Tagalog V - The Program

 

Plays

(in order of appearance)

Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza
(The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza)
Written by Rolin Cadallo Obina
Directed by A. Samson Manalo
Featuring: Faye Lacanilao, Paolo Asuncion, Eve Gandarosa, Boni Juan, Samantha de la Serna

INTERMISYON

 

From the Producers…

From A. Samson Manalo: “I think I found one of the plays for the next Tagalog!” she said excitedly. “You should read this one. It’s a beautiful story with an all ‘tunders’ cast.” That’s what she lovingly called our elder people in their senior years – Pilipino slang for ‘matanda’ or elder.

We were all pulling out of the surreal haze of a pandemic that halted time and she was ready to jump start Tagalog again. It would be the fifth year of the very popular festival of one-act plays she created along with Lorna Velasco featuring playwrights from our Nanayland.

Maraming salamat to Rody Vera and the opportunity for Bindlestiff to witness the brilliant artists from the Virgin Labfest. Thank you for welcoming us home.

Ito ay para sayo Joyce - This is for you Joyce. For the theatre you and Allan helped build and the stories you want us to continue to tell. Your Bindlestiff family will always remember you, mahal na mahal ka naming lahat.

From Lorna Velasco:

Tagalog V Producers: A. Samson Manalo and Lorna Velasco. Samson is holding a photo of Tagalog Co-Founder, Joyce Juan Manalo

From the Directors…

 
 

Production and Design Teams

 
 

Oliver Saria: Bindlestiff Studio Managing Director
Aureen Almario: Bindlestiff Studio Artistic Director

Rody Vera: Dramaturg

Boni Juan: Set Designer and Prop Master
Julie Munsayac: Creative Campaign Design
Dave Ragaza: Technical Director and Light Designer
Ciriaco Sayoc: Costume Designer
Alexis Dayers: Make-up Artist

Lindsay Ordesta: Stage Manager
Ariane Omila: Surtitle Operator
Andre Rogge: Box Office Manager
Conrad Panganiban: Web and Program Designer
TJ Basa: Volunteer Coordinator

Paciano Triunfo: Photographer
Raisa Donato: Set Builder and FIght Choreographer
Mike Ricca: Set Builder
Clarice Fong: Set Builder
Ciriaco Sayoc: Set Builder
Michelle Talgarow: Intimacy Coordinator

Ed Mabasa: Consultant
Tita Aida: Consultant
Tonilyn Sideco: Consultant

Elnora Ebillo: Translation
Clarice Fong: Translation
Sandy Panopio: Translation
Roger Rigor: Translation

Joyce Juan Manalo: Co-Founder
Allan Samson Manalo: Co-Producer and Director
Lorna Velasco: Co-Producer and Co-Founder

 
 
 

The Production would like to thank Our Sponsors:

Tagalog V was made possible by the following sponsors: Bindlestiff Studio, San Francisco Arts Commission, SOMA Pilipinas, and Theatre Bay Area Cash Grant

 
 
 
 
 

Special thanks! Maraming Salamat!

Luisa Antonio, Mary Roque and the amazing staff and our wonderful elders at the Bayanihan Equity Center

Raquel Redondiez and Christine Abiba of SOMA Pilipinas

Liza Erpelo and the Kababayan Learning Community

 

Directors

 

Aureen Almario
Director: Identité

Aureen Almario is an educator, actor, writer, producer, and director. Her past productions include Bindlestiff Studio’s Stories High Production, Granny Cart Gangsta co-founder, Pinays Maintaining Sisterhood Through the Arts, FOB Show, Revival Arts, Hermia in A Pinoy Midsummer and Theresa in Thunder Above Deep Below. Aureen has also been serving as the Artistic Director of Bindlestiff Studio for the past decade.

Joe Cascasan
Director: Mommy G

Joe Cascasan is a resident artist at Bindlestiff Studio. He acted in A Pinoy Midsummer (Shakespeare) adapted by Lorna Velasco, and There's the Moon and Then There's You (Christina Ying) directed by Lorna Velasco. Joe’s directing credits include Searching for Garland Jackson (Stories High XIV), The Night Shift (Stories High XV), and 57 Varieties (The Love Edition 2016) and previous Tagalog festival plays.

