17th Star Awards for Movies: A little night of big surprises

At about the same time last Saturday night (March 10) that a nervous contestant at the 2001 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant was telling an excited SRO audience at the Araneta Coliseum to "Keep quiet!" while she tarried to answer a simple question from judge Gloria Diaz, 1969 Miss Universe (you know, "Which would you rather be, beautiful but not too smart or smart but not too beautiful"), the members of the Philippines Movie Press Club (PMPC), led by President Nora Calderon, were giving away trophies at the 17th PMPC Star Awards For Movies at the nearby UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

As in the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, the winners at the Star Awards caught a lot of people "unaware," turning that little Saturday night into one of big surprises – such as, "What!?! Tanging Yaman won only one award (that of New Movie Actress of the Year for Janette McBride)?" And how can a member of the movie press be chosen, ehem, Darling of the Press? A case of, you know, "I love my own?"

Anyway, will the Urian Awards come up with more "surprises" (they have to be "different," you know) or the Film Academy Awards or the FAMAS?

Stay tuned – and hold on to your seats. - Photos by Richard Chen

The Honor Roll

• Movie of the Year: Bayaning Third World (Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Director of the Year: Mike De Leon (Bayaning Third World/Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Actress of the Year: Vilma Santos (Anak/Star Cinema)

• Movie Actor of the Year: Carlos Morales (Laro sa Baga/Regal Films)

• Movie Supporting Actress of the Year: Angel Aquino (Laro sa Baga/Regal Films)

• Movie Supporting Actor of the Year: Jeffrey Quizon (Markova: Comfort Gay/RVQ Production)

• New Movie Actress of the Year: Janette McBride (Tanging Yaman/Star Cinema)

• New Movie Actor of the Year: Danilo Barrios (Spirit Warriors Regal Films)

• New Child Performer of the Year: Yves Capulong (Laro Sa Baga/Regal Films)

• Movie Original Screenplay: Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. & Mike de Leon (Bayaning Third World/Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Adapted Screenplay of the Year: Edgardo Reyes (Laro sa Baga/Regal Films)

• Movie Editor of the Year: Manette Dayrit (Laro Sa Baga/Regal Films)

• Cinematographer of the Year : Ding Achacoso (Bayaning Third World/Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Production Designer of the Year: Roy Lachica (Bayaning Third World/Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Sound Engineer of the Year: Noel Cruz Bruan (Bayaning Third World/Cinema Artist Phil.)

• Movie Musical Scorer of the Year: Raul Mitra (Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw/Viva Films)

• Movie Original Theme Song of the Year: Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (from the movie of the same title/Viva Films)

• Darling of the Press: Cristy Fermin

• Ulirang Artista Awardee: Boots Anson-Roa

• Male Star of the Night: Carlos Morales

• Female Star of the Night: Lorna Tolentino