1st MSTR Awards: Benedix Ramos named Emerging Talent honoree

The gripping performances of Benedix Ramos in “Bar Boys: The Musical,” “Next to Normal,” and “Dagitab” were recognized by the inaugural Manila Society of Theater Reviewers (MSTR) Awards, where he brought home the Emerging Artist plum.

The MSTR Awards, composed of reviewers from the local theater scene and was founded in 2025, announced the winners chosen from 66 eligible productions that were held in the past year. 

According to the awards-giving body, winners were chosen by a “minimum of three voting members” based on its “established criteria.” Aside from the winners, the ceremony also recognized the honorable mention awardees.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Production of a Play: “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”

Honorable Mentions (Best Production of a Play): 

• “3 Upuan”
• “Dagitab”
• “Kisapmata”
• “Sala sa Pito”

Best Production of a Musical: “Si Faust” 

Honorable Mentions (Best Production of a Musical):

• “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• “Come From Away”
• “Pingkian: Isang Musikal”
• “Shrek the Musical”
• “Side Show”
• “Walang Aray”

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Jojit Lorenzo for “3 Upuan”

Honorable Mentions (Best Lead Performance in a Play):

• Delphine Buencamino for “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”
• Jasmine Curtis-Smith for “3 Upuan”
• Bart Guingona for “Via Dolorosa”
• Jojit Lorenzo for “Dagitab”
• Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan for “Kisapmata”
• JC Santos for “3 Upuan”
• Jonathan Tadioan for “Kisapmata”

Best Lead Performance in a Musical: Maita Ponce for “Si Faust”

Honorable Mentions (Best Lead Performance in a Musical): 

• Alex Diaz for “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Krystal Kane for “Shrek the Musical” and “Side Show”
• Marynor Madamesila for “Side Show”
• Benedix Ramos for “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Lance Reblando for “Walang Aray”
• Vic Robinson for “Pingkian: Isang Musikal”

Best Featured Performance in a Play: Benedix Ramos for “Dagitab”

Honorable Mentions (Best Featured Performance in a Play):

• Toni Go-Yadao for “Kisapmata”
• Karyl Oliva for “Sala sa Pito”
• Omar Uddin for “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”
• Marco Viaña for “Kisapmata”

Best Featured Performance in a Musical: Marvin Ong for “Side Show”

Honorable Mentions (Best Featured Performance in a Musical): 

• Maronne Cruz for “We Aren’t Kids Anymore”
• Topper Fabregas for “Shrek the Musical”
• Sheila Francisco for “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Shaira Opsimar for “Si Faust”
• Alfredo Reyes for “Shrek the Musical”

Best Director: Guelan Luarca for “3 Upuan” and “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”

Honorable Mentions (Best Director):

• Mikko Angeles for “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Nelsito Gomez for “Elecktra After Sophocles” and “Si Faust”
• Jenny Jamora for “Pingkian: Isang Musikal”
• Guelan Luarca for “Dagitab” and “Kisapmata”
• Michael Williams for “Come From Away”

Best Achievement in Design: “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”

• D Cortezano (set)
• Ali Figueroa (costumes)
• Jethro Nibaten (lighting)
• Ronelson Yadao (movement) 

Honorable Mentions (Best Achievement in Design):

• Jomelle Era for choreography, “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Jim Ferrer for choreography, “Si Faust”
• Stephen Viñas for choreography, “Shrek the Musical”
• Carlo Pagunaling for costumes, “Si Faust”
• Carlos Siongco for costumes, “Side Show”
• D Cortezano for lighting, “3 Upuan and Kisapmata”
• Jethro Nibaten for lighting, “Si Faust”
• Harry Tabner for lighting, “Come From Away”
• Farley Asuncion for musical direction, “We Aren’t Kids Anymore”
• Kabaitan Bautista for musical direction, “Si Faust”
• Matthew Chang for music, “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati” 
• Myke Salomon for musical direction, “We Aren’t Kids Anymore”
• Ejay Yatco for musical direction, “Pingkian: Isang Musikal”
• Teia Contreras for projections, “3 Upuan”
• GA Fallarme for projections, “Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo” and “Pingkian: Isang Musikal”
• Joyce Garcia for projections, “Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo” and “Si Faust”
• Lawyn Cruz for set, “Shrek the Musical”
• Mark Daniel Dalacat for set, “Side Show”
• Ohm David for set, “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Sarah Facuri for set, “Si Faust”
• Julio Garcia for set, “Bar Boys: The Musical”
• Joey Mendoza for set, “Kisapmata”
• Aron Roca for sound, “Bar Boys: The Musical” and “We Aren’t Kids Anymore”
• Luke Swaffield for sound, “Come From Away”
• John Robert Yam for sound, “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”

Best New Filipino Work: “Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”

Honorable Mentions (Best New Filipino Work):

• “Dagitab”
• “Si Faust”
• “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical”
• “Kisapmata”

Emerging Talent Award: Benedix Ramos for “Bar Boys: The Musical,” “Dagitab,” and “Next to Normal”

Honorable Mentions (Emerging Talent Award):

• Kerr Allen for performance, “May Katwiran ang Katwiran”
• Kabaitan Bautista for musical direction and arrangement, “Si Faust”
• Royce Cabrera for performance, “The Foxtrot”
• Teia Contreras for projection design, “3 Upuan”
• Sarah Facuri for set design, “Si Faust”
• Rafael Jimenez for playwriting, “Patintero sa Ayala Avenue”
• Karyl Oliva for performance, “Sala sa Pito”
• Omar Uddin for performance, “Bar Boys: The Musical, “Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo,” “Next to Normal,” and Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati”
• Ade Valenzona for playwriting, “Polar Coordinates”

Outstanding Contribution to the Theater: 

• GA Fallarme
• George de Jesus III