top choices for local (philippine) film awards 2007 by william reyes

IN terms of output, the past year (2006) in our movie industry wasn't much different from the previous year (2005), when a lot of independently- produced digital features provided a much-needed shot in the arm, so to speak, to cause a revival of interest in local films.

The response by the industry people and the viewing public to local (digital) film competitions, such as the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Competition, the Cinemanila International Filmfest-Digital Lokal Competition, and the Cinema One Originals Filmfest, have continuously been positive and encouraging. But as ever, the standard viewing fare coming from the mainstream cinema, mostly commercial movies of various genres, remain a favorite by a bigger sector of the moviegoing public and provide greater revenues for the producers and theater owners.

Still, people from the industry continue to give recognitions, through different awards-giving organizations, to outstanding cinematic works from our local practitioners whether they are for revolutionizing the cinema industry, through the more daring and less costly indie/digital productions, or play safe by coming up with "formula" movies, which are, nonetheless, patronized for their improved technical quality and star value.

Already, the nominations (and winners) from some academe-based groups were out. And a sector or two from the local entertainment press have already chosen the nominees to this year's local movie awards.

We have, for the past two years, also come up with a list, to determine which films (including digital features, for that matter; no such distinction or division) and whose performances therein were really outstanding, through a random mini-survey of some industry people and movie buffs.

This year, we have a total of forty (40) respondents (including this writer) who voted on their Top Choices for local films' awards in the coming season. Categories include: Best Picture, Direction, Screenplay, and Performances (Lead/Supporting Actor and Actress).

The following emerged as winners:

BEST PICTURE (Top Choices):

MLR Films' "Kubrador" (25 votes);
Unitel Pictures' "Inang Yaya" (19 votes);
Centerstage Productions' "Kaleldo" (13 votes)

Finalists: Bicycle Pictures' "Donsol" (12 votes); Star Cinema-ABS CBN Film Productions, Inc.'s "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" (12 votes); Cinemalaya (06)'s "Batad, Sa Paang Palay" (9 votes); Echo and Mirage Media's "Tulad Ng Dati" (5 votes); and "Todo Todo Terros" (5 votes)

BEST DIRECTOR (Top Choices):

Jeffrey Jeturian ("Kubrador") , 24 votes;
Pablo Biglang-Awa and Veronica Velasco ("Inang Yaya"), 17 votes;
Brillante Mendoza ("Kaleldo"), 12 votes;
Jose Javier Reyes ("Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo"), 12 votes.

Finalists: Adolfo B. Alix, Jr. ("Donsol"), 11 votes; Mike Escareal Sandejas ("Tulad Ng Dati"), 9 votes; Will Fredo ("Compound") , 7 votes; Benjie Garcia ("Batad, Sa Paang Palay"), 6 votes; John Torres ("Todo-Todo Terros"), 5 votes.

BEST ACTRESS (Top Choices):

Gina Pareno ("Kubrador") , 30 votes;
Maricel Soriano ("Inang Yaya"), 22 votes;
Cherry Pie Picache ("Kaleldo"), 19 votes

Finalists: Angel Aquino ("Donsol"), 12 votes; Judy Ann Santos ("Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo"), 12 votes; Angel Aquino ("Kaleldo"), 7 votes; Rio Locsin ("Mudraks"), 7 votes; Nora Aunor ("Care Home"), 6 votes; Mylene Dizon ("Rome and Juliet"), 6 votes; Juliana Palermo ("Kaleldo"), 5 votes.

BEST ACTOR:

John Arcilla ("Compound") , 14 votes;
Sid Lucero ("Donsol"), 14 votes;
Cesar Montano ("Ligalig"), 12 votes;
Jericho Rosales ("Manny Pacquiao"), 11 votes.

Finalists: Johnny Delgado ("Kaleldo"), 9 votes; Piolo Pascual ("Don't Give Up On Us"), 9 votes; Ryan Agoncillo ("Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo"), 8 votes; Rustom Padilla ("Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh!), 8 votes; Alchris Galura ("Batad"), 7 votes; Mark Gil ("Rotonda"), 5 votes; Jett Pangan ("Tulad Ng Dati"), 5 votes.

