Cover The ensemble cast of ‘Balete’ is the sole nominee for the Gawad Buhay Awards’ Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play (Photo: May Celeste)
The ensemble cast of ‘Balete’ is the sole nominee for the Gawad Buhay Awards’ Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play (Photo: May Celeste)
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For its 15th edition, the Gawad Buhay Awards opens its doors to the public once again
The stage is set for the 15th Gawad Buhay Awards, and this year, they’re inviting their greatest ally—the audience—to celebrate the rapid growth of Filipino theatre alongside them. Presented annually by PHILSTAGE (The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group), the evening brings the industry together to honour outstanding achievements in plays, musicals, dance and performance from the 2024 season. Themed under “Lakas ng Bawat Entablado”, the 15th Gawad Buhay Awards recognises diversity and the tremendous growth of the theatre scene in the last few years. Here’s what you can expect.
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Above The 15th Gawad Buhay Awards is set to happen this July 30, 2025 (Photo: PHILSTAGE)
The 15th Gawad Buhay Awards is set to happen this July 30, 2025 (Photo: PHILSTAGE)
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If you’ll be joining the ceremonies as a ticket holder, you’ll be warmly welcomed by the industry’s celebrated artists, companies and creatives. Theatre stars Phi Palmos—most recently seen in Newport World Resorts’ Delia D: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo—and Reb Atadero—recently seen in Grace, and is set to take the stage in The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show The Musical—will be hosting the show and promises live performances from Bar Boys, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Little Shop of Horrors, among plenty others. “The Gawad Buhay Awards have always been a night of celebration. Celebrating something, anything, is part of a theatre actor’s calling card. That’s why this night is always filled with laughter, surprises and unforgettable memories,” says Atadero.
Above The cast of ‘Bar Boys’ (Photo: May Celeste)
The cast of ‘Bar Boys’ (Photo: May Celeste)
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This year’s nominations reflect a vibrant and competitive season, with Tanghalang Pilipino leading the tally with 33 nods spread across its two productions. In the realm of Outstanding Translation or Adaptation, Rody Vera, Chris Millado, Sabrina Basilio, Delphine Buencamino and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company are the sole nominees for Balete. Outstanding Book of a Musical contains two nominees—Juan Ekis for Pingkian: Isang Musikal and Pat Valera for Bar Boys: A New Musical. Outstanding Original Score has Myke Salomon and Valera for Bar Boys: A New Musical and Ejay Yatco and Juan Ekis for Pingkian: Isang Musikal. Outstanding Musical Direction is a fierce battle between Yatco and Salomon as they compete for the award across their works in Bar Boys: A New Musical, One More Chance The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Little Shop of Horrors and Pingkian: Isang Musikal.
Above Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Pingkian: Isang Musikal’ (Photo: Creative Sense)
Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Pingkian: Isang Musikal’ (Photo: Creative Sense)
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Outstanding Choreography is a standoff between Delphine Buencamino for Balete and Jomelle Era for Bar Boys: A New Musical and Pingkian: Isang Musikal, while Outstanding Costume Design has five nominees: Mio Infante for Little Shop of Horrors, Joey Mendoza for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Raven Ong for Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical, Carlo Pagunaling for Pingkian: Isang Musikal and Carlos Siongco for Balete. Outstanding Lighting Design has the likes of John Batalla, D Cortezano, Roman Cruz and Meliton Roxas Jr competing for their work in Betrayal, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Balete, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
Above ‘Buruguduystunstugudunstuy Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical’ at Newport Performing Arts Theatre (Photo: Newport Performing Arts Theatre)
‘Buruguduystunstugudunstuy Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical’ at Newport Performing Arts Theatre (Photo: Newport Performing Arts Theatre)
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Outstanding Sound Design recognises Teresa Barrozo for Balete, Aji Manalo for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Fabian Obispo for Betrayal, TJ Ramos for Pingkian: Isang Musikal and Salomon for One More Chance The Musical. Outstanding Set Design is ruled by Ohm David for Bar Boys: A New Musical, Joey Mendoza for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Wika Nadera for Balete, Carlo Pagunaling for Pingkian: Isang Musikal, and Miguel Urbino for Betrayal. Outstanding Projection and Video Design has GA Fallarme, Joyce Garcia and JM Jimenez fighting for the title for their contributions in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical and Balete.
Above 9Works Theatrical’s ‘Rent’ (Photo: 9Works Theatrical)
9Works Theatrical’s ‘Rent’ (Photo: 9Works Theatrical)
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As for the actors, the Male Lead Performance in a Play award is a tough battle between James Bradwell and James Cooney in Betrayal and Nonie Buencamino in Balete. On the other hand, the Female Featured Performance in a Play could potentially go to Toni Go-Yadao and Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan for their roles in Balete and Gabby Padilla for her performance in Tiny Beautiful Things. The Male Featured Performance in a Play award features four actors from Balete—Earvin Estioco, Gelo Molina, Jonathan Tadioan and Marco Viaña.
On the musical side of things, the Female Lead Performance in a Musical could go to Krystal Kane and Padilla for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Nicole Omillo for One More Chance The Musical, Tex Ordoñez-de Leon Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical and Sue Ramirez for Little Shop of Horrors. The Male Lead Performance in a Musical also has multiple as Sam Concepcion and CJ Navato get recognised for their roles in One More Chance The Musical alongside Alex Diaz and Benedix Ramos for Bar Boys: A New Musical and Vic Robinson for Pingkian: Isang Musikal. The Female Featured Performance in a Musical award features five as Sheena Belarmino, Bituin Escalante, Sheila Francisco, Gab Pangilinan and Lance Reblando are pit together for their outstanding roles in One More Chance The Musical, Pingkian: Isang Musikal, Bar Boys: A New Musical and Rent. The Male Featured Performance in a Musical is the same way with Paw Castillo, Noel Comia Jr, Audie Gemora, Juliene Mendoza and Omar Uddin getting nominated for their work in Pingkian: Isang Musical, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical, Little Shop of Horrors and Bar Boys: A New Musical.
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Above Repertory Philippines’ ‘I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change’ (Photo: Dorie Padua)
Repertory Philippines’ ‘I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change’ (Photo: Dorie Padua)
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The Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play holds a sole nominee with Tanghalang Pilipino’s Balete while the Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical has the likes of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Bar Boys: A New Musical, Repertory Philippines’ I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Pingkian: Isang Musikal. Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play has Victor Lirio and Millado facing off for their work in Betrayal and Balete. On the flip side, the Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical could potentially go to Mikko Angeles and Valera for Bar Boys: A New Musical, Toff de Venecia for Little Shop of Horrors, Jenny Jamora for Pingkian: Isang Musikal and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
Above Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Balete’ (Photo: May Celeste)
Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Balete’ (Photo: May Celeste)
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Once again, a sole nominee reigns over a category and for the Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play award, it’s Repertory Philippines’ Betrayal. Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical on the other hand features Repertory Philippines’ I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and The Sandbox Colllective’s Little Shop of Horrors. The Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation award will be going to Tanghalang Pilipino’s Balete which is the only nominee. Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Bar Boys: A New Musical and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Pingkian: Isang Musikal will be competing against each other for the Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation award. Finally, the Outstanding Production for Children award is sure to go to Repertory Philippines’ Jepoy and the Magic Circle who stands alone in the category.
The 15th Gawad Buhay Awards happens on July 30, 2025, at the CCP’s Aliw Theatre in Pasay City. For more information, visit their social media pages.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
