From intimate museum spaces to original student-written productions, the University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) Junior Theater Arts Club (JTAC) continues to bring meaningful stories to life.
On February 7, JTAC was invited to Pasinaya 2026, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) flagship Festival of the Arts, hosted locally at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA). The festival immersed participants in diverse aesthetic experiences through multi-genre performances and workshops led by renowned artists.
Spearheaded by student artists Christian GB Badiango, Franchezka Raine Raborar, and Carl Andrie Cuenco, JTAC staged Banderitas. The play served as a commentary, tackling the environmental and civic debates surrounding the use of confetti during the annual Dinagyang Festival.
On May 2–3, the club performed at the 12th Iloilo Theater Festival (ILOTF) held at the University of San Agustin. Drawing inspiration from the festival’s theme, “Moment and Memory,” JTAC mounted Memo—an original production exploring the underlying challenges and systemic pressures faced by Iloilo City amid its rise to international recognition.
ILOTF 2026 brought together 14 theater companies from across Western Visayas alongside Tanghalang Pilipino and Theater Group Gumbo Japan. The event opened with an inspiring keynote address by Mr. Chris Millado, former Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
In addition to performances and workshops, JTAC members were treated to a professional staging of Mabining Mandirigma. Watching the professional company firsthand and speaking with Tanghalang Pilipino’s Artistic Director Mr. Nanding Josef, deeply enriched the students’ appreciation for technical excellence in Philippine musical theater.
JTAC also hosted its annual FACETS 2026 at the UPV Little Theater for the UPV community. The production featured five original short plays entirely written, directed, and performed by resident JTAC members, spotlighting the talent of the university’s young artists.
Through its productions, JTAC continues to show how theater serves as a powerful platform for creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking among students. By bringing relevant stories to life on stage, the club nurtures young artists who use performance to connect with audiences and contribute to the region’s growing cultural landscape.
Asst. Prof. Alfredo B. Diaz, a faculty member of the Division of Professional Education, and a stage director and actor, serves as the club’s adviser and trainer.
Written by Yagee Flaris Nepomuceno, UPHSI
Photos courtesy of JTAC
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