Playing a “Comfort Gay” lead in our Contemporary Arts play was profoundly personal; as a gay man and LGBTQIA+ advocate, I aimed to transcend the stereotype and portray a nuanced character, drawing from my own experiences with tokenism and the community‘s journey. The rehearsal process and performance allowed me to infuse the role with subtle defiance, creating a powerful connection with the audience and reaffirming art‘s ability to foster understanding and challenge societal norms, ultimately deepening my commitment to authentic representation and advocacy.

Being part of this theatrical play was an unforgettable journey, one that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I learned so much about performing on stage, staying calm under pressure, and adapting to different situations with my teammates. It wasn’t always easy, but every challenge was worth it. What truly made this experience special was the sense of community. The support, encouragement, and trust I felt from my classmates made me feel like I truly belonged. For the first time, I felt recognize, not just for what I could do, but for who I am.

This theatrical play is truly one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I gained knowledge about stage performance, learned how to stay patient and composed under pressure, and developed a deeper understanding of how to work with others in different situations. What made this play even more special was the support and trust I received from my classmates. For the first time, I truly felt seen, appreciated, and loved. This performance taught me the value of hard work, trust, and self-expression. More than anything, this play gave me a new kind of strength, a strength that I will carry with me as I continue to grow, not only in school but in life.

Joining our musical theatre about the Japanese era in the Philippines taught me a lot.This story was deep and painful. We showed how comfort women and gay people suffered during the war. I learned how important it is to tell these stories with care and truth. These lessons will help me in real life. I now have more confidence, better teamwork skills, and a stronger voice to speak up for others.

The biggest thing I improved was my courage. At first, I was shy and scared to perform even though it was just a side character. But little by little, I found my strength. Now, I’m proud that I helped share a part of our history through theatre. I also remember what our team leader said that "Even though it was just character or minor roles you have–you have still embody the character" because it is important to tell others or the audience how terrific and painful the world war and how many filipinos, comfort women, comfort gays, children suffered in the time of japanese war in the Philippines. 

This experience will always stay with me.

 I believe that the previous theatrical play that is also played by us, humanistas, became our biggest legacy. This project not only evoked my passion, leadership, and creativity skills in this field, but also, the team work and sense of responsibility of our team. With this experience, I will use it in a bigger world to seek opportunities and prove my worth. Lastly, I consider my sense of responsibility is my biggest improvement in order to make this project into a life. Despite the time constraint, with a sense of responsibility we made it possible. 

pating in the Contemporary Theatrical Performance was both challenging and rewarding for me. The long hours of practice, with little rest, tested my dedication and stamina, but it was all worth it. I saw how my classmates and I grew more committed with each rehearsal, especially as we memorized lines and refined our choreography. What stood out most was how we all took the performance seriously—not just because it was graded, but because we truly cared about doing our best. Through this experience, I learned that contemporary art reflects society and helps us express ourselves in meaningful ways. I also gained more confidence in acting and dancing, and I’m proud of how I pushed past my hesitations to contribute fully to our performance.

Being involved in the theater play was an extremely satisfying experience.  I gained so much in terms of teamwork, discipline, and the authority of collective storytelling.  The journey of bringing the characters to life, from rehearsals to the night of opening, was tough but thrilling.  Getting over the initial stage fright and acting on stage gave me a huge boost of confidence.  I feel fortunate to have been part of something so creative and rewarding.

Creating and performing a musical play centered on love, war, and Filipino culture has been a profoundly enriching experience that deepened my understanding of our national identity and history. Through the story, I was able to explore the complex emotions of love amid the chaos of war, highlighting the resilience and hope that characterize the Filipino spirit. The play also showcased the richness of Filipino culture, from traditional music and dance to customs and values that have been passed down through generations. This performance not only allowed me to express my creativity and talent but also helped me appreciate the ways in which love and culture serve as enduring forces that unite and strengthen us in times of struggle. It reminded me that our history, emotions, and cultural heritage are interconnected, shaping who we are as Filipinos.

Of all the projects we’ve done, the Theater Play stands out the most for me. First, because it was performed by the entire class, which truly brought us together as one section. The hard work and effort that everyone put in is the reason it turned out so well. The creativity the writers showed in recreating the history of the Philippines was truly impressive presenting history through musical theater was a perfect match for the play. Additionally, this project showcased the acting potential of my classmates.

