The 2010 Gawad Buhay! PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts

Gawad Buhay! Trophies

I’ve first heard about the Gawad Buhay! Awards just last year when I read the news that they presented one of my singing idols, Ms. Celeste Legaspi a lifetime achievement award. She is one of my favorite local singers so I was glad that she was recognized for her body of work. And then a year later, I couldn’t contain my delight when I saw her during the third edition of this awards night held at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines which I was able to attend.

The big winners this year are the play Tatlong Mariya by Tanghalang Pilipino and the musical Little Women by Repertory Philippines with both winning 6 awards each. Equus by Repertory Philippines bagging 5 awards while Crisostomo Ibarra by Ballet Philippines was the most awarded dance production with 4 awards.

One of the main highlights of the program was the awarding of the Natatanging Gawad Buhay! award (which is what their lifetime achievement award is called) to four highly respected artists here in the Philippines: Ryan Cayabyab, Tony Espejo, Tony Mabesa and Lisa Macuja. I am glad to say that I am totally familiar with the works of these awardees and they’ve truly enriched the arts and culture scene in the Philippines throughout the decades so they do deserve this recognition. One of the things that struck me the most during this time was Lisa Macuja’s speech when she received her award urging the people who belong to certain groups to support and patronize the productions of other groups as well. She got very emotional as well especially when she mentioned that she’s about to retire from dancing.

Other highlights of the program were the numbers spread throughout the evening. One number that I really appreciated was the excerpt from the Nutcracker featuring Lisa Macuja and Rudy de Dios. The Nutcracker's music was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and I was so pleased that the excerpt that they performed was the Adagio of the Pas de Deux which is one of my favorite pieces of orchestral music. The other number that I really liked was the Musical Tribute to Mr. C which featured Celeste Legaspi and Pinky Marquez along with a powerhouse ensemble. What can I say? I really like Celeste and seeing her perform live was such a treat.

Musical Tribute to Mr. C

It is interesting to note that in four categories, there was only one nominee who was the automatic winner and five categories even had no nominees. The nominees and winners were selected by a jury composed of Gilbert Cadiz, Ralph Galan, Glen Mas, Elka Requinta, Basilio Esteban Villaruz and Ma. Jovita Zarate.

The Gawad Buhay! is the PHILSTAGE awards for the performing arts. PHILSTAGE stands for the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, Inc. and is currently composed of eight of the country’s most established performing arts companies: Ballet Manila (BM), Ballet Philippines (BP), Gantimapala Theater Foundation (GANTIMPALA), Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Repertory Philippines (REP), Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) and Triumphant People’s Evangelistic Theater Society (TRUMPETS). This meant that the awards presented all came from the world of the theater and dance and only those from the member companies are eligible.

Here is the list of all the winners of the 3^rd Gawad Buhay! Awards.

Play Production (tie)

Equus by REP

Tatlong Mariya by TP

Musical Production

Little Women by REP

Dance Production
Crisostomo Ibarra by BP

Stage Direction
Audie Gemora, Equus by REP

Female Lead Performance in a Play Production
Mailes Kanapi, Tatlong Mariya by TP

Male Lead Performance in a Play Production

Mario O’Hara, American Hwangap (Filipino version) by TP

Female Lead Performance in a Musical Production

Caissa Borromeo, Little Women by RP

Male Lead Performance in a Musical Production

Robert Seña, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Dyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto by PETA

Female Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Candice Adea, September Gala by BP

Male Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production

JM Cordero, Crisostomo Ibarra by BP

Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, The Nutcracker by BM

Male Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production

No nominee 

Choreography for a Dance Production (tie)

Carlo Pacis, Shifting Wait by BP

Edna Vida, Peter Pan by BP

Choreography for a Play or Musical

Edna Vida, Banaag at Sikat by TP

Original Libretto

Bienvenido Lumbera, Banaag at Sikat by TP

Adaptation or Translation

Rody Vera, Tatlong Mariya by TP

Original Script

No nominee 

Musical Composition

No nominee 

Female Featured Performance in a Play

Che Ramos, Tatlong Mariya by TP

Male Featured Performance in a Play

Mario O’ Hara, Tatlong Mariya by TP

Female Featured Performance in a Musical

Cara Barredo, Little Women by REP

Male Featured Performance in a Musical

No nominee 

Female Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Mylene Aggabao, The Nutcracker by BM

Male Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production

No nominee 

Female Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Carissa Adea, Crisostomo Ibarra by BP

Male Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Angel Gabriel, Crisostomo Ibarra by BP

Musical Direction

Gerard Salonga, Little Women by REP

Sound Design

Jethro Joaquin, Equus by REP

Costume Design

Dennis Lagdameo, Equus by REP

Lighting Design

John Neil Batalla, Equus by REP

Set Design

Loy Arceñas, Tatlong Mariya by TP

Ensemble Performance in a Play Production

American Hwangap (Filipino Version) by TP

Ensemble Performance in a Musical Production

Little Women by REP

Ensemble Performance in a Dance Production

Peter Pan by BP

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab aka Mr. C and RAd