A NOT-SO-TALL TALE

Immigrating from the Philippines and crowned with my name, I aimed high: become a rock star, movie star, or TALL. After discovering the piano and power ballads, I penned a love song for an 8th-grade crush who loomed almost a foot higher. This greatly advanced my pursuit of music, writing, and ladders.

An alum of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication, I first wrote professionally for RADIO - where humble beginnings included answering phones and taking song requests for a "psychic dedications show". I still wonder why I was even needed.

Meanwhile, I'd performed original tunes at local coffeehouses. Think Billy Joel meets U2, at an In-N-Out Burger with Bruno Mars.

My passion for the arts landed me at UCLA for graduate film - with unexpected adventures in different worlds, including returning to my birthplace to helm a documentary, and teaching in historic Mexico City as Film Department Director at Universidad Panamericana. I taught in English and ate in Spanish.

Now I'm back in LA, developing creative projects closer to family. I also enjoy acting, currently cast in a sitcom podcast and improving my improv-ing with Upside Down Comedy. Yes, I still play music...in my Filipino disco cover band.

So I still aim high: happy to at least create and perform TALES that are TALL.

My UCLA colleague/professional cinematographer Ángel Granados and I founded the IMAGINATORS international and intercultural filmmaking program in Mexico - connecting industry mentors with aspiring creatives - one of my proudest moments.