A. Samson Manalo
Director: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza)

A. Samson Manalo is a Filipino American writer, director, producer, theater artist, and stand-up comic who has performed in venues throughout 46 States and 3 countries. He, along with his wife Joyce Juan Manalo, is credited with ushering in the Filipino American era of Bindlestiff Studio, a San Francisco black box theater which has operated in the heart of SOMA Pilipinas since 1989. In May 2025, with funding support from Theatre Bay Area’s CA$H grant program, Samson wrote and performed his only solo theatrical show, In Bituin, as a way to deal with the grief of losing his wife Joyce to cancer. Samson is also the author of GOSSIP, SEX, AND THE END OF THE WORLD: THE COLLECTED WORKS OF TONGUE IN A MOOD, a book that chronicles the popularity of his sketch comedy troupe “tongue in A mood” and the takeover of Bindlestiff Studio. Tagalog 2026 is dedicated to the memory of Joyce Juan Manalo (I miss you so much, Asawako.)

 
 

Playwrights

 

Jhudiel Clare D. Sosa
Playwright: Identité

Jhudiel Clare D. Sosa is a writer, producer, and passionate storyteller. She breathes life into her works through creative and technical quirks, stage or screen. She is best known for her CCP Virgin Labfest 19 & 20 main feature Identité, PETA’s Control+Shift feature Cleaners, and PETA Plus feature “Gen G: GG na ‘to!”. Her style of writing captures her character, comedy, advocacy, and style of social commentary.

Jobert “Grey” Landeza
Playwright: Mommy G

Jobert "Grey" Landeza is a playwright, actor, and director based in the Bicol region of the Philippines. His literary contributions are featured in several esteemed publications of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), including Pitong Pintig: Pantig at Pagitan, Suró: Teatro sa Bikol sa Panahon kan Pandemya, and Agwat-Hilom 2. He was also a recipient of the Gawad Bienvenido Lumbera, winning third prize for Maikling Kwento sa Bikol in 2024, and the Grand Prize for Dulang May Isang Yugto (Bikol Category) in 2025. His plays, namely Titser Kit (2020–2021) and Mommy G (2025), were featured in the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ highly acclaimed Virgin Labfest. In the field of children’s literature, his award-winning story Mamay Esing was published by Lampara Books. Currently, he is a full-time faculty member at the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters under the Department of Performing Arts. He also serves as the University Coordinator for Tanghalang Bueño, the Bicol University resident theater company. In 2024, the NCCA National Committee on Literary Arts recognized him as one of the National Youth Achievement Awardees of the Philippines for his dedication to promoting the arts for youth in the fields of drama and literature.

Rolin Cadallo Obina
Playwright: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza)

Rolin Cadallo Obina is an award-winning playwright whose works have been staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and other parts of the country as well as abroad. He was a former student of National Artist for Films, Ricky Lee and Palanca Award Hall of Famer, Rodolfo Vera. Among his notable works that have been staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines through its Annual Virgin Labfest are Mga Bata sa Selda 43, Ang Pag-uulyanin ni Olivia Mendoza and The Later Mister Real. A graduate of Secondary Education major in Mathematics, he was a banker of over twenty years before joining government service. He was former Vice President of Sterling Bank of Asia. Currently, he is holding several positions at the Local Government Unit of Bais, chief among them are, Supervising Administrative Officer (Cashier IV), Market Administrator, Slaughterhouse Administrator and Arts and Culture Officer.

 
 

Cast

 

Trixia Apiado
Actor: Identité as Regina

Trixia Apiado is an

Paolo Asuncion
Actor: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza) as Andres

Paolo Asuncion usually lives behind the scenes as a film editor, videographer, and director. Although this is his first theatrical performance (we’re not counting the time in 7th grade when he played a monster in The Lord of The RIngs), he is excited to step outside his comfort zone in an historic theater with an amazing community, and for Joyce. Pao’s dad was an actor in the Philippines, and because of his complicated situation in America at the time, he was not able to be with his dad when he passed away in 2003. Playing Andres feels like stepping into his dad’s shoes and spending time with him in some way. His name was Vic Vargas, and one of the roles he was famous for was a character named Andres as well.

Raphael Louis Buenaventura
Actor: Mommy G as Ramon

Raphael Louis Buenaventura is a Filipino theater artist, actor, director, stage manager, and producer who relocated from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2022. Since then, he has worn many hats (both onstage and behind the scenes), collaborating with companies including LCTC, Theatre Rhinoceros, Bindlestiff Studio, and Playground SF. His selected acting credits include La Cage Aux Folles (Long Beach Playhouse), Cabaret (understudy), Longing for Longganisa, Sticky Rice, and Queer as Fuck. Beyond performing, Raphael has directed productions for the Queer As Fuck Festival, including Cursebreaker (2025) and Most Cunning Serpent (2026), and has worked extensively in stage and production management throughout the Bay Area.

