Joel Saracho

Joselito "Joel" B. Saracho is a Filipino activist, actor, and former journalist. He is credited with coining the name "Magdalo" for the group of soldiers that engaged in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003.

Career In the mid-1980s, Saracho served as a reporter for the broadsheets Malaya and Tinig ng Masa during the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. In December 1985, Saracho formed the group Discussions of Writers and Artists (DIWA) with A. R. Pascua, which sought to bring together journalists and artists from various fields to collaborate with each other.

In 1990, he formed Bagong Dugo, a theatre group that staged plays themed around politics and human rights.

In July 2003, while serving as a news writer during ABS-CBN News's coverage of the Oakwood mutiny by aggrieved soldiers, Saracho suggested using the name "Magdalo" to describe the group, citing the red armbands the soldiers wore that had a white sun at the center. Although his attribution for the red armbands to the flag of Katipunan's Magdalo faction was mistaken (the armbands more closely resembled the flag of Katipunan's Magdiwang faction), with the group itself actually using the name "Bagong Katipunan" , the name "Magdalo" became widely used among the media to refer to the soldiers. Naval officer Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the spokespersons for the Bagong Katipunan during the mutiny, organizations representing members of Bagong Katipunan would also use the name, such as the Samahang Magdalo civic organization in 2008 and the Magdalo Party-List in 2010.

As a member of T'bak Inc., Saracho assisted Ferdinand Llanes in the compilation of stories set during the martial law period under President Marcos for the book Tibak Rising: Activism in the Days of Martial Law, a project initiated in 2004 which would later be published in July 2012.

In February 2020, Saracho was accused of narrating the video series Ang Totoong Narcolist that claimed president Rodrigo Duterte to be involved in the illegal drug trade, being charged by the Department of Justice with conspiracy to commit sedition alongside former senator Antonio Trillanes and Eduardo Acierto.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Note(s) . 2011 Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay 2013 Mana 2014 From What Is Before Father Guido Original title: Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon Trophy Wife Clerk of court Maratabat: Pride and Honor 2015 Town in a Lake Original title: Matangtubig Hintayan ng Langit Elias / Tagasuri 2019 Metamorphosis Filipino priest 2 Lola Igna Quack doctor Culion Father Salvino 2020 Out of Body Short film Genus Pan Inggo Original title: Lahi, Hayop 2021 Coming Home Short film The Exorsis Mang Ruben 2022 The Baseball Player 2023 Ang Duyan ng Magiting 2024 Balota SPO2 Pastor Ballad of a Blind Man Claudio (The Dad) 2025 Sampung Utos Kay Josh Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom Short film Only We Know Bert Bar Boys: After School 2026 Silenced Nights

Television Year Title Role Note(s) Ref. 1997 Wansapanataym Episode: "Ang Hiwaga ng Gintong Piseta" 2008 Ligaw na Bulaklak Guest 2012 Valiente Attorney Manalad 2015–2016 On the Wings of Love Mama Lulu 2016 Ipaglaban Mo! Episode: "Tapat" 2017 I Heart Davao Manuel Aruban 2018 Since I Found You Berto 2019 Sahaya Usman Tadhana Episode: "Lindol" 2019–2020 Starla Ambo Soberano 2020 Oh, Mando! Mr. Siwa 2021–2022 Marry Me, Marry You Martin Mercado 2022 Maalaala Mo Kaya Various 2 episodes: "Logbook" and "Selda" 2023 Simula sa Gitna Elias / Tagasuri Replacing Chef Chico Carlon 2024 Batang Quiapo Apo Manuel 2025 Sins of the Father Pastor Ferdie Almonte Guest 2026The Silent Noise

Theatre Year Title Role Note(s) . 1988 Magkano Ka, Walong Oras Isang Araw Translation: "How Much Are You, Eight Hours One Day" 2001 Divinas Palabras 2007 Passion of the Christ Lazarus 2008 Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating Mga Anak Translation: "Woven Wings of Our Children" 2009; 2015 MLQ: Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon Claro M. Recto Translation: "MLQ: The Life of Manuel Luis Quezon"