Man@ng is Deity Reflections
December 3-5, 2021
ODC Theater
Live dance performance and film premiere of Man@ng is Deity by SF Legacy Artist Awardee and DanceUSA Fellow Alleluia Panis with original music by Joshua Icban and cinematography by Wilfred Galila.
Man@ng is Deity pays tribute to the lives of the 'manong' generation—the first wave of cheap imported Pilipinx laborers who powered the ever expanding needs of the developing United States empire. Inspired by real-life accounts of Pilipinx Americans between the 1910-1940s, this performance and film draws from public and personal narratives of their 8,000-mile immigration journey to America.
Check out the live stage recording of Man@ng is Deity, available for stream through February 28, 2022.
AUDIENCE REFLECTIONS
Johnny Huy Nguyen and Kao Sebastian Saephanh. Photos by Erina C. Alejo.
“Soulful and sophisticated, rooted in the experiences of the early generations of Filipino migrant workers. It celebrates worker power, queer love, indigenous beliefs of death and transition all in one.”
“Man@ng is Deity inspired me to look back into my family’s history and story of immigration and at the time celebrate the beauty and culture of the diasporic Pilipinx experience.”
Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano, Jonathan M. Mercado, Johnny Huy Nguyen, jose e abad, Kao Sebastian Saephanh, Hien Huynh. Photo by Erina C. Alejo.
“Alleluia and her collaborators have created another compelling visual of our stories through Man@ng is Deity and I’m excited for it to be seen and performed again and again. It inspired me to think about some of the hidden stories behind all of the other stories—Queer, Filipino, Women. I think its really important to think about the unspoken stories within all of us.”
Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano, Jonathan M. Mercado, Johnny Huy Nguyen, jose e abad, Kao Sebastian Saephanh, Hien Huynh. Photo by Erina C. Alejo.
“Opened the book of labor struggles faced by Pilipinos and sets the tone for how I will my pursue my goals in farming and farm management.”
Jonathan M. Mercado, Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano, jose e abad. Production still by Hana Sun Lee.
Behind the scene of Splendid Dancing. Photo by Hana Sun Lee.
“They are hardworking people toiling away in a foreign country but also assimilating and finding joy with each other.”
“I didn’t realize the amount of drinking/dancing that was part of the history.”
“Love the combo of dance and film. The younger dancers embodying the historical images and stories.”
“There’s little representation for these type of stories and perspectives.”
Frances Teves Sedayao and Ladislao ‘June’ Arellano. Photo by Erina C. Alejo.
“The movement and storytelling was mezmerizing and revived so much inspiration to tell our stories.”
Behind the scenes with Frances Teves Sedayao at ODC Theater. Photo by Hana Sun Lee.
“Love the multi-media, it was refreshing to have so much communicated outside of spoken language, to be able to tune so deeply into movement, music, and visuals.”