PCN 32: Magkatabi

Event Coordinator | Narrative Designer | Producer
What is PCN?
PCN, or Pilipinx Cultural Night, is an annual event hosted across many higher education campuses such as Cal Poly. It typically consists of an in-person performance celebrating Pilipno culture and Filipino-American diaspora. Sub sections of the performance often include theatrical performance accompanied by song and traditional and contemporary dance.
What does Magkatabi mean?
Magkatabi is Tagalog for "side by side" or "next to each other". PCN 32 explores the similarities and differences between two girls, Celestine and Erika, one on which was raised in a traditional Pilipino family, and one who is experiencing the Filipino American disapora.

Pilipino Cultural Exchange (PCE) granted me the experience of leading a large-scale creative production from concept to premiere. I joined the organization as a staff member and co-led the development of a feature film celebrating Pilipino and FilAm culture- a project that required balancing artistic vision with logistical coordination, team leadership, and educational impact.

Co-Coordinator, Director & Producer

I co-led the creative and operational direction of the film, overseeing the full production lifecycle from script development through premiere. My work required translating cultural storytelling into a cohesive visual narrative while managing a cross-functional team of performers and creators.

Key contributions include:

  • Co-authored the script, crafting a narrative that honored and highlighted Pilipino cultural stories
  • Directed the film, leading the creative vision and translating the script into a fully realized feature
  • Conducted auditions and curated a cast of 40 performers
  • Organized and led four subgroups: actors, singers, dancers, and media creators
  • Coordinated production workflows to ensure alignment across all creative verticals

Educational & Community Leadership

Beyond production, I contributed to the broader mission of PCE as a cultural and educational institution:

  • Developed curriculum and provided instruction for ES 340 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
  • Served on the PCE staff, helping create a "home away from home" for students
  • Partnered with campus stakeholders to integrate cultural education into academic programming
  • Built systems and documentation to support future productions and staff onboarding

Impact

  • Thrived in a high-ownership, collaborative environment requiring creative and logistical leadership
  • Orchestrated an online premiere with 200+ attendees during the pandemic
  • Released the film on YouTube, making the story accessible to a global audience
  • Strengthened ability to lead diverse teams toward a shared creative vision

Overall, my experience with PCE deepened my ability to lead culturally meaningful projects that require both artistic direction and operational excellence. I'm especially drawn to roles where storytelling, community impact, and cross-functional collaboration intersect.

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Pilipino Cultural Exchange
PCN 32: Coordinator
Aug 2020 — May 2021

The Script In Depth

A two-act play exploring Filipino-American identity, family connections, and cultural discovery through the parallel journeys of two college students during the COVID-19 pandemic's remote learning period.
Overview
Erika Rivera - A Filipino-American student disconnected from her culture, living with her father while navigating a strained relationship with her aunt Alyssa
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Celestine Capulong - A Filipino-Canadian exchange student deeply connected to her heritage and family, especially her grandfather Romelo
Main Characters
Act I: Connection
Erika and Celestine meet through their online dance troupe and quickly become friends. While Celestine introduces Erika to Filipino culture—food, language, telenovelas, and history—Erika struggles with her identity and relationship with her aunt Alyssa, who recently moved in with Erika's mother.Through family video calls, Celestine's grandfather Romelo shares powerful stories of Filipino history, including revolutionaries like Gabriela Silang and his family's experience during Martial Law. These stories resonate with Erika as she begins exploring her heritage.The act explores themes of cultural expectations (skin lightening, career pressure toward nursing/engineering), language barriers (multiple Filipino dialects), and the complexity of Filipino identity beyond stereotypes.

Act II: Loss and Reconciliation
The story takes a dramatic turn when Romelo suddenly passes away. Celestine, separated from her family by distance, struggles with grief and lashes out at Erika during an argument about family, blood relations, and cultural authenticity.With guidance from her aunt Alyssa, Erika attends Romelo's virtual memorial and helps Celestine through her grief. The friends reconcile, acknowledging that family extends beyond blood and that both connection to and critical examination of culture are valuable.

The play concludes with Erika embracing her heritage, improving her relationship with Alyssa, and both girls honoring Romelo's legacy by sharing their stories and supporting each other.
Plot Synopsis
- Cultural identity and the diverse experiences within the Filipino diaspora
- Family bonds that transcend blood relations and physical distance
- Intergenerational connection and the importance of oral history
- Critical examination of cultural practices while maintaining respect for heritage
- Isolation and community during the pandemic, showing how technology both connects and separates
Key Themes
- The story is entirely virtual/video call format reflecting pandemic-era experiences
- Multiple performance styles: Modern dance, traditional Filipino dance (Kasayahan), and musical numbers (Ating Himig)
- Incorporates Tagalog, Ilocano, and other Filipino languages with translations
- Ensemble cast with various family members and friend groups
Technical Elements
"Magkatabi" ultimately celebrates the messy, complicated process of cultural discovery while emphasizing that sharing our stories—with honesty, complexity, and love—is how we honor those who came before us and build community with those beside us.
The Message
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