My Yearend Roundup: THE BEST OF PHILIPPINE THEATER 2025

January 3, 2026

For the year 2025, I had seen and written about 37 theater productions: 11 musicals (6 in Filipino, 5 in English), 10 full-length plays (9 in Filipino, only 1 in English), and 16 one-act plays (12 in Virgin Labfest, 4 in 2 Dulaang UP double-headers). 

2025 marked the end of my 10-year stint as a juror of the Gawad Buhay awards. While thankful that I still do get invited as media by certain theater companies, I now need to buy tickets to several shows myself. Because of this, I won't be able to watch each and every show with each and every alternative cast, nor be able to sit in the best of seats, anymore.  

Among the major 2025 shows I was not able to watch were Theater Group Asia's "Into the Woods" and the touring production of "Dear Evan Hansen," for which tickets were sold out quickly, pricey notwithstanding. I also had to prioritize watching new shows over re-runs of recent hit shows, like "Walang Aray," "3 Upuan" or "Pingkian". 

I will list here what I feel were the best among those theater shows I had seen and written about for 2025:

I. MUSICALS - IN FILIPINO

BEST: SI FAUST (Arete) (My Full Review)

"Faust," a 19th century tragic play in verse written by Johannes Wolfgang von Goethe is considered the greatest work in German literature. The story was about a desperate man named Faust who made a deal with a devil figure named Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles will let Faust experience heaven here on earth. But in exchange, Faust agreed that after death his soul will follow Mephistopheles straight into hell, where he'll spend his afterlife. 

There may have been hints here and there that he was a stage neophyte, Ton Vergel de Dios was naturally charismatic as the young, vital post-transformation Faust. Maita Ponce was an electrifying stage presence with the spunk, confidence and rock-star attitude required for the deceitful Mephistopheles role. They had quite a number of duets throughout the show, and they sure can wail them out. The most remarkable of them all was "I.O.U" in the second act, when Mephistopheles ("I own you") was collecting on Faust's debt ("I owe you").

Music and Songs: Basti Artadi

Stage Direction: Nelsito Gomez 

Other Notable Productions:

"Gregoria Lakambini" (Tanghalang Pilipino), directed and co-choreographed by Delphine Buencamino, book by Nicanor Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc, music by Nica del Rosario, Matthew Chang and Flip Music. (My Full Review)

"Liwanag sa Dilim" (9 Works Theatricals), direction and book by Robbie Guevara, music and songs by Rico Blanco, musical direction by Daniel Bartolome. (My Full Review)

Notable Performances:

Joseton Vergel de Dios, Shaira Opsimar and Maita Ponce ("Si Faust"), Marynor Madamesila and Heart Puyong ("Gregoria Lakambini"), Khalil Ramos, Vien King, Alexa Ilacad and Boo Gabunada ("Liwanag sa Dilim"), Phi Palmos, Shaira Opsimar and Tex Ordonez-de Leon ("Delia D.") (My Full Review), David Ezra and Jett Pangan ("Jeproks: The Musical") (My Full Review), Noel Rayos and Jeremy Manite ("Pilato") (My Full Review)

Memorable Technical Aspects:

Set design, Lighting design, Sound design, Projection designs of "Si Faust," Costume designs of "Gregoria Lakambini," Set design, Lighting design, Costume design, Projection designs of "Liwanag sa Dilim," Set designs, Projection designs of "Delia D."

II. MUSICALS - NOT IN FILIPINO

BEST: SHREK THE MUSICAL (Full House) (My Full Review)

Lord Farquaad (Alfredo Reyes) hated fairytale creatures, so he banished them away from the kingdom of Duloc. They camped out in a nasty swamp, which turned out to be the residence of a scary green ogre named Shrek (Jamie Wilson). To get his house back, Shrek struck a deal with Farquaad to find and rescue his dream wife Princess Fiona (Krystal Kane) from the tower guarded by a dragon where she had been locked in since her childhood. 

