Two for the show

For the Art & Culture section of the Philippine Star, 12 April 2010. Photos by Hilda Abola.



The Gawad Buhay!—buhay for performing arts done live onstage—is alive and kicking. On March 26, the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, or Philstage, held its 2009 Gawad Buhay! Awards for the Performing Arts at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Last year’s awards show, the first ever, was simple, even austere. This year’s show, still at the Little Theater, was a little longer, featuring more performances and awards in more categories. But most importantly, this second edition was better attended. As a result, the applause was louder, the laughter more boisterous, the good cheer more infectious. In my report last year, I said that I expected the next year’s awards show to generate a more enthusiastic response from the performing arts community. I was not let down.

The highlight of this year’s show? It’s hard to choose. Maybe it was Candice Adea and Angel Gabriel of Ballet Philippines performing Bam Damian’s “Excavation,” a modern, athletic piece that drew oohs and aahs then wild applause. (A show feels refreshingly different when your fellow viewers are themselves performers. They reacted strongly, sometimes wildly, without the diffidence typical of the theater-going crowd.)

Candice Adea and Angel Gabriel of Ballet Philippines wow the audience with their performance of Bam Damian’s “Excavation,” part of Masterworks and winner for Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production.

Or perhaps it was the classy speech of Audie Gemora, who took home the trophy for Male Lead Performance in a Musical for his role in Repertory Philippines’s Sweeney Todd. Admitting he was skeptical when Philstage first conceived of the awards—Gemora sits on the board representing Trumpets—because he suspected they would only foment the division that marked the theater scene decades ago when he began his career. Sitting in the audience that night, seeing the happy crowd made up of people from different theater groups hanging out together, he realized his fears had been unfounded.

A personal highlight was Liesl Batucan’s teary thank-you’s as she accepted the trophy for Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Musical. Last year, she was nominated for an award and lost, but you wouldn’t have noticed it by looking at her. She went up to me after the show and thanked me profusely for being a juror, then flounced about the room like a giddy child. This year she seemed just as gleeful during the show, then broke into happy tears as she went up the stage and held her trophy. She said she was glad not so much for herself but for the occasion, that her fellows in the trade were finally getting due recognition. That seemed to be the theme of the evening: gratitude that performing artists, always at a disadvantage because of the fleetingness of their craft, were getting the affirmation they rarely ever got.

One big happy family: the awardees and their friends enjoy themselves as they take the stage to mug for the many cameras in the audience.

It’s been a pleasure, and a wonderful privilege, to have served as a juror these past two years. I declined the board’s invitation to continue, not because of any issues I have with the organization or the awards, but because I’ve decided to pursue a different road. I will be editing an online literary magazine that will launch soon, a task that comes on top of my full-time work as an academic. I will no longer have time to watch many of these productions, and I thought it best to decline a role I would be unable to carry out.

My thanks to the Philstage board for having me as juror these past two years, as well as to the individual member-companies for their warmth and hospitality. My warmest congratulations to the winners of the latest batch of Gawad Buhay! awards, and may there be many more in the years to come.

The official announcement from Philstage:

Ballet Philippines dominates 2009 PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay!

With seven major awards, Ballet Philippines’ Neo-Filipino emerged as the top winner in the 2009 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, held on March 26, 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

A dance trilogy that pays homage to Filipino heritage and cultural diversity, Neo-Filipino won the awards for outstanding dance production, ensemble performance in a dance production, female lead performance in dance (Candice Adea), male lead performance in dance (Ronelson Yadao), female featured performance in dance (Marian Faustino for “Amada”), male featured performance in dance (Lucky Vicentino for “Ulaging”), adaptation or translation (Alice Reyes for “Amada”), costume design (Gino Gonzales), and lighting design (Katsch Catoy).

Two musical productions by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) tied for second place with four awards each: Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto and Ismail at Isabel.

The two-hour program featured excerpts of nominated dance and musical productions performed by Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Candice Adea, Joann Co, Sarah Abigail Cruz, Angel Gabriel, Victor Robinson III, and Richardson Yadao.

A distinguished achievement award called Natatanging Gawad Buhay! was also conferred on theater icons Zeneida Amador and Celeste Legaspi as well as corporate supporter Apon Philippines.

Celeste Legaspi receives a special award, the Natatanging Gawad Buhay!, for her long, illustrious career in theater.

Philstage is the country’s only organization of professional performing-arts companies with regular-season programming, repertory development, and performance pedagogy training. Its members include Ballet Manila; Ballet Philippines; Gantimpala Theater Foundation; Philippine Educational Theater Association, or PETA; Repertory Philippines; Tanghalang Pilipino; and Trumpets. The 2009 Gawad Buhay! jury is composed of Exie Abola, Walter Ang, Gilbert Cadiz, Ronald Elepaño III, Arvin Ello, Ralph Semino Galan, Rolando Inocencio, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Joy Parohinog, Geofferson Ting, and Basilio Esteban Villaruz.

The categories, winners, and other nominees:

Outstanding ensemble performance in a dance production: the cast of Masterworks (Ballet Philippines). Other nominees: the casts of Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw (Ballet Manila) and Neo-Filipino (Ballet Philippines).

Outstanding ensemble performance in a musical: (tie) the casts of Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto (PETA) and Ismail at Isabel (PETA). Others: the cast of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal (Tanghalang Pilipino).

