The Gawad Buhay Awards released the second round of citations for their 17th edition, the 2027 ceremonies of Philstage’s annual awards for theater, on October 23. Philstage is the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, the alliance of professional theater companies behind the awards. By my count, 9 Works Theatrical’s “Yemaya” collected the most citations of the edition so far, with 18 in round two, including Outstanding Play and Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play. The first round, released September 4, was led by The Sandbox Collective’s “Spring Awakening” with 17.
What a citation is, and what it isn’t
These are not nominations. A citation makes a production or a production element eligible for a nomination, and it does not guarantee one. Nominations for the 2027 ceremonies will be drawn from the final pool of citations in each category. An independent jury of theater practitioners, journalists, reviewers and academics deliberates the citations, and jurors are required to watch every production by a Philstage member company.
Last year’s cycle shows the timeline. Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Kisapmata” led the 16th Gawad Buhay Awards, held July 28, 2026, at the Aliw Theater. That edition covered the 18 eligible Philstage productions staged in 2025, and its nominations, announced in late May, were drawn from 155 citations by a 13-member jury. The 17th edition covers productions staged in 2026, and dates for its nominations and ceremony have not been announced.
Where the 17th edition stands
- Round 1 (September 4): Five productions were considered, with 41 citations by my count. “Spring Awakening” had 17, “anthropology” 11, “Bagets The Musical” 6, “Kislap at Fuego” 6 and “Children of the Algo” 1. The last two are the plays of PETA’s twin bill “Kislap at Algo.”
- Round 2 (October 23): Five productions were considered, with 62 citations by my count. “Yemaya” had 18, “Man of La Mancha” 16, “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4” 15, “Endo.” 8 and “Master Class” 5.
- Round 3 and beyond: Productions staged after these batches fall into later rounds. The release does not say how many rounds remain, and the 15th edition ran four.
Four names appear in both rounds. D Cortezano is cited twice in round one, for the lighting of “anthropology” and “Spring Awakening,” and three times in round two. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo is cited for “Spring Awakening” in round one and “Master Class” in round two. Sarah Facuri is cited for set design on “anthropology,” then for acting in “Man of La Mancha.” Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante is cited for “anthropology,” then “Man of La Mancha.”
The five productions in round 2
- “Endo.” (PETA, with Ticket2Me through PETA Plus): April 10 to May 10 at the PETA Theater Center. It is a stage adaptation by Liza Magtoto of Jade Castro’s 2007 Cinemalaya film, directed by Melvin Lee, and starred Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Royce Cabrera.
- “Master Class” (Philippine Opera Company): May 15 to 30 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Terrence McNally’s play was directed by Jaime Del Mundo, with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Maria Callas.
- “Man of La Mancha” (Repertory Philippines): June 5 to 28 at the REP Eastwood Theater. Nelsito Gomez directed, with Nonie Buencamino as Don Quixote, Katrine Sunga as Aldonza and Marvin Ong as Sancho Panza.
- “Yemaya” (9 Works Theatrical): June 13 to July 5 at The Black Box, Proscenium Theater, Rockwell, Makati. It is a Filipino translation by Eljay Castro Deldoc of Quiara Alegría Hudes’ “Yemaya’s Belly,” directed by Ed Lacson Jr. The production marks 9 Works Theatrical’s first venture into straight plays in 17 years.
- “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live sa Cheter!” (PETA): June 19 to August 16 at the PETA Theater Center, a sold-out run of 50 shows. Chris Martinez wrote it and Maribel Legarda directed. It is the franchise’s first live theater outing.
Outstanding Play citations: “Yemaya” and “Septic Tank 4”
Only two productions are cited for Outstanding Play: “Yemaya” and “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4.” The same two are the only ones cited for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play. Chris Martinez is cited for Outstanding Original Script for “Septic Tank 4,” and Eljay Castro Deldoc for Outstanding Translation or Adaptation for “Yemaya.” Maribel Legarda and Ed Lacson Jr. are cited for directing their respective shows.
“Master Class” is cited as Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play. “Endo.” has no citation in the play, direction or ensemble categories, but it is cited in design and acting.
“Man of La Mancha” is the only musical in round 2
Repertory Philippines’ “Man of La Mancha” is the only musical in this round. That makes it the only production cited in every musical category: Production of Existing Material for a Musical, Stage Direction (Nelsito Gomez), Musical Direction (Farley Asuncion), Ensemble Performance, and all four acting categories.
The acting citations in round 2
- Female Lead in a Play: Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Rissey Reyes-Robinson (“Endo.”), Eugene Domingo (“Septic Tank 4”), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (“Master Class”).
- Male Lead in a Play: Tommy Alejandrino and Benedix Ramos (“Yemaya”), Esteban Mara (“Endo.”).
- Female Featured in a Play: Four of the six go to “Yemaya”: Sheena Belarmino, Bituin Escalante, Sheenly Gener and Ness Roque.
- Male Featured in a Play: Three of the six go to “Septic Tank 4”: Andoy Ranay, Marlon Rivera and JC Santos. Rivera directed the original 2011 film.
Behind the stage in round 2
D Cortezano is cited three times across three productions: lighting for “Man of La Mancha” and “Master Class,” and set design for “Endo.” Teresa Barrozo is cited for both Original Score and Sound Design for “Yemaya.” Gino Gonzales is cited for costume and set design for “Septic Tank 4.” Ed Lacson Jr. is cited for direction and set design for “Yemaya.”