With his expressive voice and body, Jamie Wilson was able to bring out Shrek's kind heart even we cannot see his actual face. Krystal Kane nailed those long high notes of Fiona's songs, as well as the quick changes she required. Even without a snout, Topper Fabregas imbued his delightful Donkey with a cute bouncy gait and a sharp sassy attitude. Kneeling to play Farquaad must have been physically punishing for Alfredo (formerly known as Bibo) Reyes, but we do not see any of that with his gleeful portrayal of cartoonish villainy.

Book: David Lindsay-Abaire

Music and Songs: Jeanine Tesori

Stage Direction: Dexter Santos

Other Notable Productions:

"We Aren't Kids Anymore" (Barefoot Theater Collaborative), directed by Rem Zamora, book by Drew Gasparini, orchestrations and vocal arrangements by Justin Goldner and Drew Gasparini, musical direction by Myke Salomon and Farley Asuncion. (My Full Review)

"Side Show" (Sandbox Collective), directed by Toff de Venecia, book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger, musical direction by Ejay Yatco. (My Full Review)

Notable Performances: 

Jamie Wilson, Krystal Kane, Topper Fabregas and Alfredo Reyes ("Shrek the Musical"), Myke Salomon, Maronne Cruz, Luigi Quesada, Gio Gahol and Gab Pangilinan ("We Aren't Kids Anymore"), Krystal Kane, Molly Langley and Joshua Cabiladas ("Side Show"), Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Sheila Francisco and Topper Fabregas ("Come From Away") (My Full Review), Floyd Tena and Benedix Ramos ("Next to Normal") (My Full Review)

Memorable Technical Aspects:

Set design, Costume designs and Creature puppetry of "Shrek the Musical," Costume designs of "Side Show," Set design and Costume designs of "Come From Away"

III. PLAYS - IN FILIPINO

A. ONE-ACT: 

BEST: ANNIVERSARY (Virgin Labfest XX) (My Full Review)

On the first death anniversary of his wife Rachel, carpenter Rob (Jamie Wilson) visited her gravestone at the memorial park. He had not yet moved on from her unexpected passing, misery and pain apparent on his face. He actually planned to end it all right there and then. However, before he could do anything, an old retired teacher named May (Bibeth Orteza), who was then visiting the grave of her best friend Anne Marie, saw him and began to chat him up.

This must be the first Virgin Labfest plays I've seen with a story told in three parts and a coda.  The mostly English script of Nelsito Gomez was a very eloquent discourse about the grief felt upon losing a life partner. The topic may sound morbid, but there was a healthy dose of humor. The witty and pithy lines were delivered by Wilson and Orteza so naturally, with sincere emotional connection. The set design may be simple, but that tree with orange leaves at centerstage was very classy and memorable.Writer: Nelsito Gomez

Director: Sarah Facuri

Other Notable Productions:

"May Katwiran ang Katwiran" ("Para Kay Tony" by Dulaang UP), written by Rolando Tinio, directed by MJ Briones, with mentor-director Charles Yee (My Full Review)

"Unang Araw" (VLF XX), written by Ivan Villacorta Gentolizo, directed by Cholo Ledesma (My Full Review)

"Polar Coordinates" (VLF XX), written by Ade Valenzona, directed by Paolo O'Hara (My Full Review)

Notable Performances:

Jamie Wilson and Bibeth Orteza ("Anniversary"), Sherry Lara ("Mommy G"), Andoy Ranay and Kiki Baento ("Presidential Suite"), Angelica Panganiban ("Don't Cry for Me, Catriona"), Roi Calilong ("The Late Mr. Real"), Sheryll Ceasico ("Kalahating Oras sa Isang Kumbento"), Kerr Allen and Daniel Duplon ("May Katwiran ang Katwiran")

Memorable Technical Aspects:

Set design of "Anniversary," Set design of "Ang Problema sa Trolley," Costume designs in "Mga Anak ng Unos" 

B. FULL-LENGTH

BEST: KISAPMATA (Tanghalang Pilipino) (My Full Review)

Ex-policeman Dadong (Jonathan Tadioan) ran his household located in Zapote Street like a tight ship. His wife Dely (Lhorvie Nuevo) was already numbed to all the years of physical, sexual and psychological abuse under him. Their only daughter Mila (Toni Go) wanted to marry her boyfriend Noel (Marco Viana). Dadong agreed, but he used Dely's delicate condition as an excuse, to make sure that they won't move out. 

