02/18/2026
Last night, I had the privilege of watching The Healing at Centaur Theatre Company and I’m still carrying it in my heart.
Inspired by the life of Filipino-Chinese playwright Marie Barlizo, this immersive contemporary dance piece is a powerful story that courageously opens wounds many of us quietly carry. Through raw and intimate scenes, we follow Marie’s journey growing up with an alcoholic and mentally ill father. She builds a life of her own, yet under the pressures of parenthood, she begins to see the same fear, paranoia, and addiction emerging within herself.
As a Filipino, I am incredibly proud to see our stories shared on stage with such honesty and depth. So often, pain in our communities is carried in silence. This piece reminds us that healing begins when we are ready to speak when we share our struggles to give hope to others who may be experiencing the same thing.
I’m also deeply grateful to this brilliant artist for inviting me to be one of the panel speakers. Being able to talk about how pain can shape our future not to define us, but to refine us was truly meaningful. Our past and our pain should never limit us. Instead, they can become fuel for growth, purpose, and sometimes even a mission to help others heal.
If you have the chance, go see The Healing. It is brave. It is uncomfortable. It is necessary. And most of all, it is hopeful.
📸 thanks for pic ☺️.
FromPainToPurpose