The USA Little Theater, the resident theater company of the University of San Agustin, represented Iloilo City, Philippines at the Asian Youth Theater Festival (AYTF) 2025, an international gathering of youth theater artists across Asia, with this year’s theme: The Right To Be Human.
The Asian Youth Theater Festival took place on December 4-8, 2025, with festival activities, workshops, cultural exchanges, and performances held throughout the program. For 2025, AYTF was held in the National College of Arts in Vientiane, Laos. The USA Little Theater performed at two venues, one for the Festival’s outreach at Vientiane International School, and the main stage at the National College of Arts.
The Asian Youth Theater Festival 2025 was founded by Claire Devine and brought to us by Buds Theater Singapore, powered by the National Youth Council Singapore, and hosted by To Khao Niew Lao, Artistic Director of Khao Niew Lao Theater. AYTF 2025 was headed by Masturah Oli, the current Artistic Director of Buds Theater. The festival brought together young artists from different theater groups around Asia, such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The USA Little Theater will be represented by:
Mr. Eric C. Divinagracia – Artistic Director of USALT
Mr. Ron Matthews Espinosa – Alumnus
Ms. Quezzy Claire Pedregosa – Alumnus
Mr. Af Bri Aniel Sta. Lucia – Bachelor of Arts in Communication 2A
Mr. Jon Evan Terence Yorac – Bachelor of Arts in Communication 2A
Ms. Ketchie Marie Tinagan – Bachelor of Arts in Communication 4A
Ms. Jhoana Susain Tupas – Bachelor of Science in Interior Design 1A
USA Little Theater was invited alongside WVSU Teatro Tayo to represent Iloilo through its continued commitment to youth-led theater practices. During the festival, the company engaged in:
- Collaborative theater workshops
- Intercultural conversation circles
- Collaborative devised performances
- Artistic exchange centered on contemporary social issues
The 2025 festival theme, “The Right To Be Human,” highlights the role of theater in exploring identity, dignity, mental health, and human rights. USA Little Theater’s participation affirms its mission to innovate dramatic forms through research, instruction and extension while conserving Filipino heritage in the Asian theater landscape.
The USA Little Theater is the official theater company of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City.
Vision: An Augustinian university theater community affirming Filipino and Ilonggo identity to promote authentic human and societal development.
Mission: The USA Little Theater commits itself to conserve Filipino heritage and innovate dramatic forms through research, instruction and extension and form its members into
Managers, Artists, Teacher and Advocates.