Since we started the theatrical play. I learned how to work with others and become more confident. I improved my acting, voice, and how to show emotions. I also got better at improvising and collaborating with my classmates. Even though there are challenges that we faced during the practices and limited time, we managed to execute our theatrical play smoothly and successfully. The biggest change is that I became more confident on stage. I used to be shy, but now I feel more comfortable speaking and performing. Overall, this experience helped me become more expressive and sure of myself.

Our theatrical play was truly memorable for us. Even though we had limited time to prepare, we gave it our best. It was tiring, but the whole experience was exciting. I’ve always loved theater, so being part of a live performance, even just in school, made me really happy. I enjoyed expressing emotions, playing my role, and seeing the story come to life on stage. What made it even more meaningful was that the play was about the history of the Philippines. It felt powerful to perform something that showed the struggles, culture, and strength of our people. Theater has always felt like home to me. It is a space where I can be creative, loud, emotional, and free. This play reminded me why I love it so much. I’m proud of what we did as a group, and I’ll always look back on this experience with joy and pride. 

It was a perfect theatre and I enjoyed it. The transition is great plus the music is matching to the theme. And the actors are really good and play their part really professionally delivering their lines.

I learned in the class that contemporary theater is about telling stories, not memorizing the lines. I was able learn about characters and feel comfortable on stage because of voice, movement, and script study tasks. I also discovered that theater requires patience, teamwork, and creative cooperation. At first, I was scared of feedback but as time went on, I felt more comfortable expressing my feelings. Both on and off stage, these experiences improved my understanding of others, communication, and interpersonal skills.

A successful play is a testament to collaboration. Playwrights craft the script, directors shape the vision, actors bring characters to life, designers create the visual world, and stage managers ensure the smooth running of the production. Each role is crucial, and the interplay between these elements determines the play's overall impact

Watching the play felt like holding up a mirror to real life—raw, messy, and honest. The actors didn’t feel like someone i knew, they felt like the characters from the story itself. The struggles, silences between their words, even the way they acted feels like the past.

What moved me most was how the story didn’t try to offer easy answers. It just was—a glimpse into lives in motion. The set was simple, but the emotions were full. And when the background fell in the end to show the people behind that play, the audiences claped. Thinking about the things we all did, from practices,  looking for materials we need, to creating the props for our play.

This play didn’t just entertain the audiences—it made the past story seen.

The theatrical performance held by my section, HUM401P, has to be by far one of the proudest things I ever took part in. While my role was merely to be a background character and props maker, I felt proud knowing I had a hand in creating the play that not only pleased the audience, but ourselves as well. In such an experience, I learned various things. Namely, I was able to learn to take initiative in being active, pitching in my own ideas and providing as much help as possible. And most importantly, I relearned my love for art. While this may not be my forte, I was able to find my pride in art—something I’ve always valued about people and society.

I have always been a theatre child. Ever since I was young, I have been exposed to Theatre play's and my favourite is Hamilton (Self explanatory). This project makes it very dear to me, as I really love to sing and perform. Despite our busy schedule and limited practice days, everything went successful.

Being part of the theatrical play allowed me to discover a hidden passion for acting that I never knew I had. I usually worked behind the scenes, but stepping into the spotlight for the first time as Isabel made me feel like I was living the stories I used to only read or watch. Despite struggling to memorize lines at first, I enjoyed every moment—from rehearsals to performing on stage, especially singing "What is This Feeling" from Wicked. The play taught me the importance of confidence and fully embracing a role, which I now see as valuable not just in theatre but in life and art as well. This unforgettable experience has become one of the most meaningful highlights of my senior high school journey. 

I became proud of my fellow classmates who contributed to this play because they have shown their natural talents in theatrical play, which made our performance enjoyable and perfect. In addition to that, those who led this play did a good job in organizing the flow, due to them being theatre lovers, they had shown an outstanding production in any roles they were mattered with. 

Doing a theatre play is what I have been wanting to do. My father will always share with me his own experiences about being one of the theatrical casts whenever we talk about my passion in arts, specifically my desire to create, write and act in a theatre play. His stories inspired and encouraged me deeply to pursue this field the more I keep hearing him talk about them. So when Ms. Nareth announced that theatre play is going to be our last performance task, I feel like it was the closest feeling to achieving one of my dreams. 

When we were disseminating our roles, I was hoping to be the director. However, I was assigned to be the scriptwriter. Although I can write, I got worried at that time because I really have not yet understood the given theme for our play. Plus, I could not think of a story wherein we can show how contemporary culture affects the everyday life of Filipinos while also having to include two folk dances in our play, which were more prominent during the historical period.

