'Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo' more deserving of MMFF best picture honors

Just as controversial was the idea to use the box-office result, and not the artistic quality, as a basis in choosing the best picture winner. It is a big puzzle to us, as well as to those who attended the awards how the Vic Sotto starrer won. Whoever thought of changing the criteria did a great disservice to the memory of former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas who started the Manila Film Festival, the forerunner of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

We wonder whose bright idea it was to base the 40% of the criteria in choosing the best picture winner on the box-office result. What then made up the remaining 60 percent, assuming that they rated the films on a 100 percent scale?

If you were the best picture, then you should have at least won some technical awards, or perhaps the best director or best screenplay awards. But "Enteng Kabisote 3" didn't win any. In fact, the best picture trophy was the only one it got.

Days before the awards night of the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival, many predictions pointed to a victory of "Kasal Kasali Kasalo," the film entry of Star Cinema directed by Jose Javier Reyes. The romance drama featuring the real-life tandem of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo was touted by many to figure heavily in the awards.

Yes, it did win several awards. In fact, it won a total of 10 trophies, but the bigger one got snatched away-the Best Picture award. This was the shocker of the evening that left many people inside the Aliw Theater dumbfounded.

"I still believe that 'Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo' is the best picture," said an obviously disappointed Malou Santos, managing director of Star Cinema, after receiving the 2nd Best Picture trophy for "Kasal Kasali Kasalo" at the 32nd Metro Manila Film Festival awards night.

Star Cinema hasn't joined the annual film festival since 2002, but made the decision to field the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo starrer directed by Jose Javier Reyes this year. "We decided to join this year but I don't know if I made the right decision, " added Santos, who couldn't help but speak her mind out.

The controversy reminded us of a similar incident five years ago when the Cesar Montano starrer titled "Bagong Buwan," also from Star Cinema, lost the Best Picture trophy to "Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure" directed by Chito Roño for Regal Entertainment. Cesar also couldn't hide his disappointment then and when he went up on stage to accept his Best Actor trophy, he said something like "Bagong Buwan" is the more deserving Best Picture winner. Deja vu?

The shock over "Enteng Kabisote 3's" win was somewhat softened when Edu announced that 40% of the criteria in choosing the best picture winner was based on the box-office result. Since "Enteng Kabisote 3" had been lording it at the box-office since Day One, then it should not come as a surprise anymore that the comedy film won.

But it seems the people behind the festival failed to inform the producers of the change in the criteria. Or should the jurors, chaired by Julie M. Borje, with National Artist for film Eddie Romero as vice chairman, be taken to task instead?

It seemed like a bitter pill to swallow for Star Cinema that after winning major trophies like the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards and the Gender Sensitive Film award from the Quezon City council, the bigger one got away.

"Kasal Kasali Kasalo" also won the awards for Best Theme Song ("Hawak-Kamay" composed by Pinoy Dream Academy grand winner Yeng Tolentino) and 3rd Best Float.

Before the night was over, we heard from the grapevine that Star Cinema is reportedly not joining the festival in 2007. This despite the numerous awards that "Kasal Kasali Kasalo" won including top acting honors for Judy Ann Santos who was named Best Actress and Gina Pareño who won Best Supporting Actress for their endearing performance as daughter and mother, respectively, in the romantic drama.

Juday arrived with boyfriend Ryan who was also nominated for best actor. They made a lovely pair as they made their way to their seats. A misty-eyed Juday dedicated her award to her mother, Mommy Carol, her manager Alfie Lorenzo, and of course, Ryan.

Gina, on the other hand, was a picture of excitement. She thanked direk Joey for trusting her with the role as Juday's mom in the flick. The veteran actress thanked Juday, who personally requested direk Joey to get her to play her mom.

Gina was accompanied to the awards night by her daughter and grandchildren. In her excitement, she nearly forgot the names of her grandchildren as she mentioned them one by one in her speech.

We were surprised when we saw Direk Joey Reyes arriving at the awards night with Juday and Ryan. He had said earlier he won't be able to attend the awards night as he will be in Boracay by that time where he has spent New Year's eve for the last four years. He had said that he has grown tired of attending awards night because he doesn't want to dress up, and then take the risk of going hungry because awards night take an eternity to finish.

"I have reasons to be here" was his simple answer when we asked him why he made an appearance at the Aliw Theater to attend the awards night. Direk Joey and the rest of the Star Cinema people must have sensed they have a good chance of winning. He hardly warmed up his seat when he won the first two awards up for grabs-Best Story and Best Screenplay. He also won the Best Director trophy.

But probably, not even in their wildest dreams, would Star Cinema and Direk Joey think that "Enteng Kabisote" would pull off a big surprise.

The day after the awards night, Direk Joey did make his trip to Boracay where he spent the New Year. He was on his way to the airport, when he told us about it through a text message. We congratulated him for his victory as best director. Too bad, the best picture trophy went to "Enteng Kabisote 3." It should have gone to "Kasali Kasali Kasalo," we texted him back. "Hayaan mo na lang. What else is new?" he texted back.

Cesar Montano won the Best Actor trophy for his portrayal of a taxi driver with a twisted past in "Ligalig" which he wrote and directed. "Ligalig" is Cesar's comeback directorial assignment after his big win in the MMFF two years ago for "Panaghoy Sa Suba." This is his third best actor trophy from the MMFF after wins in 1998 for "Jose Rizal" and "Bagong Buwan" in 2001.

Johnny Delgado was voted Best Supporting Actor for his role as Cesar's father in "Ligalig," also Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board. The movie was produced by Cesar for his CM Films International.

Sunshine Cruz and Ryan Agoncillo were named Female and Male Stars of the Night, respectively.

Taking 3rd best picture honors was the horror-trilogy "Shake Rattle & Roll 8" directed by Rahyan Carlos, Topel Lee and Mike Tuviera. This is only award that it won, plus the Best Child Performer award for child actor Nash Aguas who held his own in the "Yaya" episode even with the very competent Iza Calzado. He's truly deserving of the award.

The Angel Locsin-Richard Gutierrez starrer "Mano Po 5" (Gua Ai Di) from Regal Entertainment Company and directed by Joel Lamangan went home with five awards namely Best Production Design (Edgar Martin Littaua), Best Cinematography (Charlie Peralta), Best Musical Score (Von De Guzman), Best Sound Recording (Ditoy Aguila) and 2nd Best Float.

The fantasy-horror-action flick "Tatlong Baraha" from Violett Films starring Sen. Lito Lapid and his sons Mark and Maynard Lapid won the awards for Best Visual Effects (Imaginary Friends), Best Make-Up (Baby Lucero) and Best Float. Among the film entries, this is the only one we haven't seen so far. We plan to watch it, curious why it won three awards.

Coming home empty-handed were the film entries "Super Noypi," "Matakot Ka Sa Karma" and "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah," the third rated A film by CEB in the festival.

But really the biggest surprise of the evening was the victory of "Enteng Kabisote 3." Orly Ilacad, co-producer of Vic Sotto, had left before the announcement of the Best Picture winner so the award had to be accepted by Angelica Jones, the only star of the comedy film present that night.

According to Aster Amoyo, PR of OctoArts, Boss Orly didn't entertain thoughts of winning and just attended the awards night to be able to accept the P1 M incentive given by President Arroyo to all film producers who joined the festival. Boss Orly only learned later that the movie won and he was likewise surprised that it did.

But did he really ask, Bakit daw nanalo ang Enteng Kabisote 3? See, even Boss Orly himself couldn't believe his film entry won.