If Maria Cristina Lopez were still alive today, she would likely take immense pride in the accomplishments of her son, JP Lopez, now recognized as a writer and director with work associated with networks such as GMA Network and various independent production companies in the Philippines.
What impressed me most during the PhilStagers Theatre and Film Workshop Batch 2026 was not merely JP’s professional credentials, but the seriousness, discipline, and generosity he brought to teaching.
From the opening day of the workshop, participants were immersed in exercises designed to build trust, spontaneity, and awareness. Activities ranged from memorizing names and personal details of fellow participants to creating group logos under time pressure. I belonged to the “Jolly Peers” group. We also engaged in collaborative exercises that challenged our concentration and collective focus, including one in which participants lifted a groupmate using only two fingers.
Beyond the fun and energy of the activities, the exercises revealed a deeper principle central to acting: the necessity of freeing oneself from inhibition. Natural performance requires emotional honesty and the ability to respond without fear of judgment. An actor must move beyond “performing” and instead inhabit the emotional reality of the character.
Equally memorable were the architectural and monumental exercises conducted with the assistance of PhilStagers actor Joseph Tañada. Blindfolded participants relied solely on listening, trust, and coordination, underscoring the importance of concentration and teamwork.
During that first day of the month-long summer workshop, held on May 4, I was reminded of the enduring value of trust, time, discipline, and collaboration.
The workshop orientation had earlier been conducted on May 2 by the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF), known widely as PhilStagers, a theater organization that has established a strong presence in Philippine performing arts.
The orientation for Theater and Film Workshop Batch 2026 was organized by PSF President Johnrey Rivas, a FAMAS Best Supporting Actor awardee for the internationally recognized film Katips. The event was hosted by JP Lopez and OJ Arci.
Designed for participants ages 16 and above, the workshop will culminate in a series of acting recitals.
Sessions are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the PSF Blackbox Theater (Philippine Stagers Studio), located at 2065-B G. Tuazon Street corner Calabash A, Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.
Remembering Oscar P. Garcia
Real estate broker and developer Oscar P. Garcia, a graduate of Arellano High School and the University of Santo Tomas, was also a former columnist for the Manila Bulletin and an active member of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards (PAREB). He was a cousin of former Bulacan Governor Atty. Obet Pagdanganan.
I still recall my appearance years ago on Jeanne Young’s “Spin-A-Win” on RPN Channel 9, where I won a bedroom showcase. At the time, I chose not to inform my uncle Felipe “Jun” Medina Jr., then general manager of IBC 13 and a broadcaster for RPN Channel 9.
Instead, I contacted my uncle Oscar, who arrived in his newly acquired Mercedes-Benz vehicle and personally helped transport the prizes from Broadcast City. The gesture left an impression not only on me, but also on security personnel and the late actor Rod Navarro Sr., who assisted during that occasion.
“Tito Oca,” as I fondly called him, consistently encouraged my pursuit of journalism and writing. I knew he shared in my happiness when I later received recognitions such as the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award in Manila and the Amerika Prestige Award in North Hollywood, California, accompanied by my aunts Anita Garcia and retired educator Pilar B. de Mesa.
Lani Montreal to be featured in Chicago events
Artist-educator Lani Montreal is set to participate in several cultural events in Chicago this May.
These include cold readings of scenes from Rho Variant: A Zombie Apocalyps(o) with Naked Angels at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen, on May 5 and 12; an ekphrastic poetry presentation during Art Speaks at Stan Mansion, 2408 N. Kedzie, on May 8; and the relaunch of Riksha Magazine at the Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park, on May 16.
“Talakayan sa Konsulado” forum in San Francisco
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco will host “Talakayan sa Konsulado,” a public forum focused on recent developments in U.S. immigration policy, on May 15, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco.
Organized in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines California Chapter, the forum will feature immigration professionals who are expected to discuss current immigration concerns, legal rights, common pitfalls, and available pathways to permanent residency.
Participants may attend in person or virtually via Zoom.
Registration is available at: bit.ly/talakayansf2026
“Sa Piling ni Nanay” art exhibit
In Filipino culture, the figure of the mother — Nanay, Ina, Inay — remains deeply intertwined with memory, sacrifice, and family life.
The exhibit “Sa Piling ni Nanay” gathers works from the collection of Museo Orlina that reflect on the emotional and cultural dimensions of motherhood through varied artistic forms and mediums.
The featured works explore maternal presence through gestures of tenderness, sacrifice, labor, and devotion, while also examining motherhood as both a personal and collective experience within Filipino society.
The exhibit runs from May 1 to July 31, 2026.
Mother’s Day gathering
A group of women in Northern California recently gathered in advance observance of Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day this year falls on Sunday, May 10, and continues to be widely celebrated in countries including the United States, Canada, and the Philippines. Traditions commonly include family gatherings, gift-giving, flowers, and shared meals honoring mothers and maternal figures.