The stage is set, the lights are warm, and the story awaits its stars. On October 8, 2025, the BA Communication program of the University of Baguio brought the stage to life once more with The Sequel: CUErtain UP, a theater workshop on acting techniques held at the UB Centennial Hall. The event gathered students eager to explore the art of performance, expression, emotion, and everything in between.
The workshop celebrated the beauty of theater as a living art form. It wasn’t just about memorizing lines or projecting voices. It was about truth. Learning to feel deeply, move with purpose, and speak with sincerity. Participants were encouraged to dig beneath the surface, to find the parts of themselves that could make their characters real. Acting, after all, is not about pretending. It’s about revealing.
Guiding this creative exploration was Katherine Mae Nobleza-Estavillo, a passionate theater artist, director, and mentor whose dedication to the craft continues to inspire young performers. A proud Broadcast Communication graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, she refined her artistry through her work with Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Trumpets Playshop, and Galaw Komunidad.
Now serving as the Artistic and Festival Director of Tanghalang SLU at Saint Louis University, Estavillo shared her wisdom on stage presence, timing, and emotional honesty. Her sessions reminded everyone that great acting doesn’t come from imitation, but from understanding, knowing the story, the character, and one’s own self.
Students and members of the community took part in dynamic exercises that focused on movement, breathing, and spontaneity. They were challenged to respond instinctively, listen actively, and trust their emotions. Laughter and nervous energy filled the hall, but by the end, confidence replaced hesitation. The Centennial Hall echoed with voices that no longer feared the spotlight.
For the BA Communication students, The Sequel: CUErtain UP was more than a workshop. It was an invitation to see storytelling from the inside, to step onto the stage and discover the power of performance as a form of communication. Every glance, pause, and gesture carried meaning.
As the curtain closed, one truth stood clear: the stage will always belong to those brave enough to take their mark, find their truth, and own the scene.