Full list of round 2 citations (October 23)
Outstanding Original Script: Chris Martinez (“Septic Tank 4”)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation: Eljay Castro Deldoc (“Yemaya”)
Outstanding Original Score: Teresa Barrozo (“Yemaya”)
Outstanding Musical Direction: Farley Asuncion (“Man of La Mancha”)
Outstanding Choreography: Raflesia Bravo (“Septic Tank 4”); JM Cabling (“Yemaya”); Jim Andrew Ferrer (“Man of La Mancha”)
Outstanding Costume Design: Gino Gonzales (“Septic Tank 4”); Ericson Navarro (“Yemaya”); Hershee Tantiado (“Man of La Mancha”)
Outstanding Lighting Design: D Cortezano (“Man of La Mancha”); D Cortezano (“Master Class”); David Esguerra (“Endo.”); Jethro Nibaten (“Yemaya”); Barbie Tan-Tiongco (“Septic Tank 4”)
Outstanding Sound Design: Teresa Barrozo (“Yemaya”); Kabaitan Bautista (“Man of La Mancha”); Rards Corpus (“Master Class”); Angel Dayao (“Septic Tank 4”)
Outstanding Set Design: D Cortezano (“Endo.”); Julio Garcia (“Man of La Mancha”); Gino Gonzales (“Septic Tank 4”); Ed Lacson Jr. (“Yemaya”); Joey Mendoza (“Master Class”)
Outstanding Projection and Video Design: Bene Manaois (“Septic Tank 4”)
Female Lead Performance in a Play: Jasmine Curtis-Smith (“Endo.”); Eugene Domingo (“Septic Tank 4”); Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (“Master Class”); Rissey Reyes-Robinson (“Endo.”)
Male Lead Performance in a Play: Tommy Alejandrino (“Yemaya”); Esteban Mara (“Endo.”); Benedix Ramos (“Yemaya”)
Female Featured Performance in a Play: Kate Alejandrino-Juan (“Endo.”); Sheena Belarmino (“Yemaya”); Stella Cañete-Mendoza (“Septic Tank 4”); Bituin Escalante (“Yemaya”); Sheenly Gener (“Yemaya”); Ness Roque (“Yemaya”)
Male Featured Performance in a Play: Raphne Catorce (“Endo.”); Anthony Falcon (“Yemaya”); Herbie Go (“Yemaya”); Andoy Ranay (“Septic Tank 4”); Marlon Rivera (“Septic Tank 4”); JC Santos (“Septic Tank 4”)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical: Katrine Sunga (“Man of La Mancha”)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical: Nonie Buencamino (“Man of La Mancha”)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical: Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante; Sarah Facuri (“Man of La Mancha”)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical: Steven Hotchkiss; Marvin Ong; Alfredo Reyes (“Man of La Mancha”)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play: “Septic Tank 4” (PETA); “Yemaya” (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical: “Man of La Mancha” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play: Ed Lacson Jr. (“Yemaya”); Maribel Legarda (“Septic Tank 4”)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical: Nelsito Gomez (“Man of La Mancha”)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play: “Master Class” (Philippine Opera Company)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical: “Man of La Mancha” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Play, Original or Translation/Adaptation: “Septic Tank 4” (PETA); “Yemaya” (9 Works Theatrical)
Round 1 recap: the five productions (September 4)
The first round considered “Bagets The Musical” and the twin bill “Kislap at Algo,” both by PETA. The twin bill’s two plays, “Kislap at Fuego” and “Children of the Algo,” were considered individually, per Gawad Buhay rules. The other two productions were “Spring Awakening” by The Sandbox Collective and “anthropology” by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative. “Bagets The Musical” is a PETA co-production, through PETA Plus, with Newport World Resorts, Viva Communications and The Philippine Star. As a jukebox musical, it is ineligible for Outstanding Original Score.
Full list of round 1 citations
Outstanding Musical Direction: Ejay Yatco (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Choreography: Nunoy Van Den Burgh (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Costume Design: Boni Juan (“Kislap at Fuego”); Raven Ong (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Lighting Design: D Cortezano (“anthropology”); D Cortezano (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Sound Design: Arvy Dimaculangan (“anthropology”); Aron Roca (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Set Design: Sarah Facuri (“anthropology”); Boni Juan (“Kislap at Fuego”); Wika Nadera (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Projection and Video Design: Steven Tansiongco & CueCraft (“anthropology”)
Female Lead Performance in a Play: Maronne Cruz (“anthropology”); Jenny Jamora (“anthropology”); Felicity Kyle Napuli (“Kislap at Fuego”)
Male Lead Performance in a Play: CJ Navato (“Kislap at Fuego”)
Female Featured Performance in a Play: Jackie Lou Blanco (“anthropology”); Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante (“anthropology”)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical: Sheena Belarmino (“Spring Awakening”)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical: Noel Comia Jr. (“Bagets The Musical”); Milo Cruz (“Bagets The Musical”); Alex Diaz (“Spring Awakening”); KD Estrada (“Bagets The Musical”); Sam Shoaf (“Bagets The Musical”); Nacho Tambunting (“Spring Awakening”)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical: Ana Abad Santos (“Spring Awakening”); Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (“Spring Awakening”); Angia Laurel (“Spring Awakening”); Yani Lopez (“Bagets The Musical”)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical: Audie Gemora (“Spring Awakening”); Gie Onida (“Bagets The Musical”); Omar Uddin (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play: “anthropology” (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative); “Children of the Algo” (PETA)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical: “Spring Awakening” (The Sandbox Collective)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play: Caisa Borromeo (“anthropology”)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical: Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan (“Spring Awakening”)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play: “anthropology” (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical: “Spring Awakening” (The Sandbox Collective)
Outstanding Play, Original or Translation/Adaptation: “Kislap at Fuego” (PETA)
Outstanding Production for Children: “Kislap at Fuego” (PETA)