The 2011 Gawad Buhay! PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts

PETA celebrating their victory

Ballet Philippines (BP) and the Philippine Theater Educational Association (PETA) win big by bagging 13 awards each at the 2011 Gawad Buhay! PHILSTAGE Awards that recognized  performers and productions from 2011. The dance category was dominated by BP’s Encantada which won a haul of 10 awards. PETA’s two productions won most of the major awards in both the play and musical categories. William, a play meant to make Shakespeare current and relevant won seven awards while their runaway hit musical Care Divas won six.

Ballet Manila’s Rudy de Dios and and Care Divas’ Vincent de Jesus were in the same category as National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Salvador Bernal as the evening’s recipients of two awards each. The evening also gave the Natatanging Gawad Buhay! (lifetime achievement award equivalent) to Rene Villanueva and Charley dela Paz (Playwriting and Development), Tony Fabella (Dance and Choreography), Nonoy Froilan (Dance) and Baby Barredo (Theater Arts).

PETA Chorus

There were many memorable moments during the proceedings like when Michael Williams accepted his award in the midst of getting out of costume since he had just finished performing a number from Peter Pan as Mr. Hook. Melvin Lee, on the other hand, fought back tears as he dedicated his award to his late mother stating that Care Divas was the last show of his that she had seen. One of the most surprising moments of the evening was the appearance of Rafa Santos, who gained notoriety among the theater community by his now infamous Skyflakes remark. He presented a few awards with Kalila Aguilos, president of the Philippine Theater Actors Guild who told Rafa that he has been forgiven.

The awards ceremony held at the CCP Main Theater Lobby also had a handful of performances from various dance and theater companies performing excerpts from past and upcoming productions. Numbers were also performed before the Natatanging Gawad Buhay! Awardees were honored. Compared to last year’s edition, this year was a lot more energetic and upbeat, very much owing to the high energy level of the PETA members present. The ceremony started a bit late and then got behind prompting director Audie Gemora to hasten the proceedings. And yet, well after the ceremonies were over, people were still celebrating that lasted until way past midnight. It was a great sight seeing people from different theater companies bond and socialize and this was when I realized that the arts and culture scene in the Philippines (especially in Metro Manila) is still very small.

Cris Villongco

The Gawad Buhay! is the PHILSTAGE awards for the performing arts which is now on its fourth year. PHILSTAGE stands for the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, Inc. and is currently composed of the country’s most established performing arts companies: Actors Actors Inc. (AAI), Ballet Manila (BM), Ballet Philippines (BP), Gantimapala Theater Foundation (GANTIMPALA), Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Philippine Education Theater Association (PETA), Repertory Philippines (REP), Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) and Triumphant People’s Evangelistic Theater Society (TRUMPETS).

Gawad Buhay! Trophies

Here is the list of all the winners of the 4^th Gawad Buhay! Awards.

Musical Production

Care Divas by PETA

Ensemble Performance in a Musical

Care Divas by PETA

Male Lead Performance in a Musical

Melvin Lee, Care Divas by PETA

Female Lead Performance in a Musical

Cris Villonco, Noli Me Tangere The Musical by TP

Male Featured Performance in a Musical

Michael Williams, Peter Pan by REP

Female Featured Performance in a Musical

Pinky Amador, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah by TP

Musical Composition

Joey Ayala, Encantada by BP

Ryan Cayabyab, Noli Me Tangere The Musical by TP

Musical Direction

Vincent de Jesus, Care Divas by PETA

Choreography for a Play or Musical

Carlo Matobato, Care Divas by PETA

Stage Direction

Maribel Legarda, William by PETA

Play Production

William by PETA

Ensemble Performance in a Play

William by PETA

Female Lead Performance in a Play

Marjorie Lorico, Nobyembre Noong Akala Ko’y Mahal Kita by TP

Male Lead Performance in a Play

Ian Segarra, William by PETA

Female Featured Performance in a Play

Me-Ann Espinosa, William by PETA

Male Featured Performance in a Play

Jojo Atienza, William by PETA

Ensemble Performance in a Dance Production

Encantada by BP

Female Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Georgette Sanchez, Encantada by BP

Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Swan Lake by BM

Female Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Carissa Adea, Encantada by BP

Female Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Rita Winder, Sleeping Beauty by BP

Male Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Rudy de Dios, Swan Lake by BM

Male Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Rudy de Dios, Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon by BM

Male Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production

Jean Marc Cordero, Sleeping Beauty by BP

Male Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production

Angel Gabriel, Every Woman by BP

Choreography for a Dance Production

Agnes Locsin, Encantada by BP

Classical Dance Production

Swan Lake by BM

Modern Dance Production

Encantada by BP

Set Design

Salvador Bernal, Encantada by BP

Costume Design

Salvador Bernal, Encantada by BP

Lighting Design

John Neil Batalla, Encantada by BP

Sound Design

TJ Ramos, Encantada by BP

Original Libretto

Liza Magtoto and Vincent de Jesus, Care Divas by PETA

Bienvenido Lumbera, Noli Me Tangere The Musical by TP

Original Script

Ron Capinding, William by PETA

Adaptation or Translation

Bienvenido Lumbera, Noli Me Tangere The Musical by TP