Instagram story viewer> @nanjonka> Posts

Jonathan Michael Mercado

@nanjonka

1.4K

followers

3601

following

🇵🇭 dancer + performer + practitioner + dinosaurs + sagayan + ❤️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

“Like father, like son”. To the guy who got me into most of my interests nowadays + good/bad habits. Happy birthday dad. Attempt at recreating his pictures. by @nanjonka

227

5

6 years ago

It has taken me a while to be able to digest my recent time in the Philippines and I think it'll always take me a long time to digest my own complex relationship with the homeland.

But, hands down, the highlight of the trip for me was the opportunity to perform our "US" version of Sagayan for the Maguindanon Sultanate. Sagayan has become more to me than just a dance, but a feeling of joy, a grounding ritual, and a constant work in progress. To be able to come full circle from 2015 to 2023 is nothing short of achieving a dream.

This was only possible because of the people who have motivated and inspired generations of movers.

My diasporic culture bearers: Eric Solano for introducing me to Sagayan and for teaching me the multiple styles to develop a practice. Alleluia Panis for challenging me to think deeply with what it can mean to me.

Our culture bearers in the Philippines: Sir Faisal Monal, the entire Mohammad family, Bapa Kalikod, and Bapa Danny for being true caretakers of their culture. It has been a blessing to be allowed to share space with you.

And many more who I have interacted with, who I have danced with, shared space with, and just enjoyed our time with exploring the culture.

This is only a short reminder to myself that culture shouldn't just be experienced, but it has to be lived.

Only a dash of moments of what a Sagayan journey this has been. Will upload the full video later of the performance for the Sultanate. #sagayan

🎼 Dakilla - "Gozala" by @nanjonka

176

11

4 years ago

Nothing could’ve gotten me more nervous than to be in the presence of Ryan Mohammad, a champion sagayan dancer, mentor, and generational master sagayan practitioner of maguindanao. His presence and spirit held so much space immediately when he entered. Sagayan is in their blood and so deeply rooted within his family and maguindanaon culture. To see generations of sagayan dancers and to be able to dance with him was nothing short of humbling. Look how smooth and effortless he is!
#sagayan #maguindanao #tributur2019 #kularts #bantugan #spiritofbantugan taken in Cotabato City by @nanjonka

259

29

6 years ago

We’re so excited to welcome Jonathan Mercado (@nanjonka ) back to Pangalay Circle this Sunday!

You may have seen Jonathan performing with @kulartspresents or @parangaldance , or teaching the next generation through @agosprogram_kularts . He also has a project called Oakland Tayo @oaklandtayo , a work in progress exploration in co-production with herna cruz Louie to envision Filipino connection while honoring our roots in the Bay Area.

Last year, he guided us through Maguindanaon Sagayan. This year, he’ll lead us in exploring diasporic identity through movement, drawing from his rich background across multiple dance forms.

Witnessing the way Jonathan embodies Philippine dance while honoring the many influences that shape his practice is such a gift. We hope you’ll join us to learn, move, reflect, and discover new ways of connecting to your own story through dance. taken in Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center by @nanjonka

3

11

3 months ago

𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 4 “𝘐𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩” | 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳

After a work-in-progress showing in June 2025, the cast alongside SF Legacy Artist Alleluia Panis, confront what was left unsaid, unpacking cultural taboos within Filipino communities, embodying the unraveling grief of a father, and reimagining how the piece must evolve ahead of its April 2026 world premiere.

𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 🎟️
www.kularts-sf.org/burden-of-proof

🎋$28 Online GA
🌴$35 At the Door

————————

Inspired by the true story of Pilipina nurses Leonora Perez and Filipina Narciso, who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the 1975 deaths of patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, until a judge ordered their release due to the prosecutor’s “overwhelming prejudice.”

Burden of Proof by “Manai” Alleluia Panis ( @alleluiasfprojects ) is an immersive multimedia dance performance, that delves into the generational trauma inflicted by the American justice system and how traumatic experiences blur the line between memory and nightmare, told through the lens of the fictional Calinao immigrant family. Original sound score features text drawn from the diary of Leonora Magabo Perez and the writings of her son, Jason Magabo Perez ( @jsnmgbprz ), 2024 San Diego Poet Laureate.

