Puregold Teatro Panalo received 373 entries for its inaugural festival, signaling strong interest among Filipino playwrights for a new platform for original theater works.
Presented by Puregold and produced and organized by Wishbone Collective, Inc., Teatro Panalo aims to discover and develop Filipino stories for the stage.
Its first call for submissions ran from August 8 to September 11 and was open to both emerging and established Filipino playwrights. Writers were invited to submit original one-act plays, whether newly written or previously staged, across different genres and theatrical forms.
From the 373 entries, only 12 works will be selected for full production – eight straight plays and four musicals.
Each selected playwright will receive P100,000 in financial compensation, along with development and production support.
Festival Director Vincent de Jesus said the number of submissions reflects the interest of Filipino writers in creating works for the stage.
‘For our first year, receiving 373 entries is already something to be grateful for. It tells us that many Filipino writers out there have stories they want to share and develop for the stage,’ de Jesus said.
‘Now, our responsibility is to look closely at these works, recognize the voices behind them, and give the selected pieces the support they need to grow,’ he added.
Teatro Panalo is also envisioned as a development platform where selected works will be further developed with theater professionals before being staged.
De Jesus said the festival hopes to provide opportunities not only for playwrights but also for directors, actors and other theater workers.
‘Teatro Panalo aims to expand and strengthen the theater ecosystem by creating more opportunities not only for established and emerging writers, but also for directors, actors, and everyone involved in bringing a production to life,’ he said.
‘By giving more theater artists the chance to create and collaborate, and building on the work of the theater festivals that came before us, we hope to contribute to a bigger, and more sustainable theater community,’ he added.
The festival will also provide further support after the initial productions. One straight play and one musical will receive full-length development grants, allowing them to be expanded from their original one-act versions.
Teatro Panalo marks Puregold’s move into live theater following its annual film festival, providing another platform for Filipino storytellers to develop their work.
The inaugural Puregold Teatro Panalo will run from February 18 to March 14, 2027.