BEST SCREENPLAY:

Ralston Jover ("Kubrador") , 20 votes;
Veronica Velasco ("Inang Yaya"), 17 votes;
Jose Javier Reyes ("KKK"), 13 votes;

Finalists: Adolf Alix, Jr. ("Donsol"), 11 votes; Boots Agbayani Pastor ("Kaleldo"), 10 votes; Will Fredo ("Compound") , 9 votes; Vic Acedillo, Jr. ("Batad, Sa Paang Palay"), 8 votes; Mike Escareal Sandejas ("Tulad Ng Dati"), 6 votes.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Top Choices):

Gina Pareno ("Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo"), 15 votes;
Liza Lorena ("Inang Yaya"), 13 votes;
Tala Santos ("Inang Yaya"), 7 votes.

Finalists: Cherry Pie Picache ("Twilight Dancers"), 6 votes; Criselda Volks ("Kaleldo"), 6 votes; Phoemela Barranda ("Ang Pamana"), 5 votes; Erika Oreta ("Inang Yaya"), 5 votes; Celia Rodriguez ("Ligalig"), 5 votes.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Top Choices):

Johnny Delgado ("Ligalig"), 12 votes;
Chokoleit ("Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh!), 9 votes;
Fons Deza ("Kubrador") 6 votes;
Alan Paule ("Kaleldo"), 6 votes

Finalists: Herbert Bautista ("Umuulan, Umaaraw"), 5 votes; Ping Medina ("Tulad Ng Dati"), 5 votes; Jake Macapagal ("Compound") , 5 votes; Perry Escano ("Compound") , 5 votes.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY FILMS AND PERFORMANCES

AS a rule, we have decided to include as finalists films (with citations for direction and screenplay) and performances which got the nods of at least five (5) of our respondents. But there are other noteworthy films/performances from last year's industry ouput, which also figured in the survey, and these include (in alphabetical order):

Sherad Anthony Sanchez' "Ang Huling Balyan Ng Buhi"; Romeo Candido's "Ang Pamana"; Gil Portes' "Barcelona"; Suzett Ranillo's "Care Home"; Joyce Bernal's "Don't Give Up On Us"; Mark Reyes' "Eternity"; Mario Cornejo's "First Day High"; Lav Diaz' "Heremias"; Jose Javier Reyes' "I Wanna Be Happy"; Khavn Dela Cruz' "Iskwaterpunk" ; Cesar Montano's "Ligalig"; Joel Lamangan's "Mano Po 5"; Brillante Mendoza's "Manoro";

Mark Reyes' "Moments of Love": Arah Jell Badayos/Margaret Guzman's "Mudraks"; Bobby Bonifacio's "Numbalikdiwa" ; Joel Lamangan's "Manny Pacquiao"; Paolo Herras' "Rekados"; Connie S. Macatuno's "Rome and Juliet"; Ron Bryant's "Rotonda"; Chito S. Rono's "Sukob"; Mel Chionglo's "Twilight Dancers"; Richard Arellano's "Umuulan, Umaaraw"; Cathy Garcia-Molina's "You Are The One"; Ed Lejano's "Zeroks"; and Lamangan's "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah! (Ze Moveeeh)".

Other cited performances (lead/supporting actor) include:

Archie Adamos ("Raket Ni Nanay"), Ryan Agoncillo ("Umuulan, Umaaraw"); Nash Aguas ("Shake, Rattle & Roll 8"); Luis Alandy ("Barcelona" ); Bobby Andrews ("Eternity"); Robert Arevalo ("Barcelona" ); Nonie Buencamino ("Batad"); Celso Ad Castillo ("Rotonda"); John Lloyd Cruz ("Close To You"); Soliman Cruz ("KKK");

Dingdong Dantes ("Eternity") ; THE DAWN's Carlos Balcells, JB Leonor, Francis "Brew" Reyes, and Buddy Zabala ("Tulad Ng Dati"); Allen Dizon ("Twilight Dancers"); Alchris Galura ("Batad"); Darrel Gamotin ("Ang Pamana"); Nicco Lorenzo Garcia ("Ang Pamana"); Mark Gil ("Raket Ni Nanay");

Simon Ibarra ("Donsol"); Arnell Ignacio ("Twilight Dancers"); Joel Lamangan ("Twilight Dancers"); Ronnie Lazaro ("Heremias") ; Mario Magalona ("Mudraks"/" Rekados") ; Johnny Manahan ("Kubrador") ; Jay Manalo ("Pacquiao"); Ping Medina ("Numbalikdiwa" ); Lauren Novero ("Kaleldo"/" Twilight Dancers"/"Zeroks" );

Kenneth Ocampo ("Donsol"); Alan Paule ("Barcelona" ); Tyrone Perez ("Twilight Dancers"); Polo Ravales ("Manay Po"); Neil Ryan Sese ("Zeroks"); Oyo Sotto ("Txt"); Dennis Trillo ("Pamahiin") ; Ariel Ureta ("KKK"); Ronaldo Valdez ("Sukob"); and Alfred Vargas ("Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh!).

Other cited performances (lead/supporting actress) include: Jonalyn Abiong ("Manoro"); Gina Alajar ("Batad"); Kris Aquino ("Sukob"); Claudine Barretto ("Sukob"); Lily Chu ("Compound") ; Sunshine Cruz ("Ligalig"); Andrea Del Rosario ("Rome and Juliet"); Gloria Diaz ("KKK"); Eugene Domingo ("D'Lucky Ones"); Pops Fernandez ("Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh!); Jean Garcia ("I Will Always Love You"); Cherie Gil ("Donsol"); Toni Gonzaga ("You Are The One");

Agot Isidro ("Tulad Ng Dati"); Jacklyn Jose ("Pacquiao"/ "Eternity" ); Hilda Koronel ("Eternity") ; Estrella Kuenzler ("Numbalikdiwa" ); Caroline Mangosing ("Ang Pamana"); Jennylyn Mercado ("Eternity") ; Mystika ("Zeroks"); Zsa Zsa Padilla ("Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh!); Cherry Pie Picache ("I Wanna Be Happy"/"Manay Po"); Manilyn Reynes ("Shake, Rattle & Roll 8"); Boots Anson-Roa ("Rekados"/" Sukob"); Gloria Romero ("I Wanna Be Happy");

Maja Salvador ("Sukob"); Judy Ann Santos ("Don't Give Up On Us"); Gloria Sevilla ("Care Home"); Meryll Soriano ("Numbalikdiwa" /"Rekados" ); Lorna Tolentino ("Mano Po 5"); Tessie Tomas ("Rome and Juliet"); Mica Torre ("Saan Nagtatago Si Happiness"); Divina Valencia ("Care Home"); Regine Velasquez ("Till I Met You"); and Nadine Villasin ("Ang Pamana")

RESPONDENTS

THIS YEAR's respondents were a mixed batch composed of industry practitioners, academe members, entertainment scribes and film aficionados or the average movie buffs who regularly watch Filipino movies.

These are (in random order):

Nonoy Lauzon of the UP Film Institute and Professors Patrick Flores, Eloisa Hernandez, Romulo Baquiran, Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez (of UP/Young Critics Circle)

Leopoldo 'Pol' Del Mundo (of MTRCB)

Edwin Joaquin (of Mowelfund Film Institute)

actor-director Andoy Ranay

movie-TV associate directors James Amparo, Vives Anunciacion, and Jamie Ann Jose

movie production coordinator Maxie Evangelista

freelance character actor, Jesus Evardone

writer-director Johven Velasco

pageant organizer Greg Mil Palacio

production designer Ching Danseco

indie producer-director Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil

writer-directors Rica Arevalo and Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez

And from the local entertainment press:

Bayani San Diego (of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

editor-columnist, Isah V. Red (of Manila Standard TODAY)

Ricky Calderon (of *Business Mirror*/ENPRESS)

columnist/radio anchor (DZXL) Fernan "Miss F" de Guzman

Aaron Domingo, Rodel Fernando, Rommel Gonzales, Oghie Ignacio, Robert Pangis, and Rommel Placente of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC).

On behalf of People's INSIDER Magazine editors and staff, we thank each and everyone of our respondents for their cooperation.