LAOWAILAO 老外勞

2023

Concept and Choreography: AL Garcia
2023 Cultural Center of the Philipines' NEOFILIPINO
Co-Producers: HirayaFellowship Program and Guang Ming College
Collaborating Artists: Sarah Maria Samaniego, Wynvel Anguren, Mary Evangeline Recto, Jai Nacionales, Marco Mermida, Janina Garciso, Chan Rabutazo, Kheem Pedrosa Tiengo
Production Manager: Raphne Catorce
Stage Manager: Lalaine Remegio
Costume: Edrian Oliver Lorica
Dramaturg: Heidi Salih Emelo
Video Design: Ces Valera
Lights Design: Madonna Tinoy
Special thanks to Myra Beltran Aaron Kaiser Garcia Ricca Bautista

Lao Wai Lao 老外勞 is coined from Mandarin words "Lao Wai 老外” and "Wai Lao 外勞.” The former signifies being an outsider or foreigner, often carrying connotations of otherness and unfamiliarity, while the latter was a term associated with migrant workers from Southeast Asian countries, but recently discouraged to use due to its implications of discrimination.

This immersive performance is a montage of the choreographer's four-year journey as a foreigner in Taiwan, guiding the audience through the significant images that he encounters everyday. Different movements of peoples and the new environment that he is in. This is an experience about Taiwan through the lens of a Filipino.

Lao Wai Lao is an experience presented in three parts Rituals , Routes, and Roots that encapsulate themes of identity, privilege, and cultural connections—as a Wai Lao and as a Filipino
Rituals draw inspiration from Taiwan's majestic goddess of the sea, Mazu 媽祖.
Routes take on a journey through Taiwan's High-Speed Railway (HSR) 高鐵, a powerful symbol of privilege and classism.
Roots is an encounter with the Paiwan 排灣 aboriginal community in south of Taiwan with their traditional songs.