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A scene from 'Kisapmata.' 

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756703260058487856719_1065771438925583_1016761798625293966_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from &#x27;Kisapmata.&#x27; <em>Photo from Tanghalang Pilipino&#x27;s Facebook page</em></span></span></span>MANILA — <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/3/14/theater-review-tp-mines-deeper-meaning-menace-to-film-classic-kisapmata-1634">Tanghalang Pilipino’s &quot;Kisapmata&quot;</a> emerged as an early standout in the first round of citations for the 16th Gawad Buhay! Awards, earning recognition across multiple categories including ensemble performance, stage direction, choreography, design, and acting.</div><p>The 13-member independent jury of Philstage’s annual awards for the performing arts released the citations ahead of the 2026 ceremonies. Nominations will be drawn from the final pool in each category.</p><p>Five productions were considered in this round: &quot;Kisapmata&quot; by Tanghalang Pilipino; <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/2/7/theater-review-nikki-valdez-nails-the-drama-as-expected-in-next-to-normal-1935">&quot;Next to Normal&quot; by The Sandbox Collective</a>; <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/4/4/theater-review-liwanag-sa-dilim-features-twists-and-turns-through-time-1725">&quot;Liwanag sa Dilim&quot; by 9 Works Theatrical</a>; and the twin bill <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/2/27/after-twenty-questions-theatre-titas-to-stage-original-twin-bill-dedma-1629">&quot;Dedma&quot; from Theatre Titas</a>, featuring the one-act plays &quot;Let’s Do Lunch&quot; and &quot;The Foxtrot.&quot;</p><p>Among the artists cited for &quot;Kisapmata&quot; were Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan and Jonathan Tadioan for lead performances, Toni Go-Yadao and Marco Viaña for featured roles, and director Guelan Luarca. The production also received nods in choreography, costume, lighting, sound, set, and projection design.</p><p>&quot;Next to Normal&quot; earned citations for Nikki Valdez, Sheena Belarmino, Jam Binay, Vino Mabalot, Benedix Ramos and Omar Uddin. &quot;Liwanag sa Dilim&quot; secured multiple citations in lead musical performance for Alexa Ilacad, Nicole Omillo, CJ Navato, Khalil Ramos and Anthony Rosaldo, along with lighting and projection design. Jackie Lou Blanco and JC Santos were recognized for &quot;The Foxtrot,&quot; which was also cited in original script, direction, and choreography.</p><p>Under awards rules, the two plays of &quot;Dedma&quot; were considered individually. &quot;The Foxtrot&quot; was also deemed a new play eligible for script recognition, despite its earlier Virgin Labfest staging, as Labfest productions are treated as “laboratory settings.”</p><p>The Gawad Buhay! Awards, now on its 16th edition, honor excellence in Philippine theater. A citation renders a production or artist eligible for a nomination, though it does not guarantee one.</p><p>Full list of citations below:</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Original Script</strong></div><p>Chesie Galvez-Cariño (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Translation or Adaptation</strong></div><p>Guelan Luarca &amp; the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><strong>Outstanding Choreography</strong></div><p>JM Cabling (‘Kisapmata’) </p><p>Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’)</p><div><strong>Outstanding Costume Design</strong></div><p>Bonsai Cielo (‘Kisapmata’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Lighting Design </strong></div><p>D Cortezano (‘Kisapmata’) </p><p>Shakira Villa-Symes (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Sound Design </strong></div><p>Angel Dayao (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><p>Arvy Dimaculangan (‘Kisapmata’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Set Design</strong></div><p>Joey Mendoza (‘Kisapmata’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Projection and Video Design </strong></div><p>GA Fallarme (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’)</p><p>Joey Mendoza, D Cortezano, Justin Santiago &amp; JM Jimenez (‘Kisapmata’) </p><div><strong>Female Lead Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Jackie Lou Blanco (‘The Foxtrot’)  </p><p>Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’) </p><div><strong>Male Lead Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>JC Santos (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><p>Jonathan Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><strong>Female Featured Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Toni Go-Yadao (‘Kisapmata’) </p><p>Ash Nicanor (‘Let’s Do Lunch’)</p><div><strong>Male Featured Performance in a Play </strong></div><p>Marco Viaña (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><strong>Female Lead Performance in a Musical </strong></div><p>Alexa Ilacad (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’)</p><p>Nicole Omillo (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’)</p><p>Nikki Valdez (‘Next to Normal’) </p><div><strong>Male Lead Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>CJ Navato (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’) </p><p>Khalil Ramos (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’) </p><p>Anthony Rosaldo (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’) </p><div><strong>Female Featured Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>Sheena Belarmino (‘Next to Normal’) </p><p>Jam Binay (‘Next to Normal’) </p><div><strong>Male Featured Performance in a Musical </strong></div><p>Vino Mabalot (‘Next to Normal’) </p><p>Benedix Ramos (‘Next to Normal’) </p><p>Omar Uddin (‘Next to Normal’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play </strong></div><p>‘Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)</p><div><strong>Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play </strong></div><p>Guelan Luarca (‘Kisapmata’) </p><p>Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><div><strong>Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation</strong></div><p>‘The Foxtrot’ (Theatre Titas) </p><p>‘Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)</p>

<p>Tanghalang Pilipino’s '<i>Kisapmata'</i> dominated the first round of citations for the 16th Gawad Buhay! Awards. Other productions cited include '<i>Next to Normal,'</i> '<i>Liwanag sa Dilim,'</i> and Theatre Titas’ twin bill '<i>Dedma.'</i></p>

Tanghalang Pilipino’s ' Kisapmata' dominated the first round of citations for the 16th Gawad Buhay! Awards. Other productions cited include ' Next to Normal,' ' Liwanag sa Dilim,' and Theatre Titas’ twin bill ' Dedma.'

‘Kisapmata’ leads first round of citations for Gawad Buhay! Awards

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‘Kisapmata’ leads first round of citations for Gawad Buhay! Awards

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published Sep 01, 2025 01:36 PM PHT

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