Perth – The Moon and the Bakunawa is a short play written and directed by Benito Chan Jr. It is an autobiographical story about his experience as a carer for his mother, who had dementia, and the challenges that came with it. He would like to share his story to create awareness of this disease and help others who are undergoing the same situation. To bring this to life, Dementia Australia partnered with Philippine Educational Artists of WA (PETAWA) Inc. to produce this unique play.
It was shown on February 15 and 16 at the WA State Library in Francis Street, Perth, and also on February 22 and 23 in Sydney. The production featured professional artists from the Philippines as well as local artists, bringing the characters to life and providing the audience with an educational and entertaining experience.
Veteran actors Divina Cavestany—former resident theatre actor of the CCP Theater Teatro Pilipino, Dramatis Personae, Dulaang UP, Dulaang Bonifacio, and Teachers Community Theater—and Philip Panganiban, juror of the Live Entertainment Arts and Festival (LEAF) awards and former theatre and film actor, played Mamay and Benny, respectively. Another guest from the Philippines, Frank Rivera, a stage, movie, and television director, actor, playwright, poet, and author, served as the Artistic Consultant and Director.
Local artists included Cielo Waghorne, playing the older Mamay; Cielo Franklin, playing the younger Mamay; and Jillrey Rico, playing the young Benny. The moon dancers were Emma Hanh Ma, Amora Crowley, Anna Ablib, Erlyn Carusi, Gracia Armstrong, Josie Davies, Naty Marinho, and Ofilia Leadbeater. The Bakunawa was played by Emilio Gonzalez.
The Saturday event started with cocktail food and drinks to welcome the guests before the show, followed by the usual formalities, including a speech from the Honorary Philippine Consul to WA, Melissa Aguasa. After the show, representatives from Dementia Australia answered questions during the Q&A portion, where the audience could ask about dementia-related issues.
The Sunday event was a matinee show that featured the local talents of WA. It was good to see the local community appreciating Filipino theatre. The reviews were all positive, coming from both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. One aspect that stood out about this play was the central issue it explored—dementia. It is not an uncommon disease, and anyone who knows someone affected by it, especially carers, will agree that it is a very challenging role to take on. Awareness and support are essential, and knowing who to contact when you need help makes all the difference.
Due to public demand, there will be a repeat performance on 10 May 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Bob Daniel Stirling Community Centre, 895 Beaufort Street, Inglewood.
