If only it ain't so damn scary

“I want you to get swept away. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish. Be deliriously happy. Or at least leave yourself open to be. I know it’s a cornball thing but love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. If you don’t start with that, what are you going to end up with? I say fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who’ll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart… Run the risk, if you get hurt, you’ll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love--well, you haven’t lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived… Stay open. Who knows? Lightning could strike.”

-- Anthony Hopkins as Bill Parrish in Meet Joe Black

[h/t: Migs and Ian]

[Photo: Boy jumping into the sea on Barry Island, Wales, by Vincent J. Musi/National Geographic]

UP Playwrights' Theater presents Anton Juan's Dead Stars and Sepang Loca

Celebrating the centennial of the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the 50th anniversary of the Department of Speech Communications and Theater Arts, the UP Playwrights' Theater, on its 21st theater season (2009–2010), proudly presents a twinbill offering: “Dead Stars,” Paz Marquez Benitez’s celebrated 1925 short story in English adapted for the stage by Anton Juan, and “Sepang Loca,” Amelia Lapeňa Bonifacio’s landmark theater piece--both under Anton Juan's direction.

The twinbill production opens July 21, 2009 and will run until August 1, 2009 at the 130-seater Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, 1st Floor, Faculty Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. Weekday shows at 7 p.m., weekend shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.


After his successful “Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating mga Anak” last July 2008, Juan returns to the UP stage with his dramatic adaptation of “Dead Stars,” acknowledged as the first Filipino modern short story written in English. The play, which centers on hypothetical love in a colonial state, collapses time and point of view in an impressionist dramatic narrative. Author Paz Marquez Benitez was the mentor of many Filipino literary masters and National Artists in Literature.


“Sepang Loca,” meanwhile, lays bare the cruelty of a village and the damnation of a village fool by its religious but self-righteous folk.

The cast includes some of Philippine theater's finest actors such as Teroy Guzman, Ana Abad Santos, Judy Ick, Earl Ignacio, Edna Mae Landicho, Fonz Deza, Ces Aldaba, Lexie Schulze, Lillibeth Nacion-Puyot and the Dulaang UP ensemble.

Joining Juan in the artistic team are Patrick Valera (dramaturgy and assistant direction) and Meliton Roxas, Jr. (set and lights design). Special period costumes are provided by Boy Domingo and Edgar San Diego.

Tickets at P250. Special group and student discounts are available. For inquiries and ticket reservations, call 9818500 local 2449/2451, 9261349 or telefax 4337840. Or contact Ozette Manguerra- Cauilan, Marketing Director, 0919-4281399 or e-mail infinite_supply@yahoo.com.

Visit the Dulaang UP office at Room 136, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, or the website at ww.upd.edu.ph/~dup.

Writer's Bloc resumes play-reading sessions, invites interested playwrights

The Writer's Bloc, Inc., an independent group of emerging and established playwrights, invites interested parties to join its regular reading sessions of new plays every other Sunday afternoon starting August 2, 2009.

Plays read and discussed during these sessions will be considered for presentation in the group's numerous activities, like the annual Virgin Labfest and for future publication initiatives.

The Bloc also offers playwriting workshops to interested groups and institutions. The Sunday sessions, however, are free of charge.

For inquiries, please e-mail Rody Vera or Alvin Dacanay at thewritersblocinc@yahoo.com.ph or writersblocinc@gmail.com.


PLUS: Some Writer's Bloc members with celebrated Asian-American playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly): (standing, from left) Debbie Ann L. Tan, Alfonso I. Dacanay, Dennis Marasigan, J. Dennis C. Teodosio, Layeta P. Bucoy, Jose Victor Z. Torres. (Sitting, from left) Rence Tomas, Rody Vera, David Henry Hwang, Nicolas B. Pichay, Allan B. Lopez.

[Photo: Alfonso I. Dacanay]

Virgin Labfest 5 blog contest: We have winners!

Thirty-five entries from twenty-two bloggers (some did multiple reviews for the different sets of plays they watched). More than good enough for me!

I had planned to give prizes only to the first to third placers, but the generally high caliber of most of the blogs submitted put me in a bind. I had to recognize honorable mentions, too, I felt. Fortunately, the gods heard my prayer. Elmar Ingles of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts approached me at the CCP one evening and handed me a thick package. Books, he said--use them as additional prizes for your blog contest.

