[15] From then on she had become a regular of Dulaang UP, starring in productions such as Chekhov's Three Sisters, Betti's The Queen and the Rebels, Fay and Michael Kanin's Rashomon, and Molière's The Misanthrope, as well as a multitude of other plays.

Some of her most notable roles include a Chinese film producer, based on Regal Films matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde in Dennis Marasigan's Ang Buhay Ay Pelikula; Zafira in Francisco Balagtas' Orosman at Zafira; Sisa in the Cayabyab-Lumbera musical adaptation of José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere; and Teodora Alonso in Nonon Padilla and Rene O. Villanueva's Teodora.

For Ang Buhay Ay Pelikula she was cited as Best Actress of the Year by the Young Critics Circle in 1992, while for Teodora her performance as the mother of Philippine hero José Rizal was praised by National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa-Goquingco for "[accomplishing] her histrionic feat, her splendid tour de force [with such ease, passion, range, verisimilitude and transparency].

"[16] Some of Adlawan's early mainstream film roles include a victim of incestuous rape in Jeffrey Jeturian's Tuhog in 2001 and a public school teacher in Mga Munting Tinig in 2002, both of which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Gawad Urian Awards.

Her other TV credits include Clara Rivero in Lobo, Margarita Fortalejo-Cervantes in Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Kristine in 2010, Mantal in Amaya in 2011, and numerous guest appearances in ABS-CBN and GMA Network's respective drama anthologies, Maalaala Mo Kaya and Magpakailanman.

That same year, Adlawan starred in Alvin Yapan's Cinemalaya film Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe, for which she received another Best Actress nomination at the Gawad Urian Awards.

At the 9th Cinemalaya Film Festival, she received a Balanghai Trophy for Best Actress in the New Breed Category for her performance in Transit as Janet, an OFW working in Israel "struggling to keep her family together amid threats of cultural dislocation.

"[19] She also received a Special Jury Citation for Ensemble Acting which she shares with Ping Medina, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Mercedes Cabral, Marc Justine Alvarez, and Yatzuck Azuz.

In October of the same year, she returned to the stage, with much critical acclaim, through Tanghalang Pilipino's Mga Buhay na Apoy, Kanakan-Balintagos' Palanca-award winning play.

Later in the year, Adlawan eventually replaced Nora Aunor in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Oro, and ultimately went on to win a Best Actress award for it.