OJ Arci is a prominent Filipino theater actress and singer. In the competitive world of Philippine performing arts, she and the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) advocate absolute punctuality as a foundational professional virtue.
As a national mobile theater group, PSF frequently mounts consecutive multi-city performances across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. A single delay can disrupt logistics, technical setups and travel windows. PSF also states in its nationwide casting calls and annual theater and film workshop registrations that “punctuality is a must.” Lateness is viewed as a lack of respect for fellow ensemble actors, production crews and paying audiences.
OJ Arci, also known as OJ Ar Ci, is a staple lead and supporting actress in PSF’s major historical and socio-political musical plays, notably Katips: Ang Mga Bagong Katipunero, Hero Z, a zombie historical fiction musical, and Juan Luna: Isang Sarswela.
Beyond the stage, her crossover into cinema earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the FAMAS Awards for her role in La Traidora. As PSF’s secretary-general, she helps oversee organizational discipline, scheduling and training for new batches of theater apprentices.
The judges of PSF Theater Festival 2026
The PhilStagers Foundation is pleased to announce the jury members who will choose the winners for its annual theater festival: Richard Quan, film and television actor; Joel Lamangan, director and film and television actor; Dr. Anton Juan, director, playwright and professor; and BJ Crisostomo, playwright and theater actor.
Two-week festival show schedule: First week, May 23, Saturday; second week, May 30, Saturday; and awards night, June 6, Saturday.
For ticket reservations at the PhilStagers Blackbox Theater, please call or text +63991 100 2483 or +63976 501 5558.
University of Washington pays tribute to Vicente Rafael
Posted on Facebook by Lila Shahani, daughter of the late Senator Leticia Shahani:
“Thank you all for being a part of our final farewell to Vince. I particularly appreciated those who took the time to come to his funeral in Manila and those who went to the trouble of recording such moving video messages. I’m also grateful for the many published eulogies and obits people have written, not to mention the wonderful messages friends and family have sent me here on Facebook. Your letters, words, thoughts, flowers, food and warm hugs have been a source of great comfort.
“I’d also like to share that the Department of History and the Center for Southeast Asia and its Diasporas (CSEAD) at the University of Washington will be hosting a memorial for Vince on Saturday, May 30. The eulogists will include Adam Warren of UW History; John Pemberton of Columbia University, by video tribute; Judith Henchy and Christoph Giebel of CSEAD, UW; Ileana Rodriguez-Silva of UW History; Tony Lucero of Comparative History of Ideas, UW; current and former students by video tribute; John Treat of Japanese Studies, UW; Cindy Domingo of the Union of Democratic Filipinos, LELO; and Leloy Claudio of UC Berkeley, by video tribute. I’ll be giving the closing eulogy.”
PhilDev annual gala fundraiser at EDSA Shangri-La
It was nice to see Maria Banatao, Filipino-American philanthropist, community leader and co-founder of the Philippine Development Foundation, during the PhilDev Annual Fundraiser held on May 23, 2026, at EDSA Shangri-La hotel.
Alongside her late husband, Silicon Valley tech visionary Diosdado “Dado” Banatao of Cagayan, Maria has dedicated decades to advancing education, technology and entrepreneurship for Filipinos in the Philippines and across the diaspora. She graduated from St. Paul College Manila in 1968 before moving to the United States. She later earned a master’s degree in educational psychology and counseling from the University of Washington.
She met Dado Banatao in Seattle in 1968. Together, they raised three children, Rey, Desi and Tala, while navigating the fast-paced growth of Silicon Valley.
That evening at EDSA Shangri-La coincided with the commemoration of PhilDev founder Dado’s birth and the launch of the book The Dado Banatao Story: A Tale of Two Valleys, celebrating his life and enduring contribution to Filipino innovation.
The gala brought together around 200 scholars, beneficiaries, partners and supporters united by a shared vision of leveraging science, technology and innovation for nation-building.
I also saw my boss, Asian Journal Publications publisher Roger Oriel, and my former editor Chit Lijauco, now managing editor of Philippine Tatler magazine.
Thanks, too, to Bee Vitug and Allan Rey Tato, both of PhilDev, as well as to Syrah Vivien Inocencio of Tatler Philippines, Alvin Kasiban of Daily Tribune, Gelo Gonzales of Rappler and Kenneth Stern of Ayala Foundation.
Fusion unveiled: Songs and poetry in photographs
It was a duet of sight and soul as BusinessMirror’s Bernard Testa brought his songwriter’s eye while Pilipino Mirror’s Riza Zuniga delivered verses honoring Filipino photographers, with a special dedication to George Tapan, at the exhibit held at San Beda College Museum and Archives’ Wall Gallery Business on May 25, 2026, in Muntinlupa City.
Inspiration overflowed with messages from distinguished guest speakers PTFoMS Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr.; Press Photographers of the Philippines President Edwin Bacasmas; Arnel Macariola; and SBC Museum and Archives Administrator Joseph Richard Renta III.
The exhibition runs until June 30, 2026.
A Tomas B. Lopez Jr. call for innovation
Project RISE’s Top 10 Final Pitch and Demo will feature the brightest young innovators and changemakers of Makati, who will showcase bold ideas and sustainable solutions that could create real community impact on May 27 at Makati Diamond Residences.
The Top 10 teams will present their innovations, entrepreneurial vision and passion for building a better future through technology, resiliency and sustainability.
Organized by the University of Makati-CTIED in partnership with QBO Innovation, the event continues to empower the University of Makati’s young Herons by nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship and impactful collaboration.