And that's how I can now afford to reward not only my top 3 choices but also nine other honorable mentions, each of whom will likewise get a gift. (Details of major prizes here and here.)

Criteria
A note on my choices: I had two basic criteria for this contest--quality of insight and clarity of expression, whether in English or Filipino. I just wanted to know what went on in one's head while watching a VL play, and how he or she would now describe it, present it, frame it, argue with or concur with it in the form of a blog entry.

Whether I agreed with one's point or not was not a consideration. Many bloggers who made it to the list, in fact, offered opinions divergent from mine; in the end, how well-thought out and and how well-expressed an opinion was were the only things I looked at. Of course, throw in a dash of humor, a fleck of wit and attitude to one's basic articulation and the deal was sealed for me.

I invite you to read through all the blog entries submitted here--winner and non-winner alike--and take heart in the thought that we do have an engaged, alert, intelligent audience out there. And many of them young, too. Know hope.


Additional prizes
1. Writ.Hop: New Writers Speak Up, edited by Ricardo De Ungria and Erlinda Alburo: “A collection of essays presented by critics and young writers in two national conferences held under the auspices of the NCCA,” this volume includes pieces by Timothy Montes, Wendell Capili, Lilledeshan Bose, Lakambini Sitoy, Francis Macansantos, Luna Sicat, Rebecca Anonuevo, Alvin Yapan, Michael Obenieta, Rolando Tolentino et al.

2. Vibora!, by F. Sionil Jose: “This brief but thoughtful novel challenges the reader to make judgment--at his own moral peril,” from the National Artist for Literature and the Philippines' most widely translated author.

THE WINNERS

First prize
Proletartist: (Prize: Preview Art book, Sinta! anthology, Virgin Labfest anthology, Bilog CD)

Second prize
MossGreenTrunks: (Prize: pair of Havaianas, Sinta! anthology, Virgin Labfest anthology, Bilog CD)

Third prize
Wandering Commuter: (Prize: Zen Zest gift pack, Sinta! anthology, Bilog CD, The Rene O. Villanueva Children's Reader)

Honorable mentions
1. Buena Bernal (Prize: Bilog CD)
2. Erasmusa (Prize: Bilog CD)
3. Eros (Prize: The Rene O. Villanueva Children's Reader)
4. John Ryan Pecabar: (Prize: Writ.Hop)
5. Rhodge (Prize: Writ.Hop)
6. Abaniko (Prize: Writ.Hop)
7. FabulousJV (Prize: F. Sionil Jose's Vibora!)
8. Acrylique (Prize: F. Sionil Jose's Vibora!)
9. Rollie dela Cruz (Prize: F. Sionil Jose's Vibora!)

How to get your prizes
Please drop by the Inquirer office (Yague corner Mascardo Sts., Pasong Tamo, Makati City) so I can personally give you your prize. But before you do that, e-mail me at gibbs_c@yahoo.com and let's agree on the time and date. See you.

Thank you to everyone who joined in whatever way--by sending entries, donating prizes, spreading the word, leaving comments, or by plain keeping this blog company with your (much-appreciated) lurking. Maraming, maraming salamat. Sa uulitin!

Game boys

Overheard from two Don Bosco high school students (their uniforms said so) in front of me in the jeepney:

Boy 1: Kainggit si Miranda ano, di nag-aaral, pa-Dota Dota lang, pumapasa sa test. Anlupet.

Boy 2: Sana ganun din tayo... Sana nga me test din sa Dota.

Boy 1: Ayputa, yayariin ko 'yan, ako topnotcher dyan!

PETA offers free tickets to 20 bloggers

In connection with the opening of its latest production, “Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil),” PETA is inviting bloggers to watch its performances for free.

Bloggers need to send their names, contact numbers and a link to their sample blog to petampro@yahoo.com. PETA will choose the top 20 bloggers, who will be notified by e-mail.

The lucky bloggers chosen will get a chance to watch “Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil)” for free, on the condition they write a review of the play to avail of the season pass.

Backstage passes, special house seats and an exclusive interview with the director and cast of PETA’s productions are also up for grabs.

