The University of the Philippines once again affirmed its place in the country’s cultural landscape as Tanghal Tertulia, its flagship arts program, was named one of the winners for Best Special Events Production at the 38th Aliw Awards, held on 15 December 2025, at the Fiesta Pavilion of The Manila Hotel.

Among the evening’s distinctions, Tanghal Tertulia stood out as the only non-commercial production mounted by a higher education institution to be recognized in this category—highlighting UP’s ongoing leadership in presenting artistic excellence on a national platform.

Introduced in 2024, Tanghal Tertulia began from an intimate moment at the UP Executive House Amphitheater. What started as an unplanned poetry reading under a canopy of bamboo and stars evolved into a recurring cultural gathering that honors the University’s legacy of National Artists while creating a space for creative exchange. The concept was formalized as a program dedicated to celebrating Filipino artistry rooted in the UP tradition.

The program’s name, inspired by the Spanish “tertulia,” reflects its spirit as a meeting of minds—an evening where literature, music, performance, and visual arts converge. Since its inception, Tanghal Tertulia has become a tribute to the University’s creative heritage and its contribution to the nation’s roster of National Artists.

UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez shared that the initiative was never conceived with awards in mind. Rather, it was envisioned as a platform to honor the artists who shaped Philippine culture and to share their work with the public. With nearly half of the country’s National Artists having roots in UP, Tanghal Tertulia became a natural extension of the University’s role in fostering artistic excellence. The Aliw recognition, he said, belongs as much to the artists as it does to the Iskolar ng Bayan who continue to carry their legacy forward.

The success of Tanghal Tertulia is anchored on collaboration across the University. Its leadership includes Atty. Fina Dela Cuesta Tantuico, Dr. Patricia Brillantes Silvestre, Toym Imao, Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, and Atty. Edlyn Frances V. Verzola, whose shared vision transformed the program from concept to a nationally acclaimed cultural event. Their collective stewardship ensured that Tanghal Tertulia remained both artistically rigorous and inclusive.

In the same category, Tanghal Tertulia shared honors with large-scale commercial productions such as That’s Amore – RMA and JL 75th – The Beatles Concert. What set the UP program apart was its free and open-to-the-public format, reinforcing the University’s mission to make art accessible to all and to position culture as a public good.

Preparations are already underway for the next edition of Tanghal Tertulia on 21 February 2026, which will again spotlight living National Artists from UP. The program continues to create spaces for recognition, dialogue, and inspiration at the intersection of education and the arts.