A LEGACY OF EXPERIENCE, A FUTURE OF VISION
Mandala Productions closes 2025 with a clear and steady recognition of what has always defined its place in the industry: experience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to purposeful storytelling.
For more than two decades, Mandala has been one of Asia’s most experienced and reliable production service providers, working at the intersection of global content creation and Southeast Asian cultural identity.
The company’s mission remains constant: Make local stories global. Make global stories relatable. Build bridges between cultures through work executed with precision and clarity.
Notable Projects in 2025
This year began on the white shores of San Remigio in Cebu, where the team delivered one of its largest undertakings, the production of Hotel Paradise for Golden Media Polska. It represented every strength Mandala has built over the years: full-scale logistical capability and location expertise honed through hundreds of field operations.
Another key project was Somebody Feed Phil, a production that brought food, culture, and human connection three core elements close to Mandala’s heart together with clarity and warmth. The project reaffirmed Mandala’s philosophy: food as story, food as memory, food as a bridge between people who may never share the same language.
A cohesive team able to anticipate the demands of foreign productions, along with the presence and support of relevant Philippine Government Agencies, reinforced a shared commitment to elevating the Philippines as a premier filming hub.
Regional Collaborations and Growth
Across the year, Mandala strengthened its network throughout Asia. Its long-standing alliance with Vietnam’s CreaTV continued to deepen, covering terrains that test both endurance and skill, from jungles and temples to remote border communities and dense cities. These collaborations represent a body of work built not through chance but through persistent trust between teams capable of delivering in the most demanding conditions.
Mandala’s presence across Asia is rooted in consistency and reliability, the currency of production. In 2025, Mandala also participated in major international film and television markets such as Marché du Film in Cannes, Asian Contents and Film Market in Busan, Monte Carlo TV Festival, and Asia-TV Forum in Singapore. These engagements were deliberate, aimed at integrating Southeast Asian production excellence into global collaboration pipelines.
Leading with Purpose and Integrity
At the heart of Mandala’s success stands its founder and owner, Johanna Kirsten Lagman. Her leadership has shaped the culture of the company since its earliest years. Alongside her is her long-time best friend and business partner, Amelia Perez, whose creative instinct and judgment have been integral in shaping Mandala’s identity.
Supporting this leadership is the core team that ensures Mandala’s operations run smoothly: Danilo Olanday, Robie Ramos, and Jason Tarrayo. With decades of combined experience, they are the backbone of Mandala’s field operations and logistics, ensuring that the company can respond to challenging conditions with practiced calm and consistency.
Mandala’s identity has always been shaped by unity and purpose. It was built by young creatives who believed that meaningful work does not require permission, and it has thrived due to a culture built on friendship, discipline, and the ability to endure.
A New Chapter: Original Content Development
Mandala continues to evolve with a growing emphasis on original content development. The company is building its own intellectual properties (IPs), exploring genres and subjects that align with its core values and experiences. These stories reflect the complexities of the modern world and the nuances of Southeast Asian identity, representing the next chapter in Mandala’s work an expansion, rather than a reinvention.
The company understands that IP development is not an alternative to service work but a complement both arising from the same impulse to refine craft and elevate story.
Gratitude and Future Vision
Looking back at 2025, Mandala reflects with gratitude for its long-standing partners, regional collaborators, and the institutions and government agencies that have recognized the value of sustained partnerships. Most of all, the team is grateful for the dedication of the team members who carry the Mandala name with discipline, loyalty, and pride.
As Mandala moves into 2026, it does so with clarity and purpose. The production industry will continue to evolve, with new technologies and changing workflows, but Mandala’s foundation remains unchanged. It will continue to strengthen regional alliances, expand original content development, and bring more global productions to the Philippines.
Mandala enters the new year with the understanding that stories matter, they build bridges, deepen understanding, and close distances. With every story told, the world becomes more connected.
Press Contact:
Johanna Kirsten Lagman
Producer, Mandala Productions
www.teammandala.com
