Generation

Tanghalang Pilipino dominates 15th Gawad Buhay Awards nominations

by Joanna Deala

PUBLISHED ON June 16, 2025

THE Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (Philstage) has announced the nominees for the 15th Gawad Buhay Awards, with Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) dominating the list with 33 nods.

TP, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), earned 17 nominations for “Balete,” including Outstanding Translation or Adaptation, and 16 nominations for “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” including Outstanding Book of a Musical.

A part of TP’s 38th theater season, “Balete” is a theater adaptation based on National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose’s novel, “Tree.” It follows a young boy who navigates his life in a small Ilokano town, surrounded by friends from different social classes, relatives, and his family’s long-time servants.

Meanwhile, “Pingkian: Isang Musikal” is a musical that centers on the life of Filipino general Emilio Jacinto, who fought for the nation’s freedom at a young age during the Philippine Revolution. The musical was part of TP’s 37th theater season.

Veteran actor Nonie Buencamino, who portrayed Francisco or Kiko in “Balete,” was nominated in the Male Lead Performance in a Play category, while theater actor Vic Robinson, who played the role of Emilio in “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” was nominated in the Male Lead Performance in a Musical category.

TP shared the good news on its Facebook page, thanking the award-giving body for its nominations.

Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, on the other hand, earned 13 nominations for ”Bar Boys: A New Musical,” the musical adaptation of the 2017 comedy-drama film of the same name.

Founded in 1997, Philstage is the only organization of professional performing arts companies in the country that annually recognizes outstanding performances in Philippine theater.

The 15th Gawad Buhay Awards will be held on July 30 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

Complete list of nominees

According to Philstage, the nominees were determined by a 20-person independent jury of theater reviewers, academics, journalists, and practitioners. They were chosen among 143 citations given to 15 eligible productions that opened between January 1 and December 31, 2024.

However, there were no nominees in the Outstanding Original Script and Female Lead Performance in a Play categories.

Here is the full list of nominees for this year’s Gawad Buhay Awards:

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation

Rody Vera, Chris Millado, Sabrina Basilio, Delphine Buencamino, and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company (“Balete”)

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Juan Ekis (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
Pat Valera (“Bar Boys: A New Musical”)

Outstanding Original Score

Myke Salomon & Pat Valera (“Bar Boys: A New Musical”)
Ejay Yatco & Juan Ekis (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)

Outstanding Musical Direction

Myke Salomon (“Bar Boys: A New Musical”)
Myke Salomon (“One More Chance, The Musical”)
Ejay Yatco (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)
Ejay Yatco (“Little Shop of Horrors”)
Ejay Yatco (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)

Outstanding Choreography

Delphine Buencamino (“Balete”)
Jomelle Era (“Bar Boys: A New Musical”)
Jomelle Era (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)

Outstanding Costume Design

Mio Infante (“Little Shop of Horrors”)
Joey Mendoza (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)
Raven Ong (“Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical”)
Carlo Pagunaling (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
Carlos Siongco (“Balete”)

Outstanding Lighting Design

John Batalla (“Betrayal”)
D Cortezano (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
Roman Cruz (“Balete”)
Meliton Roxas Jr. (“Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical”)
Meliton Roxas Jr. (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)

Outstanding Sound Design

Teresa Barrozo (“Balete”)
Aji Manalo (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)
Fabian Obispo (“Betrayal”)
TJ Ramos (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
Myke Salomon (“One More Chance, The Musical”)

Outstanding Set Design

Ohm David (“Bar Boys: A New Musical”)
Joey Mendoza (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)
Wika Nadera (“Balete”)
Carlo Pagunaling (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
Miguel Urbino (“Betrayal”)

Outstanding Projection and Video Design

GA Fallarme (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”)
GA Fallarme (“Pingkian: Isang Musikal”)
GA Fallarme & Joyce Garcia (“Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical”)
JM Jimenez (“Balete”)

Male Lead Performance in a Play