Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP) is set to stage a new production that explores the lived realities of Overseas Filipino Workers through theatre.

Titled Ang Kaliitan ng Kasalukuyan, the play is written and directed by Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature multi-awarded playwright and DUP artistic director Arlo Deguzman.

The production centers on the emotional and social toll of migration, portraying the struggles faced by OFWs who leave their families in search of better opportunities abroad.

Often hailed as “modern-day heroes,” OFWs contribute significantly to the Philippine economy through remittances. Yet the production raises questions about the long-standing cycle of migration and its impact on Filipino families.

Written from a diasporic perspective, the play draws from Deguzman’s own experience as a migrant worker for nearly two decades across 50 countries. It follows characters negotiating absence, sacrifice and longing: a father burdened by constant remittances, a mother seeking meaning in sacrifice, a sister grappling with separation and a son carrying silent weight.

DUP said the piece aims to offer space for reflection on themes of home, displacement and connection, areas often explored in film and television but less frequently examined on stage.

The company added that some members of the cast and crew have experienced working abroad or have family members who are OFWs, deepening the resonance of the production.

With global tensions affecting migrant workers, the production also expresses hope for the safety and dignity of Filipinos working overseas and envisions a future where they can thrive in their homeland without being forced to leave.

Ang Kaliitan ng Kasalukuyan will run from 12 March to 29 March 2026 at the IBG-KAL Theater in UP Diliman. Shows are scheduled Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online, with prices ranging from P550 to P1,000, depending on category and schedule. Discounts for OFWs, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and members of the UP community are offered, subject to conditions.