UP Film Institute

ARCHIVES Personnel

Meet the stewards of UPFI’s Film Archives and Library.  From cataloging and classifying to maintaining access through a comprehensive database, their work ensures that these valuable resources remain available to students, faculty, and researchers. Get to know the team committed to safeguarding UPFI’s audiovisual heritage and supporting its continued use for study, teaching, and creative practice.

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Adrian D. Mendizabal

University Researcher I

admendizabal@up.edu.ph

Adrian D. Mendizabal is a University Researcher at the University of the Philippines Film Institute. He earned his MA in Media Studies (Film) from UPFI in 2023 and a BS in Chemical Engineering from UP Diliman in 2011. He supports collections management at the UPFI Film Archives and Library and contributes to UPFI’s academic program development. He served as Project Leader of the UCLA Library – Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) Planning Grant, a partnership between UCLA Library and the Society of Filipino Archivists. He also served as Head Researcher for the PUP–NCCA project, Philippine Documentary Heritage: Archival Collection Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. He also volunteers at the Philippine Labor Movement Archive. He is also a film critic, with reviews and essays published in VCinema, Pelikula: A Journal on Philippine Cinema, Asian Politics & Policy, Plaridel Journal, Kino Punch, NANG 2, La Furia Umana, New Durian Cinema, Transit Journal, Sinekultura Film Journal, and MUBI Notebook. He is currently researching the relationship between memory, technics, archives, and social movements.

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Kathleen Charmaine Rodrin

Administrative Assistant II

krlandan@up.edu.ph

Kathleen Rodrin is an Administrative Assistant II at the UP Film Institute, where she plays a key role in the Film Archives section. In her position, she is responsible for organizing, maintaining, and preserving valuable film and archival materials, ensuring their accessibility for research, education, and cultural enrichment.

 

Her work includes managing inventory systems, updating archival records, and supporting the proper handling and conservation of audiovisual collections. Through her dedication, she contributes to safeguarding the country’s cinematic heritage for future generations.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS Nursing) from Kester Grant College, an international school, reflecting her strong foundation in discipline, care, and attention to detail—qualities she brings into her professional work.

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Carina C. Samaniego

College Librarian IV, Head Librarian

ccsamaniego@up.edu.ph

Carina C. Samaniego is a licensed librarian currently serving as College Librarian IV of the UPFI Film Archives and Library. She holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. With over two decades of professional experience, she has previously served as the Senior Librarian at the Lopez Museum and Library, Director of the Office of University Archives at Ateneo de Manila University; and Librarian-Archivists of the Manila Observatory. Her work focuses on archives management and preservation, and she has presented at several local and international conferences.

upfi archives staff

Dennis Philip R. Vera

Administrative Assistant I

drvera@up.edu.ph

Dennis Philip R. Vera is an Administrative Assistant I at the UP Film Institute (UPFI), where he works with the UPFI Archive and Library Section. He provides administrative and academic support to faculty members, lecturers, representatives, staff, and students, and assists in coordinating academic requirements and student-related concerns within the institute.

His work includes supporting the management and organization of digital academic resources in the UPFI Server, particularly film thesis projects, local and foreign film materials. Through these responsibilities, he contributes to the accessibility and organization of archival and academic resources that support film education, research, and institutional documentation.