YEMAYA Finds the Soul of the Philippine Islands
With a new translation by Eljay Castro Deldoc, a masterpiece by Pulitzer winner Quiara Alegría Hudes finds a soul-deep resonance in the spirit of our islands.
Words Mariel Ann Breanna Puli
Photos courtesy of 9 Works Theatrical
April 08, 2026
The Philippine islands might sit on a different side of the map, but the salt in the air feels exactly the same.
After a run of massive blockbuster hits, 9 Works Theatrical is shifting gears, stripping back the spectacle to find the raw, quiet power of the stage. Their next project, YEMAYA, is a Filipino translation of the play Yemaya’s Belly by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes.
Hudes, the mind behind In The Heights, originally wrote this as a story about a young boy’s epic journey. As it prepares to open this June 2026 at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, the play will feel less like a foreign import and more like a long-overdue recognition of our own stories.
The Lyrical Bridge of Eljay Castro Deldoc
Translation is rarely just about swapping words, but it’s about capturing a specific kind of longing. Hudes’ writing is “mythic,” creating a world where the spiritual and the ordinary merge. Deldoc’s work brings this signature lyrical prose into Filipino, bridging the gap between Hudes' Latin American roots and our own archipelago.
By moving the dialogue into our own tongue, Deldoc proves that the realities of a Caribbean beach and a Philippine shoreline resonate with the same heartbeat. It’s a reminder that while the languages differ, the ache remains universal.
The Return of Ed Lacson Jr.
Leading this odyssey is Ed Lacson Jr., marking a highly anticipated directorial comeback. As one of the most celebrated names in Philippine theater design and direction, Lacson is known for a sharp, observational intimacy. He has the unique ability to make a big stage feel like a private conversation.
He’s the right visionary to navigate the "restless pull of the tides" that defines YEMAYA. Under his direction, the play explores the parallels that bind Hispanic and Filipino experiences.
The sea acts as a character itself—the force that carries loved ones away and occasionally tosses them back. The narrative is anchored by the weight of faith, named after an ocean deity, touching on a spiritual resilience we recognize in our own blend of mysticism and prayer. Finally, the young boy’s search for his place in the world mirrors the Filipino dream—a quiet, restless hope that has fueled decades of our own adventures.
The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
YEMAYA doesn't rely on heavy-handed drama. Instead, it finds its pulse in the small, sensory details of the everyday. It is a "fantasy-ridden tale" of perseverance, grounded in the hard-won truth of what it means to be an islander.
With YEMAYA arriving this June, 9 Works Theatrical returns to a form of storytelling where there is nowhere to hide. You aren’t just watching a boy traverse lands and seas. You’re sitting in the humidity of his hope.
Tickets and full cast announcements for this coming-of-age odyssey are coming soon. For now, the tide is just starting to come in.
