Inquiry, Progressiveness, Transformation: The 2025 Ateneo Creative Work Awards

Ateneo de Manila University once again celebrated the exceptional talent and artistic contributions of its faculty and staff at the 2025 Creative Work Awards ceremony held last 2 May 2025. The Office of the Assistant Vice President for Research, Creative Work, and Innovation feted outstanding achievements by members of the Ateneo community in the performing, visual, and screen arts that have brought Filipino culture to new audiences while also breaking new ground in research and creativity.

This year’s roster of awardees spans two academic years and represents a broad spectrum of disciplines, from theater and music to photography and film. All entries underwent rigorous peer review, upholding high standards of academic and creative excellence.

The 2025 Creative Work Awards also reflect a subtle but vital shift in Ateneo’s approach to artistic recognition, with a realignment toward contemporary perspectives and values driven by ingenuity and imagination, and framed by the rigors of academic tradition. Together and individually, the awardees reaffirm the University’s enduring commitment to the arts as a form of inquiry, progressiveness, and transformation. 

The 2025 Ateneo Creative Work Awardees

PERFORMING ARTS – THEATER

Michael Coroza – Librettist, Florante at Laura

Daniel Roan Cortezano – Lights Designer, Uncle Jane; Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… Yun Lang!; Nekropolis; Pride Plays (Unica Hijas, Laro); Sarita series (Labor Room, Matira ang Matibay, Commonwealth of Virginia); Fake; Elias at Salome; Ang Kasal ni Figaro; La Bohème; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Pingkian; Medea; Othello; Before Brabant

Ariel Diccon – Lead Actor, Kung Paano Ako Naging Ikatlong Miss Fiesta Golden Sunshine Barang-Gay San Marinos

Jomar Empaynado – Reader, Mga Kuwentong Jataka: Ang Haring Matsing

John Carlo Gloria – Reader, Mga Kuwentong Jataka: 'Uling' ni Impo

Sharmaine Hernandez – Reader, Mga Kuwentong Jataka: Ang Jackal na Nagligtas sa Leon

Joi Marie Angelica Indias – Featured performer, Labor Room

Yolando Jamendang – Reader, Mga Kuwentong Jataka: Ang Puso ng Matsing

Mark Benedict F Lim – Translator, Ang Jackal na Nakaligtas sa Leon; Ang Madaldal na Pagong; Ang mga Nakakita sa Punong Judas; Ang Mga Lawin at ang Kanilang Mga Kaibigan

Melissa Vera Maramara – Director, Lead Performer, and Lead Actor, O; Uncle Jane; The Pact

Glenn Mas – Lead Actor, Sari-Saring Soneto: An Evening of Shakespearean Sonnets in English and Filipino

Arkel Mendoza – Feature Performer, Sa Tahanan ng Aking Ama

Oliver John Quintana – Lead Actor, Sarita: Ang Trilohiya ng mga Sinaring Katawan

Jerry Respeto – Lead Actor, Director, and Translator, Sari-Saring Soneto, Sa Tahanan ng Aking Ama

Corazon L Santos – Reader, Mga Kuwentong Jataka/Jatakae Series: Uling ni Impo

Jethro Niño Tenorio  – Director and Lead Performer, Sarita: Trilohiya ng mga Sinaring Katawan; Sa Tahanan ng Aking Ama

Andrea Anne Trinidad – Reader, Kuwentong Jataka: Ang mga Prinsipe at ang Engkanto ng Tubig

Frederick Tuviera – Production Designer, Tartuffe; Zsazsa Zaturnnah, The Musical... Yun Lang!

Charles Ivan Yee – Director and Set Designer, Nekropolis; Silver Lining; Sari-Saring Soneto

PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC

Antonio Maria P Cayabyab – Conductor, Florante at Laura; Philippines-Türkiye Friendship Day Concert (Orchestra)

Hiroko Nagai – Lead Instrumentalist, Circle of Dreams Concert; Pearl of May Concert; The Listening Biennial 2023; Stories of Battles: From Dannoura to Gaza

VISUAL ARTS

Karl Fredrick Castro – Solo Exhibition (abroad), Dream after Dream, Expo '70 Tour; Non-solo Exhibition (local museum), 50 Years of Philippine Design and Beyond, Line of Sight

Daniel Roan Cortezano – Non-solo Exhibition (local museum), Living with Water, Sinag 2023: Tuloy ang Palabas; Solo Exhibition (local), Dagitab/Digital: Banaag and Earth Day Installation, Dagitab/Digital: Sikat

Pauline Bianca Ma-Alat – Non-solo Curatorial (local), The People's Museum of Climate Justice

Alfred Benedict Marasigan – Solo Exhibition (abroad), A Heritage of Captivity; Solo Exhibition: Conferences 10-11 / RE-POSING: RESISTANCE, RESPIRATION, RESOLUTION

Edgar Samar – Non-solo Exhibition (local museum), Walang Walang Binatbat

Joseph Sedfrey Santiago – Solo Curatorial (local), Bulda: Contemporary Itneg Textile Art, Genesis; Non-solo Curatorial (local), Saulog

SCREEN ARTS

Glenn Mas – Subtitlist, The Gospel of the Beast

Alvin Yapan – Director, Talahib