Puregold’s Teatro Panalo draws 373 entries, with only 12 works headed for production

Festival director Vincent de Jesus celebrates massive turnout for platform set to launch 12 original plays.

Puregold Teatro Panalo is making a major entrance into the Philippine theater scene, drawing 373 entries for its inaugural festival, a strong response for a new platform dedicated to original Filipino theater.

Festival director Vincent de Jesus said the turnout has made the team even more excited about the festival’s next phase.

“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. 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,” de Jesus said.

Presented by Puregold and produced and organized by Wishbone Collective, Inc., Teatro Panalo was launched to discover, develop, and bring Filipino stories from the page to the stage.

Its first call for submissions, held from August 8 to September 11, welcomed emerging and established Filipino playwrights to submit original one-act works, whether newly written or previously staged, across genres, styles, and theatrical forms.

From the 373 entries, only 12 original works will be chosen for full production: eight straight plays and four musicals. Each selected playwright will receive ₱100,000 in financial compensation, along with development and production support.

More than a festival, Teatro Panalo is envisioned as an incubation platform where selected works can be developed alongside theater professionals and transformed into fully realized stage productions.

For De Jesus, the initiative is also about creating more opportunities across the theater community.

“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.”

The festival’s support will also extend beyond its initial run. After the festival, one straight play and one musical will receive full-length development grants, allowing both works to evolve beyond their original one-act versions and potentially become full-length productions.

Teatro Panalo expands Puregold’s support for Filipino storytelling into live theater. Following the success of its annual film festival, the company is bringing its “Panalo” platform to the stage, giving playwrights another space to develop their craft and reach audiences.

With its first 12 productions still to be selected, Teatro Panalo is now entering its next stage: determining which works will launch the festival’s inaugural season.

The first Puregold Teatro Panalo will run from February 18 to March 14, 2027.

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