.png){kind=small}
Have you attended an awards gala, or watched one like the Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, The Actors Award, and, of course, the Oscars? These events are feats of meticulous event planning and design, all in service of celebrating excellence.
So what makes an awards gala outstanding? To find out, we sat down with two of the creative minds behind the Manulife Champions Gala 2025 at The Cove in Okada. The night celebrated top agents of Manulife Philippines, honoring their achievements in making lives better.
LIVE PH Creative Directors Denis Claves (Strategy and Content) and Zeus Zulueta (Arts and Design) shared what goes into creating a differentiated experience. Read an excerpt of our conversation below.
Every gala starts with a theme. What makes one truly memorable?
Denis Claves: A good theme isn’t just decorative; it should carry deep meaning. For the Manulife Champions Gala 2025, our team drew inspiration from the Philippine South Sea pearl, which has long symbolized our country’s beauty, rarity, and resilience.
That idea connected naturally to the agents we were celebrating. In a way, they are like pearls. Their achievements come from patience, dedication, and time. When a theme carries that kind of emotional weight, it effortlessly guides everything else: the stage, the visuals, and even the storytelling moments throughout the program.
Zeus, what about you? What should tangible elements like the stage do during an awards night, aside from the obvious?
Zeus Zulueta: The stage is the emotional center of the event. When someone walks up to receive an award, that moment should feel larger than life because it is their special milestone.
For Manulife’s Champions Gala, we designed pearl-inspired visuals that felt luminous and elegant. Soft curves, pearly finishes, and a sense of radiance helped mirror the concept of excellence shining through.
Aesthetics aside, every technical element must uplift the winners. Light cues, screen visuals, and the physical award itself should perfectly support the exact moment someone hears their name called.
Photo walls are standard at events. What separates a good one from a forgettable one?
If a photo wall feels like a standard corporate backdrop, people will treat it that way. But if it feels immersive, people will happily line up for photos. For this gala, the pearl inspiration flowed directly into the photo experiences. Lighting, textures, and reflective elements helped guests feel like they were stepping into the actual narrative of the event.
To me, a good photo wall becomes a lasting memory of the night. It also extends the event far beyond the venue once people start sharing those photos online.
Denis, award shows can sometimes drag or feel boring, especially for the spectators. How should a program engage audiences throughout the night?
It is all about rhythm and storytelling. An awards program should flow like a great script: set the scene, weave in the characters, and provide a twist. So for award ceremonies, celebrate the achievements, yes, then shift the energy. Create a disruption. That might mean a performance, a video, or a host interaction. It keeps the audience present and curious instead of waiting for the next category.
Keep them guessing! Final question for you both: what is the single most important element of an awards gala?
Denis: For me, it’s the people being honored. Everything else supports that.
Zeus: Denis took the words right out of my mouth. Design, music, visuals, staging. These are tools. The real goal is to make the honorees feel celebrated, and the entire audience feel inspired.
A great awards night is an experience where excellence shines, stories resonate, and people leave feeling proud of the journey they are part of. For Manulife Philippines, that recognition represents a full circle of their mission. These agents help families secure their futures, and the gala is our way of celebrating that real-world impact.
LIVE PH is a creative agency and lifestyle journal dedicated to the art of human experiences. From large-scale events to everyday moments, we create connections and tell stories that turn your everyday, eventful.
