Vi, Robin lead Guillermo Mendoza Awards - STARBYTES by Butch Francisco

The Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is staging the 31st annual Box Office King and Queen of Philippine Movies coronation night on April 4 at the UP Theater. Telecast date is on April 21 on RPN-9.

This private foundation is headed by civic leader Corazon M. Samaniego, daughter of the late Guillermo Mendoza who was once a noted politician and philanthropist in Bulacan.

Middle of this week, the members of the board of judges of this award-giving body (with Necy Marco Llarena as chairperson) sat down to deliberate on the winners of this yearly popularity contest.

Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos was voted Box Office Queen because of the strong showing at the tills of her film Anak last summer. Produced by Star Cinema and directed by Rory Quintos, Anak was one of the top-grossing films of the year 2000.

Robin Padilla, on the other hand, was voted Box Office King of Philippine Movies. Padilla’s two movies last year were big winners at the box office: Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw with Viva Films and Tunay na Tunay — Gets Mo, Gets Ko, released under Star Cinema.

For the second time, Joyce Jimenez will be crowned Miss RP Movies. It should be noted that none of Joyce’s films has flopped at the box office.

Last year’s biggest male sensation both on TV and especially in the movies was Piolo Pascual. And for this, he is being honored as Mr. RP Movies by the Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation.

The title Princess of RP Movies, meanwhile, goes to Jolina Magdangal who was Robin Padilla’s leading lady in Tunay na Tunay.

Jolina will be escorted by Jericho Rosales who was voted Prince of RP Movies.

Veteran performers Dolphy and Gloria Romero are also being honored as All-Time Favorite Actor and Actress. Dolphy may have lost in the Best Actor race in last December’s Metro Manila Film Festival, but he still made quite a splash in Gil Portes’ Markova: Comfort Gay. And Gloria? After so many decades, she’s once more the toast of the town – thanks to Tanging Yaman.

After honoring the tried and the tested, the Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation is also giving recognition to the efforts of our young stars by including the categories Most Promising Actor and Actress. The Most Promising Actress award will be given to Alessandra da Rossi who gave an outstanding performance in Carlos Siguion-Reyna’s Azucena. Most Promising Actor is teen heartthrob Cogie Domingo who wowed both the critics and the public with his performances in Yakapin Mo ang Umaga and Deathrow.

Equally young are the recipients of the Most Popular Love Team award which goes to Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa who are making an impact in ABS-CBN’s drama serial Pangako Sa ‘yo.

The youngest awardees in the roster of winners are Eat Bulaga and Beh Bote Nga’s Goyong, who was voted Most Popular Child Actor and Shaina Magdayao, who was adjudged Most Popular Child Actress on the strength of her impressive performance in Tanging Yaman.

Tanging Yaman’s Laurice Guillen, incidentally was selected as Most Popular Director. Her other award (also for Tanging Yaman) is for Most Popular Screenwriter, an honor she’ll be sharing with co-writers Raymond Lee and Shaira Mela Salvador.

The film outfit that produced Tanging Yaman, Star Cinema, was voted Most Popular Move Production Company.

Martin Nievera heads the list of winners in the music/record division. He was adjudged Most Popular Male Singer/Entertainer. Most Popular Female Singer/Entertainer is Regine Velasquez. Aside from her successful concerts, Regine’s records also made big business.

Her Songbird Sings the Classic under Viva Records was declared platinum, while Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw hit double platinum.

Multi-awarded film actor Cesar Montano is being awarded this time for his musical talent. He was chosen Most Promising Male Singer for his album Subok Lang under Star Records.

Most Promising Female Singer is Mae Rivera whose controversial song, Aray became so popular (it hit double platinum) it was even used as the title and theme song of a Seiko movie.

Aegis was also voted Most Promising Singing Group. Its popular song Mahal na Mahal Kita hit gold, while Halik became triple platinum.

The popular band Side A was chosen Most Popular Singing Group because of its highly successful concerts. The group’s Will I Ever? also became gold, while its Side A Live was declared quadruple platinum.

Maribeth Bicharra should also be very happy with the list of winners in this year’s Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation awards rites. Her VIP was voted almost unanimously as the Most Popular Dance Group.

In the television category, Rudy Fernandez’s Kasangga on Channel 7 was picked as the Most Popular TV Program.