under 333 years of Spanish occupation and tackled the bravery of the Katipuneros and their victory in toppling colonial rule. The sarsuwela, as a musical theater genre, takes after the original zarzuela, but takes on Filipino themes, characters, and language.

Vera's piece follows this Filipino theater tradition by not only making a contemporary adaptation but also featuring a sarswela as a form in a meta-esque way. At its core is zarzuela star Julia and revolutionary Tenyong, secret lovers from different class and status ala-Romeo and Juliet.

"When Tenyong’s parents die due to the cruelty of the friars led by Padre Alfaro, Tenyong decides to join the revolutionary Katipunan. The two lovers separate tearfully, with Julia’s sworn promise to wait for Tenyong’s return.

Julia’s doting mother, Juana, has other ambitious plans for her daughter. The wealthy Tadeo’s son, Miguel, one of the country’s eligible bachelors, is her target to be Julia’s husband. Tadeo and Juana arrange the marriage for Miguel and Julia.

On the day of the wedding, Tenyong’s men arrive with him on the verge of death, sustaining fatal injuries from combat. Tenyong, barely able to talk, whispers his dying wish: to be married to Julia, if only until his imminent death," writes the rest of Walang Aray's synopsis.

'Walang Aray' New Cast - Left to right: Ice Seguerra, Roi Calilong, Bomba Ding, Miah Canton, MC Dela Cruz, Otep Madriaga, Gold Villar-Lim, Rendell Sanchez, Matel Patayon, James Lanante, Divine Aucina, Zoe Damag

The Third Walang Aray

The first run of Walang Aray in early 2024 (starting in February that year) shone the spotlight on theater newcomers Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada as Julia and Tenyong, alternating with Marynor Madamesila, Shaira Opsimar, Gio Gahol, and Jon Abella.

For the 2025 run, Lance Reblando takes on the role of Julia, alternating with Madamesila and Opsimar. She has recently taken on her first series project with iWantTFC as part of the cast of Love at First Spike. Onstage, she has played the role of Melody in Wanted: Male Boarder (Virgin Labfest 2020), Meow in Tabing Ilog: Musical (2024), and Angel in Rent (2024). 

Gahol and Abella return to play Tenyong. Joining Reblando as new cast members are Rendell Sanchez as Miguel, Ice Seguerra as Lucas, Divine Aucina as Monica, Gold Villar-Lim and Jolina Magdangal as Juana, and Roi Calilong as Padre Alfaro. The ensemble also features James Lanante, MC Dela Cruz, Bomba Ding, Otep Madriaga, Miah Canton, Matel Patayon, and Zoe Damag.

They join the rest of the original cast: Bene Manaois (Miguel), Kiki Baento (Monica), Carlon Matobato (Lucas), Neomi Gonzales (Juana), Gie Onida (Don Tadeo), Csairus Habla (Don Tadeo), Johnnie Moran (Padre Alfaro), and the supporting cast, Jarred Jaicten, Gerard Dy, Yeyin de la Cruz, Ayla Garcia, and Ada Tayao.

Walang Aray's new iteration is intentionally inclusive as PETA features members of the LGBTQIA+ community in pivotal roles.

"This rerun gave us a rare opportunity: the chance to return and dig deeper into the material with new eyes. We revisited scenes, questioned previous choices, and refined what needed refining. We added new songs and revisited the old ones. We even looked into our creative processes and ensured that everyone in the production had a safe space within our rehearsal halls and theater. The process was both humbling and thrilling. With Norbs Portales joining me as associate director, the show has taken on a fresh pulse. His insight, energy, and collaboration helped shape this new version into something sharper and, in many ways, braver," said Ian Segarra in his Director's notes.

When asked why there's a rerun, Katanyag quipped: "Because in today's world full of aray, we need Walang Aray... pa more!" She explained that this version does not pretend that the past years, in whatever aspects of our lives, did not hurt us. "It acknowledges na may sugat, may aray mula sa kasaysayan, sa lipunan, sa pamilya, and that these wounds may change form over time, but they remain. That is why our response must change as well. And now, we are choosing to care. We choose to continue telling these kinds of stories." Katanyag emphasized that "to care is to resist."

"So why are we back? Because we believe the message still matters. Because there are more people who need to hear it. And because theater is still—and will always be—a powerful tool and space to spark reflection, to provoke, and to empower. We’re not just restaging this show; we’re re-igniting its call," echoed Segarra.

"Walang Aray is a relevant theatrical piece for every Filipino trying to live, love, learn, heal, and fight back in a world full of aray. And when we come together to tell these stories of healing, artists and audience, past and future, baka sakali, Walang Aray becomes more than a title and a play. It becomes a way forward," addded Katanyag.

Love is always political, love is always a revolution. And for Walang Aray, love always wins.

Walang Aray runs from August 29 to October 12 at the PETA Theater Center, 5 Sunnyside Drive, Quezon City. Tickets, ranging from P1,200 to P2,500, are already on sale through Ticket2Me.