The season’s line-up of plays includes, aside from “Noli at Fili,” “Ismail at Isabel,” a play about children’s rights written by Rody Vera and directed by Maribel Legarda (August 28-October 4), and “Boto,” musical comedy on Philippine Elections written by award-winning librettist Vince de Jesus together with Liza Magtoto and Anj Heruela and directed by Phil Noble (February 5-March 7, 2010).

Deadline for applications is on July 26, 2009. For inquiries, contact PETA Marketing at 4100821, 7256244, 0917-8044428, petampro@yahoo.com or www.petatheater.com

Rare video: Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 bantering with Bob Hope

The song numbers preceding and following this TV moment are on YouTube (Get It Together and Dancing Machine, respectively), but both excerpts omit the brief interlude when comedian Bob Hope saunters up to the brothers and banters with them.

The repartee is obviously scripted, but note how the script is a crisp comic gem--much preferable, if you ask me, to the inane, vapid chitchat that passes for TV talk these days. In the realm of Bob Hope, then America's king of one-liners, not even the few minutes between musical numbers should be left to idle blather. His back-and-forth with the Jackson brood is sharp and fast and funny (young Michael gets some of the best lines), and notable for poking fun even at himself:

BH: I can't get over you, guys. Television, concerts, records--you're always working!

J5: Well, you gotta make it while you can. The public is fickle and musical trends change so fast.

BH: I know. I heard of one group that became obsolete before they could get off the bus.

MJ: You're lucky you're a comedian, Mr. Hope. People seem to laugh at the same things for years.

BH: [Beat] That's all we need--a midget Don Rickles.

[Don Rickles--curmudgeonly comic and actor famous for his insults.]

The interlude lasts less than 3 minutes before the brothers launch into their hit song Dancing Machine, but is packed with great zingers like that. Watch.

I've looked closely--this isn't on YouTube yet, so let this be my own contribution to the ever-growing heap of MJ memorabilia online. So long, Michael!

Indie filmmaker Raya Martin in Artist Talk at Lopez Museum

The Lopez Memorial Museum welcomes acclaimed experimental filmmaker Raya Martin, who will discuss the relation between film and history, and other aspects of independent filmmaking in the Philippines, on July 18, 2009.

The 25-year old Martin is the first Filipino to be accepted at the prestigious Cinefondation Residence of the Cannes Film Festival and the first Filipino to have two entries at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival (“Independencia” and “Manila”).

Martin says, “The history of our cinema tells the history of our country. Movies become historical accounts of a people’s struggle in a particular period. When a movie studio ceases to exist, it marks the death of an historian. What we are left with are the memories of a memory maker. We only stand before what was there that was not ours.”

His video installation called “WMB” is one of the featured works in the exhibition “Double Take,” ongoing at the Lopez Memorial Museum’s main gallery until September 25, 2009. He will be using “Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay,” a production of LVN Pictures, as he goes into the history of film.

Born in 1984, Martin graduated in 2005 from the University of the Philippines Film Institute with a degree in filmmaking. He began receiving accolades for his work at a very young age. In 2004, his short film “Bakasyon” won the Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema at the Cinemanila International Film Festival and his documentary on Batanes called “The Island at the End of the World” won best Documentary film prize at the .mov 2005 film festival.

Also in 2005, he completed his first feature film, “Indio Nacional.” In the same year, he was granted a prestigious residency in Paris at the CineFondation, a program for young filmmakers organized under the auspices of the Cannes International Film Festival. In 2007, he was named Best Director for his film “Autohystoria” at the 2007 Cinemanila International Film Festival. His film “Independencia” was the first Filipino film to be selected to the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, and his film with Adolfo Alix Jr., “Manila,” was also shown.

Artist Talk on July 18 (Saturday) is from 2-4 p.m. Fee is P120 per person. For inquiries, call Fanny 6312417 or e-mail admin@lopez-museum.org.

One-night-only The Vagina Monologues at RCBC Theater

After its 15th anniversary offering, “The Male Voice,” the New Voice Company--in cooperation with Women In Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHILS) Association and SMART Link--revisits its internationally acclaimed production, Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” with a special one-night-only performance on July 31, 7:30 p.m., at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

New Voice's production of “TVM” has been repeatedly performed in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, and all over the country.

