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When I was three, my parents and I immigrated to the US — California to be exact. We lived in the San Fernando Valley (818 baby!) where my parents opened a video rental store. Mega Star Video was where the seed was planted for me. I found myself dusting off and replaying VHS tapes of classic film musicals, which became an obsession and eventual passion of mine. Cut to: me at 14 years old as a guest programmer introducing the Astaire/Rogers film Swing Time alongside Robert Osbourne on Turner Classic Movies (I’m not making this up!)

Not counting the times I belted into the Magic Sing at family parties (canon Filipino event), my love for singing started when I joined the church choir just like many other recovering Catholics. I loved the sense of community with others who enjoyed singing just as much as I did. Then I was introduced to my first summer school musical, Grease. Picture it: 7 year old me singing about teenage flings! This was when the theatre bug “bit” me. Not only did I get to sing, I got to act, dance, wear costumes, and tell a story live? I was hooked.

As I got older, I needed a change of California scenery and moved north to the Bay Area where I completed my degree in Vocal Performance with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre. I worked for several years as a music teacher for Notre Dame Elementary and a teaching artist with Bay Area Children’s Theatre. I also performed with numerous Bay Area theatre companies including 42nd Street Moon, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, and Contra Costa Musical Theatre.

Like many others, living through the pandemic filled me with existential dread thus kicking me into finally fulfilling my long overdue dream of moving to New York City! Since moving, I have worked with local theater groups including Prospect Theater Company, Forager Theatre Company, and Kitchen Sink Theatre Company. I have gotten to perform in readings, concerts, and cabarets in venues including 54 Below, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and The Green Room 42.

When I am not dazzling audiences onstage, I am but a (very) demure personality hire at a leasing management company doing admin/office assistant work. In my free time, I enjoy watching YouTube essay videos on old Hollywood, filling my tummy with Korean BBQ, and gabbing with my friends about representation in theatre.

Every day I am constantly reminded of how truly lucky I am to get to do what I love as a career. My journey has been filled with full circle moments taking me back to the young boy gazing in awe at the TV screen with Paolo Montalban as the Prince in Cinderella thinking “I want to do that!”. I am filled with such gratitude and love for this little life (I think I like it).