PHILSTAGE Bares First Quarter Citations for 2009 Gawad Buhay!

Revivals and restagings dominated the first quarterly citations list of the 2009 Gawad Buhay!, the PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts.

With fourteen performance and technical citations, Ballet Philippines' Neo Filipino topped the first quarterly race. Coming in as close second with eleven citations, is the Philippine Educational Theater Association's production of Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, while Repertory Philippines' A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino received eight citations to claim the third berth. Another revival, Tanghalang Pilipino's ZsaZsa Zaturnah, placed fourth with seven citations.

A dance trilogy that serves as homage to the vast riches of the Filipino cultural heritage, Neo Filipino's "Amada," "Ulaging – Daog-dog sa Sang Libong Kulog" and "KatiTaog" collectively won citations for outstanding dance production, ensemble performance, female lead performance in dance (Carissa Adea), male lead performance in dance (Biag Gaongen and Ronelson Yadao), featured performance in dance (Marian Faustino and Lucky Vicentino), choreography (Alice Reyes), adaptation or translation (Alice Reyes), musical composition (Kalayo), costume design (Gino Gonzales), lighting design (Katsch Catoy), and set design (Gino Gonzales).

Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, a psycho-emotional journey into the lives, loves and relationships of three people, earned the jurors' citations for outstanding play production, stage direction (Nonon Padilla), ensemble performance, male lead performance in a play (Lex Marcos, Juliene Mendoza and Jack Yabut), original script (Tony Perez), musical direction (Jed Balsamo), lighting design (Ian Torqueza), sound design (Aries Alcayaga), and set design (Salvador Bernal).

Widely considered as the best Filipino play in English, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino was cited for outstanding play, stage direction (Jose Mari Avellana), original script (Nick Joaquin), female lead performance in a play (Liesl Batucan and Ana Bitong), featured performance in a play (Dido dela Paz), lighting design (Martin Esteva), and sound design (Lamberto Avellana, Jr.).

ZsaZsa Zaturnah, a hilarious tale of the adventures of a gay beautician-turned- Pinoy superhero, was cited for outstanding musical production, ensemble performance, lead female performance in a musical (Eula Valdes), featured performance in a musicale (Nar Cabico and Joey Paras), musical direction (Vincent De Jesus), and original music composition (Vincent De Jesus).

Also cited for individual achievements are Caissa Borromeo for outstanding female lead performance in a musicale and Kyla Rivera for outstanding featured performance in a musicale, both for Repertory Philippines' I Love You Because.

Now on its second year, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts juried by an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts. Outstanding individual and group achievements in various artistic and technical aspects of play, musical and dance productions and performances are honored based on quarterly citations deliberated by the jury who are required to watch all productions of PHILSTAGE member-companies for the entire year. From the four quarterly citations, the jury will select the final nominees qualified to win the awards by the end of the performance season.

PHILSTAGE is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), PETA, Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino and TRUMPETS.

Below is the complete list of the 2009 first quarter citations in various categories:

Outstanding Production of a Play: PETA's Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre? (PETA); and Repertory Philippines' A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (Repertory Philippines)

Outstanding Musical Production: Tanghalang Pilipino's ZsaZsa Zaturnah

Outstanding Dance Production: Ballet Philippines' Neo Filipino

Outstanding Stage Direction: Nonon Padilla (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?); and Jose Mari Avellana (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance: The casts of Ballet Philippines' Neo Filipino; PETA's Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?; and Tanghalang Pilipino's ZsaZsa Zaturnah

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play: Liesl Batucan and Ana Bitong (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino)

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play: Lex Marcos, Juliene Mendoza and Jack Yabut (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?)

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play: Dido Dela Paz (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino)

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Musicale: Caissa Borromeo(Repertory Philippines' I Love You Because); and Eula Valdes (ZsaZsa Zaturnah)

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musicale: No citation

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musicale: Nar Cabico and Joey Paras (ZsaZsa Zaturnah); and Kyla Rivera (I Love You Because)

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Dance Production: Carissa Adea (Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Dance Production: Biag Gaongenand Ronelson Yadao (Neo Filipino) 

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Dance Production: Marian Faustinoand Lucky Vicentino (Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Original Script: Nick Joaquin's Portrait of the Artist as Filipino; and Tony Perez's Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

Outstanding Original Libretto: No citation

Outstanding Original Music Composition: Vincent De Jesus (ZsaZsa Zaturnah)

Outstanding Adaptation or Translation: Alice Reyes (“Amada” from Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Musical Direction: Jed Balsamo (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?); and Vincent De Jesus (ZsaZsa Zaturnah)

Outstanding Original Music Composition: Vincent De Jesus (ZsaZsa Zaturnah); and Kalayo (“KatiTaog” from Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Choreography: Alice Reyes (“Amada” from Neo Filipino); and  Alden Lugnasin (“Ulaging” from Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Set Design: Salvador Bernal (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?); Gino Gonzales (“KatiTaog” from Neo Filipino); and Gino Gonzales (“Ulaging” from Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Costume Design: Gino Gonzales (“Ulaging” from Neo Filipino)

Outstanding Lighting Design: Katsch Catoy (Neo Flipino); Martin Esteva(Portrait of the Filipino as an Artist); and Ian Torqueza (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?)

Outstanding Sound Design: Aries Alcayaga (Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?); and Lamberto Avellana, Jr. (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino)