Cybil Pallugna-Saenz "Halo Halo TV” recordings of Filipino-American events in Houston

Cybil Pallugna-Saenz was born in America to Filipino immigrant parents and has been searching for an identity her entire life. Not quite Filipina, not quite the average-looking American, Cybil sought answers to her identity questions in television but did not see herself in those characters.

A multimedia artist specializing in digital content creation, Cybil began working in digital art at Village Voice Media’s Houston Press where she discovered a hidden talent for graphic design and thrived in the weekly deadline driven schedule. Cybil excelled to Production Manager within three years and then pivoted to broadcast television working for the public access channel, Houston Media Source.

In 2004, Cybil decided to produce Houston’s first Filipino-American television show called “Halo Halo TV” on the public access channel, Houston MediaSource. It was a thirty-minute show that featured Tagalog lessons and community events in and around Houston. “Halo-Halo TV” was sponsored by the Houston Northwest Filipino-American Community, where Cybil grew up. The series lasted for only one season and was hosted by Cybil Pallugna, Derick Mendoza, and Grace Rodriguez.

In 2019, after having three children of her own and connecting with other creative Filipinx Houstonians, Cybil began “Halo Halo TV” into “Halo Halo Houston” to produce the show as a web series featuring the Filipinx Culture within the Houston Metropolitan area.

Currently, Cybil is currently an administrative professional in the office of the Director at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and a freelance digital content producer for nonprofit organizations. When not watching or making films, Cybil spends time with her husband, Alejandro Saenz, Jr., and their three children, Apolonio, Benicio and Alejandro III. Cybil is also an active member of the Filipinx Artists of Houston.