————————

Weekend 1:
April 17th - April 19th

Weekend 2:
April 24th - April 26th

7pm on Fridays & Saturdays
3pm on Sundays

————————

🎬 Directed and edited by @kuyajohanproductions

🎞️ Work in progress performance clips filmed by @kenfrv

🪩 Rehearsal clips filmed by Johan, Hana Sun Lee, and Ken Francis Villa

————————
#ContemporaryDance #FilipinxArt #asianamericanartist #moderndance #sanfranciscoart taken in Bindlestiff Studio by @nanjonka

177

8

7 months ago

𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 “𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗠𝗘” 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐩 ‼️

The past and the present converge on one stage and one night, for a powerful and show stopping evening of live music and dance! We are beyond honored to gather generations of KULARTS artists to join forces and celebrate the past 40 years of our organization. ❤️‍🔥✨🙌🏽

————-————-————-————-————-

KULARTS 40th Anniversary Gala
“Eternal Flame”

Friday, September 26th, 2025
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center

Join us for a powerful evening as KULARTS celebrates its Ruby Anniversary, marking 40 years of Pilipino artistry, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. Since 1985, KULARTS has uplifted the stories of our ancestors, nurtured generations of artists, and helped shape the evolving landscape of Pilipino identity in the diaspora.

This milestone fundraiser honors our journey and looks boldly toward a future where our work continues to resist, heal, and transform. Experience an unforgettable night of live performances, immersive art, and stories from our past, present, and emerging future—all reflecting the strength and brilliance symbolized by ruby: a stone of passion, protection, and power.

RSVP YOUR TICKET ONLINE:
• www.kularts-sf.org/upcoming-events/kularts-40th-anniversary
• https://app.arts-people.com/?show=294267

For more information or inquiries, please contact us at program@kularts-sf.org. taken in Oakland Asian Cultural Center by @nanjonka

77

0

a year ago

Dinosaurs Union City is officially open!
Come visit us!

30770 Union City Blvd
Union City, CA 94587 taken in Union City, California by @nanjonka

185

26

a year ago

Thank you everyone for joining us at today’s Sagayan workshop!!! And a HUGE thank you to Jon (@nanjonka) for sharing your wealth of knowledge on this traditional art-form and the Maguindanaoan culture with us!!!

It’s truly a privilege and we’re incredibly grateful to be able to learn and share space with all of you :)

See y’all at the next workshop on August 3 with the lovely Jai (@titakuyateh)!

Big thank you to @sentro_filipino for hosting our monthly programming! taken in Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center by @nanjonka

3

3

a year ago

This coming July we have our dear friend, Jon Mercado sharing Sagayan on July 13th from 11am-1pm. Really exciting to see others learn more about one of Maguindanaos true traditional dances (the other being Asik).

BRING YOUR KNEE PADS!

Jonathan was first introduced to Sagayan in 2015 during a Parangal trip to New York. Since then, he’s continued to perform and lead workshops, diving into the many regional and stylistic variations of the dance. His learning has been shaped by the guidance of Eric Solano, Alleluia Panis, Faisal Monal, the Mohammad family, and the late Bapa Kalikod of the Makibimbang group.

In 2018, 2020, and 2023, he took part in Ipat—the root ritual where Sagayan comes from—through immersive experiences with Kularts and Parangal in Maguindanao.

With over 100 performances and workshops across the U.S. and the Philippines since 2015, Jonathan continues to be a dedicated cultural practitioner. He continues to explore and develop his own approach to Sagayan within the Filipino American diaspora and encourages others to connect with its warrior spirit and cultural roots. taken in Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center by @nanjonka

3

0

a year ago

by @nanjonka

128

3

2 years ago

Save the date for Saturday, August 24th! Let’s make an offering for P4L35T!N3🍉 and gather in community. As artists in the diaspora it is important that we include solidarity with P4L35T!N3🍉 in our practice.

We want our community to be confident that their donations will reach these charities. Therefore we will not be functioning as a broker for this fundraiser. We will provide QR codes that link directly to the donation pages of our chosen organizations in our outreach and at the door. Event goers must simply show proof of their donation (for whatever amount) on their mobile device for admission.

Donate and fill out the RSVP!
https://forms.gle/6PXAzUmrnfLGrBbR7 taken in Bindlestiff Studio by @nanjonka

3

4

2 years ago

Take a moment to get to know Oakland Tayo Project Co-Creator Jonathan Mercado @nanjonka! Experience his collaboration with Herna Cruz-Louie @with.a.silent.h this Saturday from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the @oaklandasiancc! Tickets are still available - Link in bio 🎟️ taken in Oakland Asian Cultural Center by @nanjonka

232

22

2 years ago