Puregold Teatro Panalo Announces 12 Finalists for Inaugural 2027 Theater Festival
October 19, 2026
Selected from 373 nationwide submissions, eight straight plays and four musicals will take the stage from February 20 to March 14, 2027.
A new chapter in Philippine theater is taking shape as Puregold Teatro Panalo officially announces the 12 finalists of its inaugural theater festival, bringing together original Filipino plays and musicals from playwrights across the country.
Chosen from an impressive 373 submissions nationwide, the finalists comprise eight straight plays and four musicals that will be developed into fully staged productions for the festival's first edition, scheduled from February 20 to March 14, 2027.
The announcement was held on October 14, 2026, at Cinema 16 of Gateway Mall, where the selected playwrights were recognized and awarded ₱100,000 talent fees.
The festival aims to provide a new platform for Filipino playwrights, encourage original storytelling, and create opportunities for theater artists to bring their works to wider audiences.
Meet the 12 Finalists of Puregold Teatro Panalo
The inaugural lineup features established names alongside emerging voices in Philippine theater.
The 12 selected works and their playwrights are:
The Girl Scout Law — Rhain Arabella Alcoriza
True to Life — John "Sweet" Lapus
Trahedya ng Kamote — Marjay S. Manalastas
The Boy Foretold By The Stars (One Act Play) — Dolly Dulu
Nothing But Dreams — Ricardo C. Novenario
Youngstunna — Jerom Andrei M. Canlas
Walang Maliit na Bagay — Joshua Lim So
@HOME — Edralin Cabrera, Kathlyn Castillo, Michael Ian Lomongo, Marjorie Lorico, Maria Teresa Jamias, Wenah Nagales, and J Victor Villareal
Ang Maayong Balita Sumala Kang Bibo Bautista — Jude Thaddeus M. Gitamondoc
Baka mali ang Tamaraw — Emmanuel Benbinuto Antonio
Manang-Mana Nga! — Steven Hotchkiss and Jay Pangilinan
The Fourth Wall Has Fallen — Heber Justin P. O'Hara
With 12 original works selected from hundreds of submissions, the festival offers audiences an opportunity to discover new stories while seeing familiar theater artists explore fresh material.
Creating More Opportunities for Filipino Playwrights
For Puregold Teatro Panalo Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, the overwhelming response to the festival's call for submissions reflects the wealth of storytelling talent in the Philippines.
“It was encouraging to see how many Filipino storytellers are eager to share their work, and it made choosing only 12 plays especially difficult,” said Hayagan-Piedad.
She emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for original Filipino works to reach audiences through live theater.
“With Puregold Teatro Panalo, we hope to give these works the stage they deserve and, in our own way, help Philippine theater continue to grow,” she added.
Respected Theater Artists Lead the Selection Process
The festival assembled an accomplished panel of theater practitioners and creative professionals to evaluate the submissions.
Leading the festival is Vincent A. DeJesus, Festival Director, NCCA SUDI National Music Awardee, and multi-award-winning composer and playwright.
Joining him in the selection process are Jenny Jamora, two-time Philstage Gawad Buhay! Award-winning director and actor Liza Magtoto, five-time Palanca Award-winning playwright, Marlon Rivera, actor, award-winning film director, and producer, Atty. Nicolas Pichay, theater artist, lyricist, and Palanca Awards Hall of Famer.
The screening committee includes multiple Palanca Award winners Dr. Layeta Bucoy and Allan Lopez, who reviewed the submissions and shortlisted the entries.
Meanwhile, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee serves as the festival's Artistic Adviser, providing creative guidance to the initiative.
The involvement of these respected figures underscores the festival's commitment to developing original Filipino theatrical works.
From Original Scripts to Fully Staged Productions
Festival organizer Wishbone Collective Inc. will provide comprehensive development and production support to help transform the selected works into fully staged productions.
Each finalist has also received a ₱100,000 talent fee, recognizing the creative work involved in developing original theatrical material.
At the conclusion of the festival, one straight play and one musical will each receive an additional development grant to support their expansion into full-length theatrical productions. This gives selected playwrights an opportunity not only to present their work during the festival but also to develop their stories further for future theatrical productions.
A New Platform for Philippine Theater
With its inaugural edition, Puregold Teatro Panalo enters the Philippine theater landscape at a time when opportunities for original Filipino stories remain essential to the industry's continued growth. The festival's emphasis on new writing, artistic development, and production support offers playwrights a pathway from script submission to live performance. It also gives theater audiences a chance to encounter a diverse selection of original works, including stories from established practitioners and emerging playwrights.
Puregold Teatro Panalo runs from February 20 to March 14, 2027, featuring all 12 finalist productions.
