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Manila Society of Theater Reviewers Officially Launches to Champion Theater Reviews in Metro Manila

MANILA, Dec. 2, 2025 — The Manila Society of Theater Reviewers (MSTR) officially launches today, bringing together a collective of respected theater reviewers committed to fostering informed, consistent, and publicly accessible discourse on the theater industry in Metro Manila.

Founded in 2025, MSTR is composed of reviewers from major print and online publications, professionals whose coverage of the theater scene spans decades. The Society aims to promote, support, and celebrate the industry by strengthening critical engagement at a time when the Manila theater landscape is experiencing renewed growth and visibility.

“Our theater community is thriving, but meaningful engagement requires a reliable and diverse critical voice,” said Nikki Francisco, MSTR Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheaterFansManila.com. “We formed the Society to help ensure that the productions, artists, and companies shaping our cultural life are met with thoughtful, publicly accessible reviews—reviews that treat this art form with rigor, respect, and perspective. A strong culture of criticism also empowers audiences: it helps them navigate an increasingly busy season, understand the intentions behind the work, and engage more deeply with what they’re seeing.”

At the core of MSTR’s work is the belief that theater reviews plays a vital role not just in documenting the scene, but also in elevating creative conversations among audiences, journalists, educators, and practitioners. Through regular writing and industry-wide dialogue, the Society seeks to help preserve the memory of contemporary theater while encouraging new generations of readers, reviewers, and theatergoers.

“Manila’s theater ecosystem–dynamic as it is now–is not just a phenomenon of the ‘now’; it’s also history in the making, one show at a time,” added Vincen Gregory Yu, co-founder and convenor of MSTR. “By coming together as a community of reviewers, we hope to contribute to a more robust public conversation–one where reviews and analyses are seen not as gatekeeping, but as forms of care for the art and the people who make it.”

Current members include:

• 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 (The Diarist/Independent)

The Society welcomes ongoing dialogue with theater companies, academic institutions, and the broader performing arts community. Its website, mstrawards.com, will serve as the central hub for public updates, member information, and published works.