Ismael Gallaza Pantao

Ismael Gallaza Pantao is a theatre practitioner from General Santos City, Philippines. He is an alumnus of Sining Kabpapagariya Ensemble, the official performing arm of Mindanao State University (General Santos City).

He began his artistic journey as a cultural performer, actor, host, director, and theatre facilitator for youth-oriented programmes. As a performer, he has toured to other parts of the Philippines and represented his country at international festivals.

His awards include the General Santos City Youth Achievers Award (2009) for being one of the city’s bearers of excellence in the field of performing arts, and the Sultan Kudarat Awardee for Culture and Arts (2016).

Ismael is also part of inITIate PH, a collective he formed together with ITI alumni and his fellow classmates. Their inaugural devised play, COALateral, premiered at the 16th TANGHAL National University and Community-based Theatre Festival.

He came to ITI to search for his own meaning and values to live by as an actor. In the future, Ismael plans to continue his work as an actor and director. He also intends to share what he has learnt with the theatre communities in the Philippines and educate young people to be artists with purpose.

Read his Q&A here

Last updated: 5 December 2022