Cesar, Assunta are MMFF’s best

Assunta de Rossi won the best actress award for her role as a luckless salesgirl from the slums in Hubog while Cesar Montano was named best actor for his portrayal of a Muslim doctor forced to take up arms in Bagong Buwan at the 27th annual Metro Manila Filmfest awards held the other night at the PICC Reception Hall.

While Assunta was flabbergasted over her victory, Cesar felt different. He said, "For me, Bagong Buwan is still the best picture. No offense meant, but for others, Yamashita may be the best picture. Kanya-kanya ’yan. Wala nga lang kaming trophy. Bibili na lang kami ng trophy sa Recto. (To each his own. We just don’t have a trophy. We’ll just buy one in Recto)," referring to a strip on C. M. Recto Avenue in Manila notorious for manufacturing fake diplomas, certificates and trophies.

It was Assunta’s first Metro Filmfest acting trophy and Cesar’s third (the other two were for best supporting actor for Kasalanan ang Buhayin Ka and best actor for Rizal).

Aside from the trophies, Assunta and Cesar received P50,000 each.

Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure, which recreated the waning period of the Japanese Occupation in 1944 when the American forces began liberating the Philippines, dominated the awards, romping off with 10 trophies.

They are for Best Picture; Best Director for Chito Roño; Best Production Design for Fernan Santiago and Max Paglinawan; Best Sound for Albert Michael Idioma; Best Editor for Manet Dayrit; Best Cinematography for Neil Daza; Best Screenplay for Roy Iglesias and Chito Roño; Best Story for Roselle Monteverde-Teo, Roy Iglesias and Chito Roño; Best Visual Effects for Roadrunner Network Inc.; Best Makeup Artist for Warren Munar and Best Float during the Parade of Stars last Dec. 24.

Assunta’s younger sister Alessandra was named Best Supporting Actress for Hubog, while Ronnie Lazaro bagged the Best Supporting Actor award for Bagong Buwan.

Other winners: Jiro Manio, Best Child Performer for Bagong Buwan; Walang Hanggang Paalam by Joey Ayala, Best Original Theme Song for Bagong Buwan; Nonong Buencamino for Best Musical Score for Bagong Buwan.

The Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award went to Bagong Buwan; which was also named Second Best Picture. The Third Best Picture Award went to Hubog.

Award were also handed out to outstanding theaters. These are: SM Centerpoint as First Day Top Grosser; Festival Mall Alabang and Robinsons Galleria as the Cleanest Theaters.

Awarded Natatanging Parangal honors were the Greater Manila Theater Association (GMTA); the Metro Manila Theater Association (MMTA); SM Cinema; Gotesco Cinema and Robinsons Cinema.

The VRB (Video Regulatory Board) award was given to SM Superstores for selling only non-pirated CDs and VCDs.

The Gabi ng Parangal also paid tribute to the late Nida Blanca, who made more than 100 films in her illustrious career as movie and TV actress. An emotional Caridad Sanchez received the award on her behalf.

Caridad (speaking on behalf of Nida’s daughter Kaye Torres) reiterated her plea of justice for the still-unsolved murder of the actress.

A pregnant Manilyn Reynes got the Ilaw ng EQsena special award.

This year’s Metro Filmfest has been expanded to cover the provinces, where only the seven official entries are being shown in theaters. It is also proving to be a big success, grossing P44.8 M in only two days. The seven official Metro Filmfest entries are Bahay ni Lola (Regal Films); Bagong Buwan (Star Cinema and Bahaghari Productions Studio and Entertainment, Inc.); Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure (MaQ Productions); Tatarin (Viva Productions, Inc.); Hubog (Good Harvest Productions), 4 Fathers (Maverick Films) and Di Kita Ma-Reach (ECORP Films).