Manila's homeless find expression in theater

Play shows struggles of homeless people before pandemic up to the time they found shelter inside a church

Roland Sanlao performs on stage in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao performs on stage in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao, 38, grew up in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur. He was a police officer, but because of an illness he left the service.

Sanlao said he was also ostracized in the community because of being a transgender.

Sanlao came to Manila to work and ended up selling in the streets of Quezon City.

When the coronavirus pandemic broke, Sanlao was one of those most affected by the lockdown implemented by the government.

Homeless and without any source of income, he sought shelter in a Catholic church in Manila that was giving refuge to street dwellers.


A woman walks past an image of Jesus Christ under a covered court turned into a shelter for the homeless in Manila, Philippines.

A woman walks past an image of Jesus Christ under a covered court turned into a shelter for the homeless in Manila, Philippines.

A woman walks past an image of Jesus Christ under a covered court turned into a shelter for the homeless in Manila, Philippines.


The shelter is part of the initiatives of the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center of the Society of the Divine Word congregation in response to the health crisis.

One of the programs in the shelter is a theater workshop.

Roland Sanlao prepares for his performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao prepares for his performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

A group of homeless people attend a theater workshop that has been integrated into Kalinga Center's program for street dwellers in Manila.

A group of homeless people attend a theater workshop that has been integrated into Kalinga Center's program for street dwellers in Manila.

Albert Saldajeno directs the cast during the theater arts workshop at the Paco Catholic school in Manila, Philippines.

Albert Saldajeno directs the cast during the theater arts workshop at the Paco Catholic school in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao prepares for his performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao prepares for his performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

A group of homeless people attend a theater workshop that has been integrated into Kalinga Center's program for street dwellers in Manila.

A group of homeless people attend a theater workshop that has been integrated into Kalinga Center's program for street dwellers in Manila.

Albert Saldajeno directs the cast during the theater arts workshop at the Paco Catholic school in Manila, Philippines.

Albert Saldajeno directs the cast during the theater arts workshop at the Paco Catholic school in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao joins a dance practice for the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines. The school is one of Kalinga Center's shelters for the poor and homeless affected by the coronavirus lockdown. “I used to act and dance when I was in high school,” said Sanlao. The workshop was an opportunity for him to once more shine and show his talent.

“I am very thankful that I was brought here where I found not only hope but also confidence to show my true self," he said.

"Lord really has a plan for each and every one of us," he added.
Roland Sanlao joins a dance practice for the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines. The school is one of Kalinga Center's shelters for the poor and homeless affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

Roland Sanlao joins a dance practice for the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines. The school is one of Kalinga Center's shelters for the poor and homeless affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

Roland Sanlao joins a dance practice for the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines. The school is one of Kalinga Center's shelters for the poor and homeless affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

Homeless people join a theater workshop handled by Kalipaya Center, a church-based theater arts ministry.

Homeless people join a theater workshop handled by Kalipaya Center, a church-based theater arts ministry.

Albert Saldajeno, head animator of Kalipaya Minsitry, gestures during the theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila

Albert Saldajeno, head animator of Kalipaya Minsitry, gestures during the theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila. The theater workshop is part of Kalinga's creative psycho-spiritual intervention for the homeless.

Members of the Kalipaya Ministry, teach basic dance movements to homeless people who joined a theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Members of the Kalipaya Ministry, teach basic dance movements to homeless people who joined a theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao dances during rehearsals of the theater performance in Manila, Philippines, on May 28.

Roland Sanlao dances during rehearsals of the theater performance in Manila, Philippines, on May 28.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Homeless people join a theater workshop handled by Kalipaya Center, a church-based theater arts ministry.

Homeless people join a theater workshop handled by Kalipaya Center, a church-based theater arts ministry.

Albert Saldajeno, head animator of Kalipaya Minsitry, gestures during the theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila

Albert Saldajeno, head animator of Kalipaya Minsitry, gestures during the theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila. The theater workshop is part of Kalinga's creative psycho-spiritual intervention for the homeless.

Members of the Kalipaya Ministry, teach basic dance movements to homeless people who joined a theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Members of the Kalipaya Ministry, teach basic dance movements to homeless people who joined a theater workshop at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao dances during rehearsals of the theater performance in Manila, Philippines, on May 28.

Roland Sanlao dances during rehearsals of the theater performance in Manila, Philippines, on May 28.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

On May 28, Sanlao and the other homeless people staged a play titled "Freedom from Street Culture, Embracing A Life of Care."

The cast of the play on stage at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

The cast of the play on stage at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

The cast of the play on stage at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

The play shows the struggle of homeless people before the pandemic up to the time they found shelter in the church.

"We use theater for [the homeless] to express what they feel and their struggles in life," said Albert Saldajeno, head animator of Kalipaya Centre, a church-based theater arts ministry.

The ministry has given workshops in the past on handling pastoral issues, including problems involving the environment, peace, and justice.


Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Homeless people dance during a theater arts practice at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao performs on stage inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao performs on stage inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Performers sing and dance on stage during the closing part of the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

Performers sing and dance on stage during the closing part of the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

A performer wears a mask depicting COVID-19 during the play inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

A performer wears a mask depicting COVID-19 during the play inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

Cast of the play practice on the eve of their performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Cast of the play practice on the eve of their performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao performs on stage inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao performs on stage inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Performers sing and dance on stage during the closing part of the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

Performers sing and dance on stage during the closing part of the play at the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

A performer wears a mask depicting COVID-19 during the play inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

A performer wears a mask depicting COVID-19 during the play inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila.

Cast of the play practice on the eve of their performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Cast of the play practice on the eve of their performance at the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

“It is really their voice that matters, minus all the theatrics," he said of the homeless performers.

"We just want them to be who they are and we want to see what they are capable of,” said Saldajeno.

A man sleeps at the Paco Catholic School, which has been used as a shelter for the homeless, in Manila, Philippines.

A man sleeps at the Paco Catholic School, which has been used as a shelter for the homeless, in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao and cast of the play fall in line for lunch break during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao and cast of the play fall in line for lunch break during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

A man sleeps at the Paco Catholic School, which has been used as a shelter for the homeless, in Manila, Philippines.

A man sleeps at the Paco Catholic School, which has been used as a shelter for the homeless, in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao and cast of the play fall in line for lunch break during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Roland Sanlao and cast of the play fall in line for lunch break during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Aside from teaching people to act, Saldajeno also facilitates spiritual and life sharing discussions among the participants.

“Not all homeless people are worthless," said Sanlao.

"They have hidden talents that we haven’t seen yet, and they are just waiting for the right time,” he added.


Published June 2, 2020

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Men and women wearing protective masks are silhouetted during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Men and women wearing protective masks are silhouetted during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.

Men and women wearing protective masks are silhouetted during the theater arts workshop inside the Paco Catholic School in Manila, Philippines.