16th Gawad Buhay Awards: Presenters, Performers, Nominees, and More Ahead of July 28 Ceremony
Philstage’s Gawad Buhay Awards will celebrate the best of Philippine theater at its 16th awards ceremony on July 28 at 7 PM at the Aliw Theater, with Reb Atadero serving as host.
All 18 eligible Philstage productions that opened between January 1 and December 31, 2025 received at least one nomination. The nominees were selected from 155 citations determined by a 13-member independent jury composed of theater practitioners, academics, reviewers, and journalists.
Tanghalang Pilipino’s Kisapmata and The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show lead this year’s nominations with 14 each. Shrek the Musical from Full House Theater Company follows with 12 nominations, while Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s We Aren’t Kids Anymore receives nine.
Theater fans are invited to witness the night’s biggest wins, heartfelt acceptance speeches, and live performances, with tickets priced at ₱2,060 (VIP, which includes a curated merch box and discounts to select shows) and ₱1,030 (Regular, which includes a merch blind box), available through TicketWorld. Upon arrival at the venue, VIP ticket holders may register to receive discount codes for Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Gabriela: The Musical and The Sandbox Collective’s People, Places & Things.
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This year’s presenters include Franco Laurel, Angia Laurel, Wika Nadera, Carlo Pagunaling, Nonie Buencamino, Delphine Buencamino, Kakki Teodoro, CJ Navato, Jaime del Mundo, Sarah Facuri, Gabby Padilla, and Jake Cuenca.
Performances throughout the evening will feature the casts of Come From Away, The Foxtrot, Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical, Side Show, Shrek the Musical, and We Aren’t Kids Anymore. In addition, several prominent theater artists will make surprise appearances in the opening and closing numbers, as well as during a special in memoriam tribute.
Four nominated productions were co-produced with non-Philstage member companies: Come From Away (Stages Production Specialists, Inc. with GMG Productions), Kaliwaan (Stages Production Specialists, Inc. with MusicArtes, Inc.), Nobody Is Home (Philippine Educational Theater Association with Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater), and Via Dolorosa (The Necessary Theatre with WHYNot Manila).
Philstage is the SEC-registered alliance of Manila-based professional performing arts companies. Its member organizations include 9 Works Theatrical, Actors Actors Inc., Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Ballet Manila, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, Culturtain Musicat Productions, Fire and Ice, Full House Theater Company, Necessary Theatre, PETA Theater, Philippine Opera Company, Repertory Philippines, The Sandbox Collective, Stages Productions, Tanghalang Pilipino, Theatre Titas, and Trumpets Inc.
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Here is the complete list of nominations:
Outstanding Original Script
Chesie Galvez-Cariño (‘The Foxtrot’)
Liza Magtoto, J-mee Katanyag, Nina Gühlstorff, and the cast of ‘Nobody Is Home’ (‘Nobody Is Home’)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Guelan Varela-Luarca and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company (‘Kisapmata’)
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Nicanor Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Outstanding Original Score
Nica del Rosario, Matthew Chang, Nicanor Tiongson, and Eljay Castro Deldoc (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Gabriel Ramos and Dexter Lansang (‘Via Dolorosa’)
Outstanding Musical Direction
Farley Asuncion and Myke Salomon (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Nica del Rosario and Matthew Chang (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Rony Fortich (‘Come From Away’)
Ejay Yatco (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Ejay Yatco (‘Side Show’)
Outstanding Choreography
JM Cabling (‘Kisapmata’)
JM Cabling (‘Side Show’)
Jomelle Era (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’)
Stephen Viñas (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
Stephen Viñas (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Outstanding Costume Design
Bonsai Cielo (‘Kisapmata’)
Mitoy Sta. Ana (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
Carlos Siongco (‘Side Show’)
Hershee Tantiado and Phillip Domingo (‘Alice in Wonderland’)
Marco Viaña (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
D Cortezano (‘Kisapmata’)
D Cortezano (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Meliton Roxas Jr. (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Gabo Tolentino (‘Side Show’)
Outstanding Sound Design
Arvy Dimaculangan (‘Kisapmata’)
Aji Manalo (‘Side Show’)
Fabian Obispo (‘Art’)
Aron Roca (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Luke Swaffield (‘Come From Away’)
Outstanding Set Design
Lawyn Cruz (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Mark Dalacat (‘Side Show’)
Joey Mendoza (‘Kisapmata’)
Joey Mendoza (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Mikayla Teodoro (‘Come From Away’)
Outstanding Projection and Video Design
GA Fallarme (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’)
GA Fallarme and Joyce Garcia (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
GA Fallarme, Justin Santiago, and JM Jimenez (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Joey Mendoza, D Cortezano, Justin Santiago, and JM Jimenez (‘Kisapmata’)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Jackie Lou Blanco (‘The Foxtrot’)
Meann Espinosa (‘Nobody Is Home’)
Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
Ron Capinding (‘Kaliwaan’)
Bart Guingona (‘Via Dolorosa’)
JC Santos (‘The Foxtrot’)
Brian Sy (‘Art’)
Jonathan Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Ute Baggeröhr (‘Nobody Is Home’)
Toni Go-Yadao (‘Kisapmata’)
Ash Nicanor (‘Let’s Do Lunch’)
Susi Wirth (‘Nobody Is Home’)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
Marco Viaña (‘Kisapmata’)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Krystal Kane (‘Side Show’)
Molly Langley (‘Side Show’)
Marynor Madamesila (‘Side Show’)
Tanya Manalang (‘Side Show’)
Nikki Valdez (‘Next to Normal’)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Arnel Carrion (‘A Christmas Carol’)
Phi Palmos (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
Jamie Wilson (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Cathy Azanza-Dy (‘Come From Away’)
Maronne Cruz (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Sheila Francisco (‘Come From Away’)
Sheena Lee Palad (‘The Bodyguard The Musical’)
Heart Puyong (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Topper Fabregas (‘Shrek the Musical’)
John Lapus (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)
Vino Mabalot (‘Next to Normal’)
Marvin Ong (‘Side Show’)
Benedix Ramos (‘Next to Normal’)
Alfredo Reyes (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
‘Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
‘Nobody Is Home’ (Philippine Educational Theater Association)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
‘Come From Away’ (Stages Production Specialists, Inc.)
‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
‘Shrek The Musical’ (Full House Theater Company)
‘Side Show’ (The Sandbox Collective)
‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Bart Guingona (‘Via Dolorosa’)
Nina Gühlstorff and J-mee Katanyag (‘Nobody Is Home’)
Guelan Varela-Luarca (‘Kisapmata’)
Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Delphine Buencamino (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)
Toff de Venecia (‘Side Show’)
Dexter Santos (‘Shrek the Musical’)
Michael Williams (‘Come From Away’)
Rem Zamora (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)
Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation
‘The Foxtrot’ (Theatre Titas)
‘Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
‘Nobody Is Home’ (Philippine Educational Theater Association)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
‘Via Dolorosa’ (The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
‘Come From Away’ (Stages Production Specialists, Inc.)
‘Shrek the Musical’ (Full House Theater Company)
‘Side Show’ (The Sandbox Collective)
‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation
‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Production for Children
‘A Christmas Carol’ (9 Works Theatrical)
‘Shrek the Musical’ (Full House Theater Company)
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