Thankfully Lizzie had later on suggested for us to have a "reincarnation" theme for our play. That started to give me ideas. Then we agreed that she will be a scriptwriter too. We worked together to further expand the story, and the supposed "reincarnation" theme was changed into a dual timeline narrative when we realized that would be easier to write.

Then when we had already written the scene one to four, another classmate of ours, Herson and Bj, suggested that we should also incorporate World War II in our play. At first, I did not want to as we were supposed to highlight "how contemporary culture affects Filipinos' everyday life." But we eventually managed to think of a way of smoothly transitioning between the "contemporary era" and the "World War II." This also gave our story more depth.

I was pushed to my limits, my patience was tested, and my energy was drained. It was not easy, especially when our classmates were so hard to manage too. They are either too loud or nowhere to be found. So yes, I also became a director, just as I wanted. But I was not alone, of course. Djanelle came to help me handle everything. She even became one of the scriptwriters and my co-director even if she was already assigned to choreograph and teach us the given folk dance. 

This play is so worth it not only because I have been longing for this but also because my classmates, despite their stubbornness, still proved not only to me and Djanelle, but to the rest of those who had witnessed our play that they are deserving of that role. I am very proud of them and for myself for finally being able to showcase the full extent of my potential in this art form.

This performance task was exactly during the time wherein I wanted to break free from the leadership roles and let someone else try being one. And so, during the course of this performance task, I suggested that we have someone else lead--someone who's not from the usual pick of leaders but has such great potential to be one, Rohan. It was such a good decision.

Rohan, as someone who is nice, does not let a single idea go unheard. So, when there were worries, suggestions, and revisions voiced out, the communication went smoothly.  I honestly loved our performance task because it allowed everyone's ideas to be used, not just one person's--that is exactly what made it as great as it is. 

As the sound/technical operator of the play, I was the one who was able to watch our play from beggining to the end and all I can say is that wow. My classmates are very talented and im glad to have been part of such a wonderful production full of very fun actors, prompt props, and insightful writers. We, in our own ways, definitely helped one another grow. 

But this all would not have been possible without Djanelle's intense aura and Rohan's cute yet scary "sermons." Thank you so much, our directors.

In all of the PETA's—even outside of the contemporary subject—this would be my all time favorite. It's a rewarding feeling to be able to act, and provide an idea for a big project (a class project). Additionally, I absorbed a lot of emotions while making this play. From scenes where I had to put myself into the situation of the character—it was really hard. But despite having a hard time to internalise, my classmates were very supportive, and in that sense, it makes me feel like I gave justice to the character. Overall, it was a rollercoaster feeling, and this PETA will always have an amazing part in my heart.

A strong and memorable last class project truly hits the spot when the realization sinks in — we’re graduating. I was given the opportunity to be one of the lead characters and to propose and sing songs that awakened the theater kid in me. During the play, I felt fulfilled, and performing in front of a crowd made me feel like I truly belonged there, even just for a moment. Despite feeling nervous while acting, we were able to successfully execute the play, and I’m genuinely impressed by the writers who stepped up, took the lead, and guided us all the way through. It’s such a sentimental moment for me — one I’ll always treasure.

Throughout my experiences in theatrical play, I have learned more than just acting, I have developed valuable skills that I know will benefit me far beyond the classroom. One of the biggest improvements I’ve made is in my memorization skills, which are essential in delivering lines with confidence and precision. Through constant practice, I also honed my ability to speak fluently in both English and Tagalog. The practice session that my classmates planned trained me to become more expressive, pushing me to improve my tone and pacing when speaking. These skills are not limited to the stage. In the real world, I know they will help me communicate more effectively, whether it be in public speaking or even in everyday one-on-one conversations. This theatrical project also made me realize how imperative teamwork is, such as receiving peer feedback and collaborating on prop design and management.

Looking back at our play, I really learned a lot. Even though I was just a side character, I got to help with props, costumes, and even dancing, and it made me realize how important teamwork is. At first, I felt nervous and stressed, especially with all the rushed things we had to deal with, but in the end, we still made something amazing. I saw how everyone gave their best, and it made me proud to be part of it. This experience showed me that even if things don’t go perfectly, you can still shine if you trust your team and keep going.

For the Theatrical play, I played a french guy named Oliver Moroue, who fell in love with one of the main casts, Agape Valdez. My part for the play wasn't that significant, but neither is it unremarkable. I practiced not only to play Mr. Oliver Moroue, but also to embody him. The reason I did is because I saw the dedication my classmates put into preparations, dancing, singing, and acting. Because of that, I cannot, in good conscience, simply be a dead weight or simply be another part of a play. So, I tried my hardest to fulfill my role as one of the actors. In the end, our play was great and all our efforts weren't for naught.

