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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Vince Tañada: A year where gratitude took center stage

Vince Tañada: A year where gratitude took center stage

Published Dec 31, 2025 02:01 pm
In a year when the nation searched deeply for meaning, memory, and identity, Philippine theater found a steady, passionate heartbeat in Vince Tañada. Quiet yet resolute, reflective yet fiercely committed, Tañada stood at the crossroads of art and patriotism, guiding audiences back to history while reminding them why it still matters today.
Vince Tañada
Vince Tañada
The resounding success of 'Andres Bonifacio: Ang Supremo Isang Musikal' was not simply a theatrical triumph, it was a cultural awakening. Across packed theaters and echoing applause, the production stirred conversations about courage, sacrifice, and what it truly means to love one’s country. As the curtains fell night after night, something deeper lingered ... gratitude.
For Tañada, a lawyer by profession and an artist by calling, 2025 became a year of affirmation and heartfelt reflection. It was not the standing ovations alone that defined the season, but the connections formed between stage and soul.
“I’m beyond thankful and grateful for every performance, every student who watched, and every soul who felt something from the show. To see hearts stirred, that’s what makes it worthwhile,” he shared, his words echoing the very spirit of the musical he shepherded back to life.
Originally staged years ago, the 2025 revival of 'Andres Bonifacio: Ang Supremo Isang Musikal' arrived with renewed urgency. It retold the story of the revolutionary hero not as a distant historical figure, but as a living symbol, one whose ideals continue to challenge and inspire the present generation. From Manila to the provinces, audiences left theaters moved, reflective, and often in tears.
“This musical isn’t just a tribute to history, it’s a reminder that the spirit of Bonifacio lives in each of us, especially in how we confront today’s challenges,” Tañada explained, capturing the essence of a production that bridged past and present with profound emotional clarity.
Johnrey Rivas
Johnrey Rivas
At the heart of this achievement stands PhilStagers Foundation (PSF), the theater company Tañada founded in the early 2000s. What began as a vision to tell Filipino stories through musical theater has grown into one of the country’s most respected cultural institutions. Decades later, PSF continues to shape young minds and seasoned audiences alike, proving that theater can educate, inspire, and transform.
Yet Tañada is the first to acknowledge that this journey is not his alone.
Among PSF’s most vital pillars is Johnrey Rivas, an acclaimed actor, director, and now President of the Foundation. From his early years as a performer to his current role as a creative and organizational leader, Rivas embodies the very growth and continuity that PSF represents.
“Seeing Bonifacio: Ang Supremo touch so many lives reminds me why we do this work. It’s about inspiration, education, and the power of storytelling to unite us, and I’m so thankful to be part of it,” Rivas reflected, his gratitude mirroring that of his longtime collaborator.
Together, Tañada and Rivas helped guide PSF through a landmark year. In 2025, the musical toured multiple regions, reaching thousands of young audiences and reigniting interest in Philippine history. Classrooms extended into theaters, and lessons once confined to textbooks came alive through song, movement, and emotion.
Vince Tañada with son, Peter Parker Tañada
Vince Tañada with son, Peter Parker Tañada
For Tañada, success is measured not in accolades but in moments, when students walk out of a theater seeing their history not as obligation, but as inspiration.
“I’m thankful for this community, for every performer who pours their heart into each show, and for the audiences who come with open minds and hearts,” he said. “This year reminded me that theatre is not just entertainment, it’s a way to uplift, educate, and inspire change.”
As 2025 draws to a close, what remains is not just the echo of applause, but the deeper resonance of purpose fulfilled. Vince Tañada and Johnrey Rivas move forward with gratitude as their compass, carrying with them a year that strengthened bonds between artists and audiences, history and the present, passion and purpose.
In a world hungry for stories that matter, PhilStagers Foundation offered something rare and luminous: art that remembers, art that teaches, and art that awakens the soul. (Contributed by Jemuel Cainglet Salterio)
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