12 original plays and musicals selected for the 1st Puregold Teatro Panalo

The landmark selection process was led by an assembly of respected local theatre figures. The main committee includes festival director Vincent A DeJesus, an NCCA SUDI National Music Awardee and multi-award-winning composer and playwright; Jenny Jamora, a two-time Philstage Gawad Buhay! Award-winning director and actor; Liza Magtoto, a five-time Palanca Award-winning playwright; Marlon Rivera, an actor, film director and producer; and Nicolas Pichay, a theatre artist, lyricist and Palanca Awards Hall of Famer. The initial screening and shortlisting of the entries were conducted by screening committee members Layeta Bucoy and Allan Lopez, both multiple Palanca Award winners. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee serves as the festival’s artistic adviser.

DeJesus emphasised that the initiative focuses equally on nurturing artists and discovering outstanding material.

“We’re looking for authentic voices, fresh perspectives and stories that deserve to be seen on the stage,” DeJesus said. “The festival is designed to help playwrights realise the full potential of their work through collaboration with experienced theatre practitioners, while also giving audiences the opportunity to encounter exciting new Filipino stories.”

He added, “Original stories have always shaped communities, reflected generations and inspired change. With Puregold Teatro Panalo, the next great Filipino play may be waiting behind an unopened script.”

Puregold Teatro Panalo festival chair and senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad noted the extraordinary response from theatre artists across the country.

“It was encouraging to see how many Filipino storytellers are eager to share their work, and it made choosing only 12 plays especially difficult,” Hayagan-Piedad said.

“Puregold has always been present in the everyday lives of Filipino communities,” she explained, noting that the initiative stems from an understanding of service that extends beyond transactional retail. “Being of service to a community is not limited to what happens inside our stores. It also means listening to what matters to people and supporting experiences that help communities feel seen, connected and represented.”

The stakes will rise even higher as the inaugural festival draws to a close in March 2027. Following the live performances, one straight play and one musical will each receive an additional development grant. This extra funding will allow their creators to expand the winning one-act works into full-length theatrical productions for eventual commercial staging.

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