Philippine theater history is in the making!

After months of anticipation, excitement, and speculation, the stage is finally set for the inaugural Puregold Teatro Panalo! From a total of 373 submissions nationwide, only 12 exceptional works have emerged as the festival’s historic first batch of finalists.

Some of the biggest names in Philippine theater have meticulously reviewed hundreds of entries, searching for the most compelling stories, freshest voices, and boldest creative visions. Now, the chosen 12 are ready to take center stage and usher in an exciting new chapter for Filipino theater.

The highly anticipated announcement took place during a special live event at Cinema 16 of Gateway Mall on October 14. The selected playwrights stepped into the spotlight to receive their ₱100,000 talent fees, officially marking the beginning of their journey as pioneers of the first-ever Puregold Teatro Panalo.

Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold Teatro Panalo Festival Chair, expressed her excitement over the historic lineup and the extraordinary response from Filipino theater 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. They remind us how much Filipino theater has to offer; how live experiences offer authentic connections, and how important it is to create more opportunities for these stories to find their audience,” said Hayagan-Piedad. “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.”

The 12 finalists—eight straight plays and four musicals—of the inaugural Puregold Teatro Panalo are:

“The Girl Scout Law” by Rhain Arabella Alcoriza
“True to Life” by John "Sweet" Lapus
“Trahedya ng Kamote” by Marjay S. Manalastas
“The Boy Foretold By The Stars (One Act Play)” by Dolly Dulu
“Nothing But Dreams” by Ricardo C. Novenario
“Youngstunna” by Jerom Andrei M. Canlas
“Walang Maliit na Bagay” by Joshua Lim So
“@HOME” by Edralin Cabrera, Kathlyn Castillo, Michael Ian Lomongo, Marjorie Lorico, Maria Teresa Jamias, Wenah Nagales, & J Victor Villareal
“Ang Maayong Balita Sumala Kang Bibo Bautista” by Jude Thaddeus M. Gitamondoc
“Baka mali ang Tamaraw” by Emmanuel Benbinuto Antonio
“Manang-Mana Nga!” by Steven Hotchkiss and Jay Pangilinan
“The Fourth Wall Has Fallen” by Heber Justin P. O'Hara

Behind this landmark selection is an impressive assembly of some of the country’s most respected theater luminaries: NCCA SUDI National Music Awardee and multi-award-winning composer and playwright, Festival Director Vincent A. DeJesus; two-time Philstage Gawad Buhay! Award-winning director and accomplished actor Jenny Jamora; five-time Palanca Award-winning playwright Liza Magtoto; actor, award-winning film director, and producer Marlon Rivera; and theater artist, lyricist, and Palanca Awards Hall of Famer Atty. Nicolas Pichay.

Joining the team as Screening Committee members are multiple Palanca Award winners Dr. Layeta Bucoy and Allan Lopez, who screened the festival submissions and shortlisted the entries. Providing invaluable expertise and creative guidance to the festival is its Artistic Adviser, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee.

With such an extraordinary roster of artists behind the selection process, the inaugural lineup represents a powerful showcase of the creativity, imagination, and storytelling talent thriving in the Philippines today.

And this is only the beginning!

All 12 finalists will receive comprehensive development and production support from festival organizer Wishbone Collective Inc., transforming their winning concepts into fully staged productions. Audiences will finally get to experience these exciting new works when Puregold Teatro Panalo runs from February 20 to March 14, 2027.

The stakes will rise even higher as the festival draws to a close. One straight play and one musical will each be awarded an additional development grant, giving their creators the opportunity to expand their works into full-length theatrical productions.

More than a festival, Puregold Teatro Panalo is shaping up to be a major new platform for discovering Filipino talent, championing original stories, and creating opportunities for the next generation of theater makers.

Twelve groundbreaking works. One historic inaugural festival. A bold new era for Philippine theater.

The future of Filipino theater is ready to take center stage. And when the curtains rise in 2027, audiences will witness the beginning of something truly extraordinary.

izna, nagbahagi ng mga larawan mula sa “WHO DAT GIRL?” concert