Directing
chickenligaya
Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
With multiple roots in Visayan islands, Ligaya Villablanca is a media practitioner, a descendant of a pre-colonial buang, and a believer of regional cinema. As an alumna of BFA Cinema from University of San Carlos, they were an officer of CINEMATA for three consecutive years; Founded the regional film initiative, Moving Eyelands PH; and was a participant of Cinema Without Borders Southeast Asia Workshop, DAKILA Heroes Hub 2023, and QCinema Critics Lab 2024. They have served as Jury in multiple film festivals since 2021 and have received the Alexis Tioseco and Nika Bohinc Award from QCinema International Film Festival 2024. Their directorial works are all manifestations of their inter-island wandering mind that explores the themes of ethnolinguistic identity and collective grief in their own humorous flavor. Currently based in Quezon City pursuing UPD’s MS Media Arts (Film) and daydreaming about Shrek.
Acting credits
NRBased on a SINEGANG.ph article of the same name, this meta-documentary follows two aspiring Leyteño filmmakers as they set out to explore and document the film scene in Leyte (or the lack thereof). As their project unfolds, the region’s cinematic void begins to weigh on them, testing their passion and leading them down a path of growing frustration and disillusionment.
Where are the films in Leyte?
2025
NRIn Age of Blight, 12 Asian filmmakers capture and imagine life under the pandemic, from the hospital corridors of Marawi to protest rallies in the streets of Bangkok. The film mirrors light amidst the chaos and darkness, life in the face of death. Participating filmmakers are Mervine Aquino (Philippines), Bagane Fiola (Philippines), Daniel Rudi Haryanto (Indonesia), Hassanodden Hashim (Philippines), Gladys Ng (Singapore), Nontawat Numbenchapol (Thailand), Carla Pulido Ocampo (Philippines), Edmund Telmo (Philippines), Mark Lester Valle (Philippines), Ligaya Villablanca (Philippines), Takayuki Yoshida (Japan), and Abdul Zainidi (Brunei). Edited and assembled by John Torres (Philippines).
Age of Blight
2021
Behind the camera
NRInday Opil navigates the afterlife, eager to reach heaven. She must first embark on a journey untangling the weave of fate to be where she is meant to be.
Inday Opil Goes to Heaven
2025
NRInday Opil navigates the afterlife, eager to reach heaven. She must first embark on a journey untangling the weave of fate to be where she is meant to be.
Inday Opil Goes to Heaven
2025
NRIn Age of Blight, 12 Asian filmmakers capture and imagine life under the pandemic, from the hospital corridors of Marawi to protest rallies in the streets of Bangkok. The film mirrors light amidst the chaos and darkness, life in the face of death. Participating filmmakers are Mervine Aquino (Philippines), Bagane Fiola (Philippines), Daniel Rudi Haryanto (Indonesia), Hassanodden Hashim (Philippines), Gladys Ng (Singapore), Nontawat Numbenchapol (Thailand), Carla Pulido Ocampo (Philippines), Edmund Telmo (Philippines), Mark Lester Valle (Philippines), Ligaya Villablanca (Philippines), Takayuki Yoshida (Japan), and Abdul Zainidi (Brunei). Edited and assembled by John Torres (Philippines).
Age of Blight
2021
NRIntoxicated from their unspoken pasts, two souls from different islands of the Philippines cross path and continues the night forward in question of who or what is truly dead.
Good Morning, Let's Fight
2020
NRIntoxicated from their unspoken pasts, two souls from different islands of the Philippines cross path and continues the night forward in question of who or what is truly dead.
Good Morning, Let's Fight
2020
NRIt is the year 2020, it is Joi’s last few months in Cebu. Her father, an engineer working on quarantine centers in Leyte, converses with her throughout the months.
Fuck, I Want to Go Home
2021