Our theatre have been successful because as a section, we did all our best. I played as Mr. St. James, father of Isabel and I also handled the sounds with Mrs. St. James and I'm also included in one of our dance. I'm sure that we really enjoyed the play and it makes me happy but at the same time sad. Happy because it's finally over, our hardwork has payed but sad because this'll be our last PETA as a section.

Our theatrical play felt like a roller coaster ride, especially during the intense dance practices, prop creation, and script rehearsals. The outcome of our hardships truly paid off, as the play was executed properly, uniquely, and soulfully. This theatrical play was a truly unique and memorable experience, especially as it marked our final performance as senior high school students before graduation. Every department poured immense effort into the production, and that dedication was brilliantly showcased during our performance. It was a fun, thrilling, and heart-fluttering experience shared with everyone in our class—a truly momentous occasion.

When I found out we were going to do a theater play, I was really excited. Ever since I watched El Bimbo, I’ve been curious and amazed by how powerful and emotional a performance can be. That’s why I promised myself to stay focused and give my best.

What I realized during this experience is that you can't truly enjoy or understand a play unless your heart is in it. It’s not just about saying lines—it’s about becoming the character, feeling the moment, and connecting with the story. I learned that when you believe in yourself and give your full effort, you can surprise even yourself. I didn’t get any corrections during our play, and that made me feel proud and more confident.

More than anything, this play helped me grow—not just as a student, but as a person. I became more creative, more expressive, and more sure of what I can do. And I know the things I learned here will help me in life, far beyond just being on stage.

Our last performance in Contemporary Arts was a memorable experience, especially since I love musical theatre even though I don’t consider myself talented in it. It gave me a chance to discover what I’m capable of and to express myself in ways I didn’t expect. This journey taught me the importance of believing in myself and trying new things, even if they seem difficult at first. Performing with others made me realize that everyone has different abilities, and it’s okay to just do my best. Overall, the experience helped me gain more confidence and understand myself better.

Throughout our contemporary theatrical performance lessons, I learned how to speak out the lines with necessary emotions that need to be conveyed to the audience. I developed skills in improvisation, teamwork, and stage presence, and realized that I can be that creative in creating our props. 

I am going to use this experience in the real world in a way of confidently and clearly expressing myself. So, being able to speak clearly and confidently will help me a lot in class presentations, job interviews, or even just everyday conversations. Moreover, this experience really proves to me that working with a big number of people was quite hard. However, this also improved my teamwork with others during rehearsals and taught me how to listen, adjust, and help solve problems together. Those experiences will definitely help me when I’m part of a group or team outside of school.

The area where I made my biggest improvement was in helping create the props for our performance.  I had to be as creative as possible, especially when we didn’t have much to work with. It wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed thinking of ways to make things look good and fit the scene. It felt really nice seeing everyone use the props I helped make on stage—it made me feel proud and more confident in my creativity.

For me, this was the most enjoyable and best experience of all. I was truly happy during our practice days and while making the props. Even though my role in the acting was small, I was glad that I was able to perform and that I regained the confidence to show my skills to others. I also realized that when everyone works together and unites, the results are really amazing. Although it was difficult and tiring, I can say it was all worth it—especially since this was our last performance task before graduating from senior high school. This will always be one of my best memories as a senior high student.

Conceptualizing our theoretical play has been an incredibly exciting journey, allowing us to explore big ideas without limits. We've woven together themes we deeply care about, aiming to create a story that not only entertains but also sparks genuine reflection. Imagining this play come to life fills me with a sense of purpose, hoping it would resonate powerfully with an audience. 

Among all of the activities that were given to us, this is what I loved the most. Ever since I’ve heard the musical theatre, Hamilton–I knew I belonged to musical theatre or even to an arts school. The journey was indeed challenging, but with the hard-work and teamwork of us; the Humanistas, we made it possible. This is also where I proved myself that not only can I truly lead, but I have also improved my leadership. It was a fun journey and exciting as I was able to write, choreograph, and lead, which I believe I am capable of. Especially that I am with Mallete throughout directing this, she made it bearable.

in our last PETA as a class, I had so much fun, I think this is what I would call the best part of my 2 years at STI and I also got emotional because it wasn't just role play, it was also history about the Japanese who were in control of the Philippines, so for me, these are the good memories for me.

Working with theatrical play props made me realize how powerful even the smallest object can be in bringing a story to life. At first, I saw props as just background details, but through our play, I came to understand that they play a crucial role in building the world on stage and supporting the actors' performance.