Directed by NVC Associate Artistic Director Rito Asilo with light design and technical direction by Martin Esteva, the exciting new batch of actresses who will breathe life into Ensler’s well-loved monologues includes Juno Henares (“The Good Body,” “Into the Woods”), Lily Chu (“Cabaret,” “Falsettos The Musical”) and Missy Maramara (“Into the Woods,” “Stop/Kiss”).

The show will raise funds for WIMAPHILS' various projects that aim to involve women in issues affecting the maritime industry. NVC Artistic Director is Monique Wilson and NVC Executive Producer is Rossana Abueva.

For tickets, call 8981173.

My favorite Virgin Labfest 5 performances

The paper has prior claim to my omnibus Virgin Labfest review, so for this corner I'll focus on the performances instead--those that thrilled me, moved me, jolted me out of my seat or had me rapt in thought while filing out of the theater.

The plays' imposed brevity--all one-act, about 35-45 minutes maximum--is, from my experience of watching the Labfest in the last four years, no deterrent to bursts of acting prowess that can stand side by side with performances in more elaborate full-length productions with longer rehearsal time and greater resources.

More, many of this year's crop of breakthrough performers are, like the plays they brought to urgent life, also “untried and untested”--fresh faces and talents a generation or two away from the rarefied stature of superstar thespians like last year's Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino and Tommy Abuel, or the combined Irma Adlawan-Nonie Buencamino juggernaut in the 2006 Labfest.

That new actors are breaking through is yet another sign that the festival is doing significant work pump-priming the local theater industry. Come yearend, I hope the names below will make it to various citation lists.

ACTRESSES
1. Skyzx Labastilla, for her layered, pitch-perfect portrayal of a complex, confounding young woman coping with horrors both personal and political in Isang Araw sa Karnabal.

2. Mayen Estanero--remarkable range, from the subtle, streetwise charm of her love-starved saleslady in Ang Mamanugangin ni Rez to the ferocity of her trashed-up character in So Sangibo A Ranon Na Piyatay O Satiman A Tadman.

3. Mailes Kanapi--another double-duty actress, in Kitchen Medea and Hate Restaurants, both of which banked heavily on her ability to ground loony, flailing, easy-to-overdo characters in something intimate, organic--touching.

4. Marjorie Lorico, thoroughly engaging as a bubbly teacher with a lot of things in her distracted mind in Ang Huling Lektyur ni Misis Reyes.

5. Karenina Haniel--inspired casting, not only because she played the part of a boy in a play about gender fluidity and confusion (in Boy-Gel and Gelpren ni Mommy), but also because she was excellent in it.

6. Angeli Bayani--a supporting part as the foul-mouthed wife in Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan, but textured and authentic to the core. You could practically smell her from your seat.

ACTORS
1. Jonathan Tadioan, nothing short of magnificent as the raging, murderous cousin in Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan. More character actor than conventional leading man, he stamped the stage with his riveting combustibility.

2. Riki Benedicto, with his choirboy mien and warm presence a worthy toe-to-toe counterpoint to his explosive co-star in Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan.

3. Paolo O'Hara--effortless Everyman stance and comic timing, plus great chemistry with Skyzx Labastilla in Isang Araw sa Karnabal.

4. Bembol Roco--acting distilled to wistful, heart-tugging artlessness in Maliw. (One of Philippine cinema's great actors but a relative newbie in theater, Mr. Roco appears to be bringing a lifetime's worth of lessons on the art of intensified stillness to the stage, to go by his performance here and in Kung Paano Maghiwalay earlier in the year.)

ENSEMBLES
1. Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan--powerful, compelling turns from everyone in the cast. The tightest multi-character work in the festival.

2. Isang Araw sa Karnabal--the play, already a fine piece of work, finds extra lift from its two leads' seamless interaction.

3. Boy-Gel ang Gelpren ni Mommy--deadpan oddball tone winningly sustained throughout by a cast all cued to the same spirit, resulting in a strikingly fresh and funny take on a delicate subject.

PETA brings back Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil)

Opening PETA’s 42nd Theater Season is “Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil),” back for a re-run.

The play, which revamps and contemporizes Rizal’s classics, is written by noted academic and scholar Nic Tiongson. “It is Tiongson’s keen understanding of Rizal’s works that enables him to invest his work with imagination and creativity”, one critic said.

“Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil)” features an assortment of young and veteran actors: Lex Marcos, Robert Seña, Bembol Roco, Bodgie Pascua, Jack Yabut, Julia Enriquez, Buddy Caramat, Jojo Atienza, Jeffrey Hernandez, Joel Saracho, Marichu Belarmino, Joshua Deocareza, Upeng Galang-Fernandez, Ian Segarra, She Maala, Neomi Gonzales, George de Jesus, Raffy Tejada, Joel Molina, Jess Evardone, Ryan Alfonso and Paolo Rodriguez.

The production runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) on July 17-August 9, 2009 at the PETA Theater Center. For inquiries, contact PETA Marketing at 4100821, 7256244, 0917-8044428, petampro@yahoo.com or www.petatheater.com

Virgin Labfest blog contest: Deadline extended, one more prize

[Update: Winners here]

1. I've been receiving very good entries to the Virgin Labfest blog contest, so I'm extending the deadline to this coming Friday, July 10. I'll announce the winners within that weekend. Quick, send me those entries now by posting on the comment section here! And please help spread the word about the deadline extension.


2. Palanca Hall of Fame playwright Nicolas Pichay has donated CDs of the original cast recording of a Filipino musical play called Bilog (Le Cercle) to add to our prizes. Bilog, written by Mr. Pichay with musical direction by Vincent De Jesus, was choreographed and first staged by Paul Morales for the defunct theater company Dulaang Talyer in 1995. It has been restaged three times, garnering two Aliw Award nominations (for Best Play and Best Director) along the way and reaching its brightest moment in 2003 when it was invited to perform at a European theater festival in Avignon, France--the first Filipino play to achieve that distinction.

Like the Sinta! anthology, Bilog's soundtrack CD is another collector's item, because it is not found in record stores anywhere. It features peformers John Abul, Charyl Chan, Connie Lauigan-Chua, Nor Domingo, Herbert Go, Cynthia Culig-Guico, Teresa Jamias, Donna Miranda, Julius Mocorro, Dwight Rodrigazo, Nazer Salcedo and Naomi Villa.

Bilog further fattens our prize pot, which now also includes books donated by playwrights Allan Lopez and Rody Vera on top of the original gift packs I'm offering. All three winners of the blog contest will get a copy of the CD (in pristine condition, unopened and still in its plastic packaging).

Thank you, Mr. Pichay!

Facebook status update, cont.

1. my hotel toiletries are l'occitane. i don't mind 'fessing up that i'm hoarding them all.

2. on the orangutan trail, a ranger asked, "first time to visit your cousins?". after seeing three baby orangs, i'm all for the family relation.

Facebook status update

my room at shangri-la's rasa ria resort in kota kinabalu is breathtaking. i can't get used to this--but i will enjoy the fleeting luxury.

[breathless video later.]

Mga bagong habilin

1. Aalis kasi ako--working trip to Kota Kinabalu June 29-July 5. The Virgin Labfest is on its second week starting tomorrow, Tuesday. You still have a chance to catch the set/s of plays you missed last week. Gow na. (Schedules here.)

2. Keep those entries to our VL blog contest coming. Just post the link in the comment section here. Updated prize details here. Since the contest's announcement, a few good souls have offered to add more prizes to the much-sweetened pot. Hallelujah. I'll blog about them very soon.

3. Four shows are set to open this July: Repertory Philippines' The Fantasticks (July 3-26), Atlantis Productions' rerun of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (July 3-12), Dulaang UP's rerun of Atang: Dulang May Musika (July 1-12) and the UP Playwrights Theater's twinbill production of Paz Marquez Benitez’ short story Dead Stars and Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio’s Sepang Loca (July 14-18; 21-25), both adapted and directed by Anton Juan. Happy play-watching!

UPDATE: Also Ateneo Entablado's Ang Henerala, which runs June 30-July 17, directed by Jethro Tenorio.

Ciao.

PHILSTAGE bares first-quarter citations for 2009 Gawad Buhay!

[Complete list of citations below]

Revivals and restagings dominated the first quarterly citations list of the 2009 Gawad Buhay!, the PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts.

With 14 performance and technical citations, Ballet Philippines' Neo Filipino topped the first quarterly race. Coming in as close second with eleven citations is the Philippine Educational Theater Association's production of Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, while Repertory Philippines' A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino received eight citations to claim the third berth. Another revival, Tanghalang Pilipino's ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, placed fourth with seven citations.

A dance trilogy that serves as homage to the vast riches of the Filipino cultural heritage, Neo Filipino's Amada, Ulaging–Daog-dog sa Sang Libong Kulog and KatiTaog collectively won citations for outstanding dance production, ensemble performance, female lead performance in dance (Carissa Adea), male lead performance in dance (Biag Gaongen and Ronelson Yadao), featured performance in dance (Marian Faustino and Lucky Vicentino), choreography (Alice Reyes), adaptation or translation (Alice Reyes), musical composition (Kalayo), costume design (Gino Gonzales), lighting design (Katsch Catoy) and set design (Gino Gonzales).

Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, a psycho-emotional journey into the lives, loves and relationships of three people, earned the jurors' citations for outstanding play production, stage direction (Nonon Padilla), ensemble performance, male lead performance in a play (Lex Marcos, Juliene Mendoza and Jack Yabut), original script (Tony Perez), musical direction (Jed Balsamo), lighting design (Ian Torqueza), sound design (Aries Alcayaga) and set design (Salvador Bernal).

Widely considered as the best Filipino play in English, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino was cited for outstanding play, stage direction (Jose Mari Avellana), original script (Nick Joaquin), female lead performance in a play (Liesl Batucan and Ana Abad Santos), featured performance in a play (Dido dela Paz), lighting design (Martin Esteva) and sound design (Lamberto Avellana, Jr.).

ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, a hilarious tale of the adventures of a gay beautician-turned- Pinoy superhero, was cited for outstanding musical production, ensemble performance, lead female performance in a musical (Eula Valdes), featured performance in a musical (Nar Cabico and Joey Paras), musical direction (Vincent De Jesus), and original music composition (Vincent De Jesus).

Also cited for individual achievements are Caissa Borromeo for outstanding female lead performance in a musicale and Kyla Rivera for outstanding featured performance in a musicale, both for Repertory Philippines' I Love You Because.

Now on its second year, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts juried by an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts. Outstanding individual and group achievements in various artistic and technical aspects of play, musical and dance productions and performances are honored based on quarterly citations deliberated by the jury who are required to watch all productions of PHILSTAGE member-companies for the entire year. From the four quarterly citations, the jury will select the final nominees qualified to win the awards by the end of the performance season.

PHILSTAGE is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), PETA, Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino and TRUMPETS.

Below is the complete list of the 2009 first-quarter citations in various categories:

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre? (PETA)
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (Repertory Philippines)

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (Tanghalang Pilipino)

OUTSTANDING DANCE PRODUCTION
Neo Filipino (Ballet Philippines)

OUTSTANDING STAGE DIRECTION
Nonon Padilla, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Jose Mari Avellana, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Ballet Philippines' Neo Filipino
PETA's Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Tanghalang Pilipino's ZsaZsa Zaturnnah

OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Liesl Batucan, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Ana Abad Santos, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Lex Marcos, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Juliene Mendoza, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Jack Yabut, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Dido Dela Paz, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Caissa Borromeo, Repertory Philippines' I Love You Because
Eula Valdes, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
No citation

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Nar Cabico, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah
Joey Paras, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah
Kyla Rivera, I Love You Because

OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE PRODUCTION
Carissa Adea, Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE PRODUCTION
Biag Gaongen, Neo Filipino
Ronelson Yadao, Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE PRODUCTION
Marian Faustino, Neo Filipino
Lucky Vicentino, Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Nick Joaquin's A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Tony Perez's Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL LIBRETTO
No citation

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION
Vincent De Jesus, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah
Kalayo, KatiTaog from Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING ADAPTATION OR TRANSLATION
Alice Reyes, Amada from Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jed Balsamo, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Vincent De Jesus, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Alice Reyes, Amada from Neo Filipino
Alden Lugnasin, Ulaging from Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Salvador Bernal, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Gino Gonzales, KatiTaog from Neo Filipino
Gino Gonzales, Ulaging from Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Gino Gonzales, Ulaging from Neo Filipino

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Katsch Catoy, Neo Flipino
Martin Esteva, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Ian Torqueza, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
Aries Alcayaga, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Lamberto Avellana, Jr., A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino