As reports circulated about his latest film, filmmaker Jun Robles Lana explained why he prefers to be credited under three names rather than the usual two.
The director, on Wednesday, January 28, responded to a social media post by a publication reporting on his upcoming film, “Sisa,” starring Hilda Koronel, Eugene Domingo and Jennica Garcia.
The report referred to him as “Jun Lana” instead of his customary “Jun Robles Lana.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the recent wave of support and coverage for our upcoming projects, from the stage play of About Us But Not About Us and the musical adaptation of Die Beautiful, to my soon-to-be-released film, Sisa,” the director said in a post reshare.
“It is an exciting and busy time, but I’ve noticed that in the flurry of write-ups, some still credit me as Jun Lana. Many of you met me at the start of my career by that name, but back in 2012, I made a conscious choice to become Jun Robles Lana,” he added.
The director’s full name is Rodolfo “Jun” Robles Lana Jr., although he is still listed as “Jun Lana” on IMDb, Wikipedia and in Google search results.
Lana went on to explain why he prefers to be credited under three names.
“‘Robles’ is my mother’s name. She single-handedly raised me and unwaveringly supported my love for writing at a time when it wasn’t the most practical choice to support our family,” he wrote.
“Despite the complexities of our relationship, I chose to carry her name into every frame I compose and every script I write. It is my way of honoring her through my work,” the filmmaker added.
“It has been over a decade since I began billing myself this way, and while it might seem like a small addition to some, it means the world to me. We live in a time where we’ve finally learned to respect people’s pronouns because we understand that identity is sacred. Our names are no different,” he said.
“As I move into this next chapter of storytelling across the stage, the screen, and the page, I’d be grateful if you could join me in honoring that identity,” Lana concluded.
I am incredibly grateful for the recent wave of support and coverage for our upcoming projects, from the stage play of About Us But Not About Us and the musical adaptation of Die Beautiful, to my soon-to-be-released film, Sisa.
It is an exciting and busy time, but I’ve noticed… https://t.co/FR8HKrSgcd
— Jun Robles Lana (@junrobleslana) January 28, 2026
Lana’s “Sisa” marks the big screen comeback of veteran actress Hilda Koronel — known for her collaborations with acclaimed filmmakers such as Lino Brocka — after 14 years.
Set in 1902, the film is a period drama thriller that follows a woman who feigns madness to conceal her true identity as a spy driven by vengeance during the Philippine-American War.
Lana has previously said that “Sisa” aims to elevate “the voices and experiences of marginalized women, challenging traditional gender roles and highlighting their crucial role in resistance movements.”
“Despite the brutality and oppression they face, the characters in the story demonstrate the resilience and unwavering spirit of the Filipino people in their struggle for freedom and self-determination,” he added.
Lana is known for Metro Manila Film Festival entries such as “Die Beautiful,” “Big Night,” “About Us But Not About Us,” “Call Me Mother” and “And the Breadwinner Is…”
He has also directed other acclaimed film festival titles, including “Bwakaw” and “Your Mother’s Son.”
