Puregold launches Teatro Panalo, opens search for outstanding Filipino plays!

The curtain is about to rise on another “panalo” cultural experience from Puregold—this

time, one that brings the world of Filipino theater closer to both the artists who create it

and the audiences who deserve to experience it.

Further expanding its commitment to champion Filipino creativity and showcase these

talents to more audiences, Puregold proudly announces Teatro Panalo, an inaugural

theater festival that aims to discover, develop, and stage compelling new one-act plays

and musicals by Filipino playwrights.

Produced and organized by Wishbone Collective, Inc. and presented by Puregold, the

incubation theater festival is a platform where original works can evolve from script to

stage with professional dramaturgical support, production resources, and valuable

audience engagement.

Twelve (12) original works—eight (8) straight plays and four (4) musicals—will be

selected to receive full production as part of the festival, with each playwright receiving

Php 100,000 in financial compensation.

Following the festival, one straight play and one musical will also be awarded full-length

development grants, an opportunity for further artistic growth and eventual commercial

production. For Puregold, Teatro Panalo reflects the company’s continuing belief that meaningful experiences should be as accessible as possible, because this is the true “panalo” experience.

“Puregold has always been present in the everyday lives of Filipino communities,” said

Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Senior Marketing Manager of Puregold. “Through Teatro Panalo,

we hope to be present in another meaningful way by creating spaces where people can

come together, exchange new ideas, and see Filipino artistry come to life on stage.”

Hayagan-Piedad said the initiative is rooted in Puregold’s understanding of service as

something that extends beyond the transactional.

“Being of service to a community is not limited to what happens inside our stores. It also

means listening to what matters to people and supporting experiences that help communities feel seen, connected, and represented,” she said. “Theater has the power

to create that kind of shared experience.”

Festival Director Vincent de Jesus emphasized that Teatro Panalo is equally about nurturing artists as it is about discovering outstanding material. “We’re looking for authentic voices, fresh perspectives, and stories that deserve to be seen on the stage,” he said. “The festival is designed to help playwrights realize the full potential of their work through collaboration with experienced theater practitioners, while also giving audiences the opportunity to encounter exciting new Filipino stories.”

Submissions are now officially open to amateur and professional Filipino playwrights

aged 18 and above at the time of application. Entries may be written in Filipino or

English and must be original one-act works, either straight plays or musicals.

Adaptations, translations, and AI-generated creative works are not eligible. The festival

welcomes submissions across genres, styles, and theatrical forms, provided they are

original works intended for approximately 35 to 40 minutes of stage performance.

Interested applicants must submit their entries no later than 11:59 p.m. on September

11, 2026. Applications should include a completed one-act script, synopsis, logline,

playwright’s development vision, supporting documents, and, for musical entries, demo

recordings.

A shortlist of sixteen (16) plays and eight (8) musicals will be announced on October 6.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their works to the Selection Committee

on October 14 to 16, and a final lineup of eight (8) straight plays and four (4) musicals

will be announced on October 16.

Selected playwrights will participate in Wishbone’s professional incubation program,

which includes dramaturgical guidance, production support, and the opportunity to have

their work staged before live audiences during the inaugural festival, currently

scheduled for February to March 2027.

De Jesus added, “Original stories have always shaped communities, reflected

generations, and inspired change. With Puregold Teatro Panalo, the next great Filipino

play may be waiting behind an unopened script. Puregold is inviting playwrights from

across the country to bring those stories to the stage.”

Complete festival mechanics, eligibility requirements, and application details are

available through the official Puregold Teatro Panalo submission form:

https://bit.ly/PGTeatroPanalo.