A firm believer in the power of storytelling to build community, Raphael is especially honored to be part of the Tagalog Show, his first show in his mother tongue ever, and ever so delighted to return to the Bindlestiff stage to celebrate Filipino stories, culture, and artistry. When he’s not onstage, he’s probably making sure someone else’s show runs on time. Grateful for Bindlestiff and the Tagalog Show Team, he dedicates his performance to his feminine icon, his mother! Amen!

Jay Bordon
Actor: Mommy G as Toni

Jay Bordon, they/them, is a nonbinary actor, poet, and lawyer, who was born in the Bay, grew up in the Philippines, and moved back to SF in their 30s. They appeared in the film Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, and on stage for Ateneo Entablado’s Tanikalang Guinto in ‘08, Bindlestiff’s Queer as Fuck” ‘23, ‘24, and ‘26, “The Love Edition 8”, and Playground Free-Play Fest’s Stare into the Void in ‘24. In their first Tagalog show, they are excited to embody these phenomenal stories and co-create with exceptional artists/human beings who similarly carry this burden and beauty of the post-colonial Filipino identity and experience.

Jay dedicates this performance to their mother, Janet Bordon - the “Malakas at Maganda” inspiration of their life. [“Malakas” (strong) because even if she battled cancer and chronic pain for 31 years, while remaining “Maganda” (beautiful), both publicly, as a famous Filipina actress in the ‘70s and ‘80s; and generally, as a normal person, a kind Virgo, who was generous with her light and joy, until her last breath.

Jay would like to thank their loving partner, Dara; their fur babies: Kenny, Nax (forever), Paris, and Cady Cruz; their Lola, Dana, Sasie, and the Borsontino family, especially the Matriarchs; and their chosen family - the besties, the Gs, the BoiBand, etc. etc.

 

nic feliciano
Actor: Mommy G as Mommy G

nic feliciano is a storyteller, performer, and cook made in Manila based in Berkeley, California. When she’s not cooking in the streets with Sup Streetfood, you can find her at her beloved home theater, Bindlestiff Studios, making art and telling stories inspired by bridging the gap between the Filipino diaspora and our homeland. nic migrated to the US at 10 years old and is honored to be in Tagalog V honoring the language she fought hard to never forget. She dedicates this performance to our beloved, Joyce Juan Manalo. Para kay Joyce!

Eve Gandarosa, aka Evert Gandarosa
Actor: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza) as Julia

Eve Gandarosa, aka Evert Gandarosa is a California-based Filipino actor who began his career in the Philippines in 2000. His Philippine theater credits include Victor Frankenstein in the Filipino adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Estragon in Waiting for Godot, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Tanghalang Ateneo, as well as Count Bellievre in Maria Stuart with Dulaang UP. He also appeared in Philippine television series such as Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita (GMA-7) and Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2 (ABS-CBN). Since relocating to California in 2010, Gandarosa has continued performing across stage and screen. He recently performed From Dusk to Dawn, a solo show at PlayGround SF’s Free-Play Festival. Other recent stage credits include Any Means Necessary and Down the Aisle. His screen credits span films such as You’re So Lucky and The Cost of Pandesal, the vertical series Flash Marriage at 40: My Second Chance, and the AFI short films Zenaida and Little Bird. He has also appeared in commercials for Talkspace and Remitly Philippines. Follow his work on Instagram: @eveyouonlyknew.

Nix Guirre
Actor: Mommy G as Sophie

Nix Guirre, they/them, is a queer multidisciplinary artist and performer from the Philippines. Their creative practice is shaped by their experience as an immigrant and their work as an activist and community artist in SOMA Pilipinas. Their acting credits include Bindlestiff Studio’s 2019 TAGALOG productions and, most recently, When Silence Sings, the inaugural recipient of the Joyce Juan Manalo Legacy Fund.

