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 original works — eight straight plays and four musicals — will be selected to receive full production as part of the festival, with each playwright receiving P100,000 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.

“Puregold has always been present in the everyday lives of Filipino communities,” stated Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, senior marketing manager. “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.”

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.”

“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,” Hayagan-Piedad said. “Theater has the power to create that kind of shared experience.”

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 11 September. 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 16 plays and eight musicals will be announced on 6 October. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their works to the Selection Committee on 14 to 16 October, and a final lineup of eight straight plays and four musicals will be announced on 16 October.

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.