Working with Carol Cabrera

Working with Carol Cabrera was definitely a beneficial experience. I worked with her during the 2011 Kaibigan Pilipino's "Pilipino Cultural Celebration" (PCC). She was the director of the event and I was in charge of the sound. The main thing that stuck to me was how on point she was about deadlines and efficiency. I've taken part in three PCC's so far, and I believe whole-heartedly that she is the best director I've ever worked with.

~Dominic Toctocan

Carol Cabrera embodies the true nature of a director. My work with Carol was through a student-run production during our undergrad, and as director of the play, her guidance made the show flawless. She is utterly dedicated and devoted to the work she commits to. I remember scheduling extra rehearsal time for another piece to practice on my acting skills for the main piece that I was role-playing on. Carol's expectations are clear and she is very organized with the work that she produces. I mean, while working on the play I was in, she had another short-story premiering in a few weeks. Honest, energetic, and engaging individual. She is talented. Carol knows how to cultivate good actors and she delivers them through her visions and her visions are unbeatable. She was so much fun to work with and if I could, I would do it all over again.

~Vannary Diep

When I worked with Carol in preparation for my school's Filipino Cultural Night two years ago, there were several things that I admired about the way she led our group. She carried herself with an admirable type of confidence (not to be confused with arrogance) that drew the actors/actresses and performers to trust her input freely. Whether it was through the pre-rehearsal vocal exercises, coming up with ideas on the fly, or being quick to make the changes that she felt necessary, it was easy to follow suit considering how poised and resolute she appeared to be with those ideas. Carol is also fair. She gave affirmation individually and collectively when it was deserved, and used constructive criticism when something had room for improvement. One more quality that I like to mention is of how personable she was with the cast. Not just how she handled herself with people with significant roles, but even with those who didn't have much of a role at all. During breaks, I saw her play volleyball or participate in games with random cast members (some she may not have known personally beforehand). I think by her showing that she could have fun, especially with such a daunting responsibility of directing, it allowed everyone else to also relax a bit. At the same time, it was also enough to get our group to collectively respect her and be ready to work when she needed us to.

~Ryan Raroque