The first-ever psychological crime drama produced by the Theater Arts class of Bachelor of Secondary Education-English students at the University of the Visayas Toledo City Campus (UVTCC) was staged on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the UVTCC Lower Campus Forecourt.
Plot and Creative Team
Written by Crisha Mae F. Cañoneo, Allyna Janela T. Awitin, and Jerald C. Bercis, and directed by Jhay-ar A. Book, Dirt in the Woods unearths long-buried secrets in a small town where truth and deception intertwine amid a series of brutal murders. The play opens with the discovery of a woman’s lifeless body, prompting the return of Solene Zamora, played by Ma. Cindy Jane G. Recla, to her hometown. Now working as a reporter, Solene returns to cover the case, only to confront fractured relationships from her past, including her broken marriage with Jake Navarro, played by Khen G. Misa, who had handled the first murder investigation, and the lingering grief over the loss of their child. As the investigation progresses, the mystery deepens into a chain of murders connected to a shared past among a group of former friends. Just as the truth seems within reach, the narrative delivers a final twist, revealing the true killer, driven by a warped sense of love and justice.
Messages from the Writers
Cañoneo said, “Dirt in the Woods teaches us that the past cannot simply be buried or ignored, especially when it steals innocence and peace, because unresolved pain, guilt, and secrets will always find a way to resurface. The play is not just about brutal murders; it is about the consequences of one's actions that can never stay buried.”
Awitin added, “Dirt in the Woods teaches us that unresolved emotions can deeply shape human behavior in extreme ways, and that when honesty, accountability, and understanding are ignored, the consequences can become far more damaging than expected.”
Bercis noted, “The play teaches us that we cannot judge others’ experiences and traumas to draw conclusions, as every person has a reason for acting the way they do, even if we may not fully understand it; it reveals that truth is not always simple — it often comes with a price.”
Cast and Production Team
Joining Recla and Misa in the cast were other student performers from various programs of UVTCC: Ronnagen L. Provida, Mary September Y. Contado, Jamelah A. Alimoda, Katlene T. Peña, Karyl B. Rodimo, Glecy Everiel M. Luyas, Dexter Fernandez, Joanna Mae R. Mamac, Geraldine R. Carbaquil, Faith Angela E. Barro, Ezel C. Abatayo, Sheerah M. Paradero, and Louie M. Suson.
Provida shared, “Playing Felicia in Dirt in the Woods has been the most challenging role I have portrayed compared to my previous productions because, unlike the mother roles I played before, Felicia carries a depth of pain, rage, and vengeance that demands extreme emotions far beyond my comfort zone as an actor. She is a mother willing to risk everything for her daughter, regardless of the consequences, even if it means taking the lives of those who caused her child’s suffering.”
The production team was composed of BSED-English sophomore majors enrolled in the Theater Arts course, led by John Robert L. Madrona (creatives department); Aljuhn R. Bacalso and Gellian M. Capacio (costume and makeup); Karen P. Jaranilla and Angelica C. Deiparine (technical production); Allan Roy L. Estrada (marketing and ticketing); Rose Ann E. Mejello (finance); and Suson (logistics).
