Rex dela Cruz

Jose Rexiel Dela Cruz (he/him) is a performing artist and cultural researcher based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born in Las Pinas, Philippines, Rex developed an unwavering passion for performing arts from a young age, with a particular love of Philippine folkloric dance. Upon immigrating to the US, Rex developed a career in biological sciences and currently works as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist focusing on molecular diagnostics.

Fulfilling his dream of being a folkloric performer, Rex joined the Parangal in 2022 and has since completed several immersive research trips with indigenous communities in his home country. After spearheading the care of traditional attire for the group, Rex was officially inducted as a part of Parangal’s Artistic Team in 2024 as Attire & Props Director. In that same year, together with other cultural researchers from Parangal and under the creative direction of Eric Solano, they wrote and published Adhika. This book highlights the life stories, knowledge, and traditions of culture bearers Parangal has been working with over the years.