Joann Co and Victor Robinson III sing two songs from the year’s Outstanding Musical Production, PETA’s Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto.

Outstanding ensemble performance in a play: the cast of Madonna Brava ng Mindanao (Tanghalang Pilipino). Others: the casts of Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto (Tanghalang Pilipino) and Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre? (PETA).

Outstanding musical composition: Vincent de Jesus (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto, PETA). Others: Vincent de Jesus (ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal), Kalayo (Neo-Filipino), and Mebuyan (Madonna Brava ng Mindanao).

Outstanding musical direction: Gerard Salonga (Sweeney Todd, Repertory Philippines). Others: Jed Balsamo (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?), Vincent de Jesus (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto), and Vincent de Jesus (ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal).

Outstanding set design: Tuxqs Rutaquio (A Streetcar Named Desire / Flores Para Los Muertos, Tanghalang Pilipino). Others: Salvador Bernal (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?), Gino Gonzalez (Neo Filipino), Jonathan Janolo (Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw), Boni Juan (Ismail at Isabel), and Boni Juan (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto).

Outstanding costume design: Gino Gonzales (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines). Others: Michael Angelo Albay (Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw), Gino Gonzales (Sweeney Todd), Boni Juan (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto).

Outstanding lighting design: Katsch Catoy (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philppines). Others: Martin Esteva (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Repertory Philippines), Ian Torqueza (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?), Jimmy Villanueva (Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw), and Jonjon Villareal (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto).

Outstanding sound design: Aries Alcayaga (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA). Others: Lamberto Avellana Jr (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino) and Gie Bernardo (Ismail at Isabel).

Outstanding adaptation or translation: Alice Reyes (“Amada” in Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines). Others: Daisy Avellana (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino), Liza Magtoto (Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto), and Don Pagusara (Madonna Brava ng Mindanao).

Outstanding libretto: Vince de Jesus (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto, PETA).

Outstanding original script: Tony Perez (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA). Others: Vincent De Jesus (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto) and Rody Vera (Ismail at Isabel).

Outstanding choreography for a play or musical: Carlon Matobato (Ismail at Isabel, PETA). Others: Dudz Terana, Phil Noble, and Carlon Matobato (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto).

Outstanding choreography for a dance production: Augustus Damian III (“Evacuation” in Masterworks, Ballet Philippines). Others: Alice Reyes (“Amada” in Neo-Filipino and Edna Vida (“Ensalada” in Masterworks).

Outstanding male featured performance in dance: Lucky Vicentino (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines).

Outstanding female featured performance in dance: Marian Faustino (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines).

Outstanding male featured performance in a musical: Marvin Ong (Sweeney Todd, Repertory Philippines). Others: Miguel Faustman (The Fantasticks, Repertory Philippines) and Franco Laurel (Sweeney Todd).

Marvin Ong, who took home the trophy for Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Musical, sings “Not While I’m Around” from Repertory Philippines’s Sweeney Todd.

Outstanding female featured performance in a musical: Liesl Batucan (Sweeney Todd, Repertory Philippines). Others: Kyla Rivera (I Love You Because, Repertory Philippines).

Outstanding male featured performance in a play: Dido dela Paz (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Repertory Philippines). Others: Chrome Cosio (Madonna Brava ng Mindanao) and Jonathan Tadioan (Flores Para Los Muertos).

Outstanding female featured performance in a play: Peewee O’Hara (Apples from the Desert / Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto, Tanghalang Pilipino). Others: Mailes Kanapi (A Stretcar Named Desire).

Outstanding male lead performance in dance: Ronelson Yadao (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines). Others: Francis Cascano (Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw) and Biag Gaongen (Neo-Filipino).

Outstanding female lead performance in dance: Candice Adea (Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines). Others: Lisa Macuja Elizalde (Don Quixote, Ballet Manila) and Yanti Marduli (Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw).

Outstanding male lead performance in a musical: Audie Gemora (Sweeney Todd, Repertory Philippines). Others: Nar Cabico (ZsaZsa Zaturnah Ze Muzikal) and Joey Paras (ZsaZsa Zaturnah Ze Muzikal).

Outstanding female lead performance in a musical: Mechu Lauchengco-Yulo (Sweeney Todd, Repertory Philippines). Others: Caisa Borromeo (I Love You Because) and Eula Valdes (Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal).

Outstanding male lead performance in a play: Lex Marcos (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA). Others: Juliene Mendoza (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?) and Jack Yabut (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?).

Outstanding female lead performance in a play: Shamaine Centenera Buencamino (Madonna Brava ng Mindanao, Tanghalang Pilipino). Others: Liesl Batucan (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino), Ana Abad Santos-Bitong (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino), Ana Abad Santos-Bitong (A Streetcar Named Desire), and Sherry Lara (Apples from the Desert / Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto).

Outstanding stage direction: Nonon Padilla (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA). Others: Jose Mari Avellana (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino), Teresa Jamias (Apples from the Desert / Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto), Maribel Legarda (Ismail at Isabel), and Phil Noble (Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto).

Outstanding dance production: Masterworks, Ballet Philippines. Others: Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw and Neo-Filipino.

Outstanding musical production: Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto, PETA. Others: Ismail at Isabel and ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.

Outstanding play production: Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA. Others: A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Madonna Brava ng Mindanao, and Apples from the Desert / Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto.