The Manila Society of Theater Reviewers (MSTR) has announced the winners of the 1st MSTR Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in theater across Metro Manila for productions that opened during the 2025 calendar year. The winners were revealed online on Jan. 10, 2026 on MSTR’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Founded in 2025, MSTR aims to promote, support, and celebrate the theater industry of Metro Manila. It is composed of regular reviewers of the Manila theater scene, writing across print and online platforms. The Society fulfills its mission through consistent, publicly accessible theater reviews and through the presentation of annual awards honoring the year’s most outstanding theatrical work.
Beyond these goals, MSTR seeks to cultivate and elevate discourse on theater among industry practitioners, journalists, academics, and the theater-going public.
For the 1st MSTR Awards, winners were chosen from 66 eligible productions that opened in Metro Manila during the 2025 calendar year. Eligibility was determined according to MSTR’s established criteria: fully staged theatrical works developed, created, and premiered in the Philippines, including productions by professional companies, campus-based or student-led organizations, and thesis performances. All eligible productions must have been seen by a minimum of three voting members to be considered in the awards deliberations.
The winners of the 1st MSTR Awards were chosen by the following voting members: Vladimir Bunoan (ABS-CBN News Online), Gibbs Cadiz (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Christa De La Cruz (Esquire Philippines), Nikki Francisco (TheaterFansManila.com), Arturo Hilado (independent), Emil Hofileña (TheaterFansManila.com/independent), Ricky Toledo (Philippine Star), Chito Vijandre (Philippine Star), and Vincen Gregory Yu (TheDiarist.ph/independent).
In addition to the winners, the Society also recognized honorable mentions in all categories, reflecting the depth and competitiveness of the year’s theatrical output. See the complete list of winners and honorable mentions below.
For more information on the Manila Society of Theater Reviewers and the MSTR Awards, visit mstrawards.com or follow @mstrawards on Facebook and Instagram.
Here’s the list of winners for the 1st MSTR Awards:
Best Achievement in Design
D Cortezano (set), Ali Figueroa (costumes), Jethro Nibaten (lighting), and Ronelson Yadao (movement) – Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati
Emerging Talent Award
Benedix Ramos (performance), Bar Boys: The Musical, Dagitab, and Next to Normal
Best Featured Performance in a Musical
Marvin Ong, Side Show
Best Featured Performance in a Play
Benedix Ramos, Dagitab
Best Lead Performance in a Musical
Maita Ponce, Si Faust
Best Lead Performance in a Play
Jojit Lorenzo, 3 Upuan
Best Director
Guelan Varela-Luarca, 3 Upuan and Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati
Outstanding Contribution to the Theater
GA Fallarme
George De Jesus III
Best New Filipino Work
Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati—translation by Jerry Respeto and adapted by Guelan Varela-Luarca
Best Production of a Musical
Si Faust—produced by Arete Ateneo and directed by Nelsito Gomez
Best Production of a Play
Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati—produced by Arete Ateneo and directed by Guelan Varela-Luarca
MSTR Awards Wins by Production
Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati – 4
3 Upuan – 2
Dagitab – 2
Si Faust – 2
Bar Boys: The Musical – 1
Next to Normal – 1
Side Show – 1
For the full list of winners and honorable mentions, click here.
