On the Mainstage:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Written and Directed by Adelaida Bustamante
Performed by Erica Jaemes Palabrica and Ella Bustamante Bawaga, with Donald Bustamante and Danny DeCastro

"All Things Bright and Beautiful" is a little girl's journey from Manila to Canada against the backdrop of extreme climatic conditions and its impact on impoverished families and individuals, and the circle of life that turns victims into victors.

Genesis of the Show:

"All Things Bright and Beautiful" is quite/fully autobiographical which I think gives it a very authentic voice and narrative. I have written several short stories to document major events in my life. The play is based on one of those stories titled "Typhoon Haiyan," which I wrote after watching on television the devastation in Philippine. I was inspired to turn this story into a play because what we all have witnessed and experienced the global environmental, and social and economic impact of climate change and extreme climatic conditions. The story is timely and it is critical for us and our leaders to take responsibility and action to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Adelaida Bustamante

… has been a story teller since she started talking. She would often take Filipino legends and embellish dialogue and plot twists to keep her audience of cousins, nephews and nieces, and neighbourhood kids entertained. Then she grew up and had to take on adult responsibilities to lift her family out of poverty from the age of 12 years old when she came to Canada. Story telling became much less of a preoccupation than studying, working, sequencing the latest Influenza strain as a Microbiologist and more recently, writing briefing notes as a policy analyst. She is thrilled to be sharing stories once again, which she wrote in her moments of deepest sadness, disappointments, greatest triumphs, growth and inspiration. She is a proud mother of 4, a graduate of the University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, and Carleton University.

Erica Jaemes Palabrica

… is an aspiring fourteen year old musician and singer. She has been a top competitor in classical and musical theatres at the Kiwanis Music Festival. Erica is the pride of the Ottawa Filipino community. She recently started the International Baccalaureate Program at Colonel By Highschool. This is her first starring role in theatre drama and is thrilled to tell the story of young Adel.

Ella Bustamante Bawagan

… is a Research Coordinator at Atlas in the Royal Ottawa Hospital, with a focus on the impact of trauma on racialized and marginalized communities. She studied drama at Canterbury Highschool but later switched to Science in her last year. She finished her B.Sc. (Psychology) and Masters in Social Work at Carleton University. She has acted in several theatre productions in high school and is thrilled to bring her Mom's childhood story for other's to enjoy and to be inspired.

Premiered October 12 - 14, 2023.

Festival artwork by Sage Hartly