Star of stage and screen Irma Adlawan won her first Gawad Buhay—the annual Philstage Awards for the performing arts, held Thursday night—when she was honored as Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play for Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Mga Buhay na Apoy”, the Kanakan Balintagos (aka Auraeus Solito) drama in which she played the matriarch of a troubled family rediscovering and finding healing in its mystical, indigenous roots.
Veteran actor Audie Gemora was adjudged the Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musical for his turn as the flamboyant drag queen Albin in 9 Works Theatrical’s production of the classic Broadway musical “La Cage Aux Folles”. Gemora is also the president of Philstage, which is independent from the jury that deliberated on the awards.
Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Mabining Mandirigma,” a musical production about the life and legacy of Apolinario Mabini—with libretto by Nicanor Tiongson, music by Joed Balsamo and direction by Chris Millado—was the most-honored production of the evening with 12 awards, including Outstanding Musical (Original or Translation/Adaptation), plus nods for its actors Delphine Buencamino and Antonio Ferrer, the set design by Toym Imao, costumes by James Reyes, choreography by Denisa Reyes, and a number of other technical achievements.
The 8th Gawad Buhay, the annual Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, was held April 28 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, home of Repertory Philippines, one of Philstage’s founding member companies.
(See complete list of winners below)
In dance, Ballet Philippines’ “Peter Pan” led the pack with five awards, including for Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production by Edna Vida-Froilan and Outstanding Classical Dance Production.
Ballet Manila’s “Bloom”, a highlight of its “BM 2.0” dance concert, was adjudged Outstanding Modern Dance Production. A Ballet Manila dancer, Gerardo Francisco, also won the rare distinction of two awards in one evening—Outstanding Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance for his turn in the “Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin” segment of “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang”; and Outstanding Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance for another Ballet Manila production, “Romeo and Juliet”.
The Natatanging Gawad Buhay for lifetime achievement was given this year to two legends of the Philippine performing arts—actress Celia Diaz-Laurel and former Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Alice Reyes.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
Outstanding Original Script
• Kanakan Balintagos, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Outstanding Original Libretto
• Nicanor Tiongson, “Mabining Mandirigma (TP)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
- Rody Vera, “Arbol de Fuego” (Peta)
Outstanding Musical Direction
- Joed Balsamo, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)Outstanding Original Musical Composition
• Joed Balsamo, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
- Edna Vida-Froilan, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
• Denisa Reyes, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Costume Design
- James Reyes, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Lighting Design
• John Batalla, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Outstanding Sound Design
- TJ Ramos, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Set Design
• Toym Imao, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
- Irma Adlawan, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
- Jef Flores, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
• Roselyn Perez, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
• Teroy Guzman, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
• Delphine Buencamino, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
• Audie Gemora, “La Cage aux Folles” (9WT)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
- Cris Villonco, “Bituing Walang Ningning, The Musical” (Full House)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
• Antonio Ferrer, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
- Rita Winder, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
• Gerardo Francisco, “Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin”/from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
- Monica Gana, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
- Earl John Arisola, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
- Lobreza Pimentel, “Don Quixote” (PBT)Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
• Victor Maguad, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
- Pia Dames, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
- Gerardo Francisco, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)Outstanding Modern Dance Production
• “Bloom”/from “BM 2.0” (BM)
Outstanding Classical Dance Production
- “Peter Pan” (BP)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
• Bart Guingona, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
• Chris Millado, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
- “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
- “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
• “Bloom”/ from “BM 2.0” (BM)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
- “Peter Pan” (BP)Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
- “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
• “La Cage aux Folles” (9WT)
Outstanding Play—Original or Translation/Adaptation
- “Arbol de Fuego” (Peta)
Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation
• “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Production for Children
- “Peter Pan” (BP)
Natatanging Gawad Buhay for Lifetime Achievement
- Celia Diaz-Laurel
- Alice Reyes
Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include 9 Works Theatrical, Actor’s Actors Inc., Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Full House (Resorts World Manila) Gantimpala Theater Foundation, PETA, Philippine Ballet Theater, Philippine Opera Company, Repertory Philippines, Red Turnip, Stages, Tanghalang Pilipino, and Trumpets. TVJ
