Puregold Teatro Panalo Names 12 Finalists for 2027
Puregold Teatro Panalo has named the 12 one-act works selected for its first festival, scheduled for February 20 to March 14, 2027. Eight straight plays and four musicals make up the lineup, chosen from 373 submissions nationwide.
The finalists were announced on October 14, 2026 at Cinema 16 of Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao, Quezon City. All 12 advanced from the 26-work shortlist announced earlier this month. Wishbone Collective Inc. is organizing the festival.
The Eight Straight Plays
- The Girl Scout Law by Rhain Arabella Alcoriza
- True to Life by John "Sweet" Lapus
- Trahedya ng Kamote by Marjay S. Manalastas
- The Boy Foretold By The Stars (One Act Play) by Dolly Dulu
- Nothing But Dreams by Ricardo C. Novenario
- Youngstunna by Jerom Andrei M. Canlas
- Walang Maliit na Bagay by Joshua Lim So
- @HOME by Edralin Cabrera, Kathlyn Castillo, Michael Ian Lomongo, Marjorie Lorico, Maria Teresa Jamias, Wenah Nagales, and J Victor Villareal
The Four Musicals
- Ang Maayong Balita Sumala Kang Bibo Bautista by Jude Thaddeus M. Gitamondoc
- Baka Mali ang Tamaraw by Emmanuel Benbinuto Antonio
- Manang-Mana Nga! by Steven Hotchkiss and Jay Pangilinan
- The Fourth Wall Has Fallen by Heber Justin P. O'Hara
Production Support and Full-Length Grants
According to the festival, the selected playwrights received P100,000 talent fees at the announcement. Wishbone Collective will provide development and production support for all 12 works as they prepare for full staging.
The selection involved Festival Director Vincent A. DeJesus, Jenny Jamora, Liza Magtoto, Marlon Rivera, and Nicolas Pichay. Layeta Bucoy and Allan Lopez served on the screening committee, while National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee is the festival's artistic adviser.
"It was encouraging to see how many Filipino storytellers are eager to share their work," said Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad. She said the number of submissions made choosing only 12 plays especially difficult.
At the festival's close, one straight play and one musical will each receive an additional grant to support expansion into a full-length work. Those grants are separate from the talent fees presented at the reveal.
For audiences, the next useful details will be the performance groupings and show schedules. Ticket prices and booking information were not included in the lineup announcement.