Tadioan's imposing bodily heft looked intimidating even if he was just silently standing around with his sinister scowl. He affected this wheezy voice that made his Dadong more creepy, truly a devil incarnate. Nuevo's physical demonstrations of abuse and haunting whispery voice were disturbing to watch and listen to.  Go's Mila was the poster-girl of Stockholm Syndrome, caught between filial loyalty and self-happiness. Viana's Noel was like an animal desperate to free himself from the trap he unwittingly got caught in. 

Writer: Guelan Luarca, an adaptation of the screenplay by Mike de Leon, Clodualdo del Mundo and Raquel Villavicencio for the 1981 film

Director: Guelan Luarca

Other Notable Productions

"Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati "(Arete), directed by Guelan Luarca, an adaptation of Nick Joaquin's "A Portrait of an Artist as Filipino" as translated by Jerry Respeto (My Full Review)

"Dagitab" (Scene Change), directed by Guelan Luarca, an adaptation of the screenplay by Giancarlo Abrahan for the 2015 film (My Full Review)

Notable Performances:

Jonathan Tadioan, Lhorvie Nuevo, Toni Go and Marco Viana ("Kisapmata"), Delphine Buencamino and Gab Pangilinan ("Quomodo Desolata Es"), Joji Lorenzo, Agot Isidro, Elijah Canlas and Benedix Ramos ("Dagitab"), Martin del Rosario, Elora Espano and Denise Esteban ("Anino sa Likod ng Buwan") (My Full Review), Martha Comia, Matel Patayon and Via Antonio ("Para Kay B"), Andoy Ranay ("13th of September") (My Full Review), Miren Alvarez-Fabregas, Joseph dela Cruz and Pickles Leonidas ("Sopranong Kalbo") (My Full Review), Missy Maramara ("Kaliwaan") (My Full Review)

Memorable Technical Aspects:

Set design of "Kisapmata," Choreography and set design of "Quomodo Desolata Es," Costume design and make-up of "13th of September,"  Set design and costume designs of "Sintang Dalisay" (My Full Review)

IV. PLAYS - NOT IN FILIPINO

BEST: ART (Repertory Ph ilippines) (My Full Review)

Serge (Martin Sarreal) bought a painting completely done in white paint with diagonal strokes for 2 hundred thousand francs. His very good friend Marc (Freddy Sawyer) appalled when he saw it, calling it frankly "a piece of white s**t." Serge took offense that Marc was questioning his appreciation for art. This argument escalated to more serious personal insults, rocking their 15 year-old friendship as it had never been before. Meanwhile, their common friend Yvan (Brian Sy) was in the thick of planning his wedding.

Director Victor Lirio imbued this production an air of sophisticated British posh-ness. This atmosphere was evoked by the immaculate art gallery-like set, created by London-based production designer Miguel Urbino, as enhanced by the lights designed by New York-based Miriam Nilofa Crowe. Having UK actors Sarreal and Sawyer deliver those acerbic lines with their authentic British accents made the play's sarcasm feel drier and bite deeper. The "pissing contest" of their highbrow egos were going through the roof. 

Writer: Yasmina Reza, as translated into English by Christopher Hampton

Director: Victor Lirio

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My 2024 list was posted HERE.

My 2023 list was posted HERE.

My 2019 list was posted HERE. 

My 2018 list was posted HERE. 

My 2017 list was posted HERE. 

My 2016 list was posted HERE. 

My 2015 list was posted HERE.

My 2014 list was posted HERE.

My 2013 list was posted HERE.