Boni Juan
Actor: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza) as Cesar.
Creative Crew: Set Designer, and Prop Master

Boni Juan (Bonifacio Dimalanta Juan) has designed numerous productions in the past four decades for theater plays and musicals, films and tv advertisements, which were produced and staged for the Philippines, Asia, Canada and Europe. Tagalog V is his first play in the US, a wish of his late youngest sister Joyce Juan Manalo realized by her husband Allan Samson Manalo, also a director-producer in this play; Lorna Velasco her co-producer and co-founder of the Tagalog series; and the Bindlestiff Theater Company. Boni Juan’s creative studies began with Fine Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila which he continued at the Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design after his family migrated to Canada. In 1981, while on vacation in the Philippines he joined the PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) Summer Theater Arts Workshop and subsequently joined the company in 1982, trying his hand at production design. Upon his return to Canada, he applied for the Scenic Design course and was accepted at the National Theater School of Canada, in Montreal. He returned to the Philippines in 1992 upon a PETA invitation to design Miserere Nobis (Have Mercy) and has since stayed and practiced his art in the Philippines. For Boni production design is a collaborative dynamic painting, with live and moving elements. In recent years, Boni has worked on paintings, sculptures and installation art exhibited in various venues and art events in the Philippines.

 

Archie Lacanilao (Ramon-understudy)
Actor: Mommy G as Ramon-understudy

Archie Lacanilao is an

Faye Lacanilao (Olivia)
Actor: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza) as Olivia

Faye Lacanilao is a visual-recap master and performer who is sustained by her day job as a City government employee. Her LinkedIn will tell you that she is a seasoned community organizer, a Filipino language access subject-matter expert, and a disaster resilience specialist. While all true, she is actually just a simple lover girl who enjoys long walks, wild flowers, and discussing light-hearted topics, like the geopolitical disposition of her homeland. This is Faye’s third Tagalog show and her 10th time acting at Bindlestiff Studio. She dedicates this performance to Joyce Juan Manalo, Lyle Prijoles, and her SoMa kuya, E. Ivan Fructoso.

Samantha de la Serna
Actor: Ang Pag-Uulyanin Ni Olivia Mendoza (The Forgetting of Olivia Mendoza) as Leika & Identité as Regina-understudy

Samantha de la Serna is thrilled to be back on the Bindlestiff stage for Tagalog V. She most recently appeared in the Indios Bravos Trilogy (2026) and the short film, Missing Boy (2026). She dedicates this performance to her two favorite non-Tagalog speakers: her husband, Vinh, and her dog, Penny. Daghang salamat sa tanan nga nagtan-aw ug nagsuporta sa among palabas!

Nikki Santiago
Actor: Identité as Luz

Nikki Santiago is excitedly taking off her apron in order to gallivant around the SOMA with Bindlestiff. She spent her childhood in Marikina, but grew into adulthood in the Bay Area. She is happily making her return to theater amongst this amazing cast and kalog crew. Previously, Nikki worked on PCN shows at Skyline College as well as other school productions at St. Scho. Nikki dedicates her performance to the fierce feminine energies who have graced her life, mainly Kaya and Kina; her kasamamamas; her tribe called mamas; las salvavidas; Mommy Nellie and Suzette; her Abuele Tere and Mamaita; her best friend Denise; and most especially - her mommy Maria Bettina. Nikki is grateful for the support of her life

 

Patrick Silvestre
Actor: Mommy G as Ben

Patrick Silvestre In 2005, Patrick Silvestre stumbled down the rabbit hole and found his way to Bindlestiff Studio, nestled in San Francisco’s SOMA Pilipinas district. What began as a chance discovery grew into a lasting home, creative community, and artistic family. Since then, Patrick has remained deeply grateful for Bindlestiff and its commitment to creating space for Filipino and Filipino-American artists to share their stories, celebrate their culture, and connect with their community.

Over the years, Patrick has worn many hats at Bindlestiff, contributing to its signature production, Stories High, on multiple occasions as an actor, writer, stage manager, producer, and director.

In 2012 and 2013, Patrick portrayed Robin Starveling in Bindlestiff’s reimagining of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, retitled A Pinoy Midsummer. In 2013, he landed his first leading stage role as Andrew in Jeffrey Lo’s romantic comedy A Kind of Sad Love Story. That same year, he played the father in Princesa, a short film directed by Drew Stephens. His other stage credits include Strange Case of Citizen Dela Cruz (2012), The Guerillas of Powell Street (2014), and TAGALOG (2016) and many more.

Patrick extends his heartfelt gratitude to the cast and crew of this production for being part of the journey and bringing this work to life.

And a special shout-out to his Bubu, his Mahal, Laura: thank you for always believing in me, pushing me to be my best, and reminding me to keep growing. This one’s for you!