Dulaang Crimson

The organization started on July 7, 2015 with the name of Dulaang Crimson where it started inside the corners of Western Mindanao State University (WMSU). A group of young college students and a couple of fresh graduates who were former members of the University’s Theater Guild, decided to create a small community theater organization that can create an avenue for for theater and arts enthusiasts among youth and young professionals of Zamboanga City and incorporate the art form in producing creative and inspiring advocacies that deals with the social development and transformation for the community. The word “Dulaang” which means playhouse or theater house was coined from an existing theater organization in the University of the Philippines called Dulaang UP and “crimson” was adapted from the WMSU’s mascot the “fighting crimson” and its brand color which is “crimson red”. The group was initially supported by the WMSU-Peace and Human Security Institute, a peace arm of the Office of the University President committed to building the bridge to peace. The office has opened a lot of doors for the Dulaang Crimson to explore social development work while using arts as a tool in projects or programs for social change. Through the years it continued to make theater happen in different areas in the city from co-designing and implementing projects such as the BATAnghal Project or the Balik-Eskwela through Theater Arts Workshop, a campaign to engage the children who were still displaced by the 2013 Zamboanga Siege to go back to school; Adolescent Development and Participation in Peace Building Project; Pamilyang X the Musical, a disaster risk reduction and water sanitation and hygiene campaign; Make the Children Dream Again Project, an advocacy to help children persevere in the challenges of education; and two more ongoing participatory research project entitled Conversa: Creating Safe Space for Open Conversation on Reproductive and Sexual Health amongst LGBTQIA+ community.