ARTIST STATEMENT

Theater is a diorama that stages the essence of society through dramatic storytelling. I believe
that holistic human behavior develops by seeing ourselves grow through the social spheres we
immerse in. My responsibility as an actor is to be able to illustrate the values and needs of my
character in the world of the play but also unveil the complexities of their morality,
circumstances, and their privileges. Revealing these allows me to draw attention to the
compoundedness of human nature, criticize the effect of society on its members, and makes for
an engaging and didactic narrative to which the audience may emphatize with.
Theatre is a way for me to reflect on how the society one finds themselves in affects their
decision-making and morality, and allows me to deepen my understanding of the human
condition. I choose to partake in theater that advocates for the promotion of socio-political
education and the appreciation and cultivation of the Filipino culture.
I believe theater becomes an effective tool for communication, discourse, and education when
it is able to hold a mirror to society and allow its audience to be provoked into a state of
empowerment which compels them to champion progress of and for the community.
I see theater as an opportunity for understanding the human psyche, and thus, I prefer working
in theaters that provide access to contemporary works that contain elements of Brechtian
detachment, Absurdist provocation, and making visible the Holy Theater of Brook.
An actor’s growth is found in the culmination of their resilience and willingness to embrace
one’s vulnerability. Vulnerability is my greatest tool to connect with people since it allows me to
reconcile my fears and drives me to empathize with my character’s nuanced existence. In
permitting myself to be open to being vulnerable, I am able to embrace adversities and break
through personal barriers that hinder communication with my colleagues. It is this openness to
vulnerability as well that allows me to listen to the differing opinions of the community and
prevents me from dismissing their grievances out of my own biases allowing me to become an
effective mediator between diverse perspectives of society.
At the end of each performance, I seek to encourage my audiences to embrace their
vulnerabilities as well in order for them to open the possibility of human connection born out of
a need for discourse. I envision cultivating a kind of theater-making that embraces discourse and
provocation in order to break through the tolerance of unjust standards of living and empowers
its members to share themselves in the building of a more progressive community.