The Manunuri citations

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino released over the weekend its list of citations for the final quarter of 2002 and – believe it or not – it turned out to be such a bountiful harvest. Below are the outstanding achievements in film (direction, screenplay, performances and technical aspects) during the last quarter of 2002 as cited by the members of the Manunuri:

Paraisong Parisukat – A remake of the 1977 movie about the lives of a group of employees in a shoe store (the material was originally a stage play), this Jose Javier Reyes film was cited for direction, screenplay, cinematography, production design and the performances of Jay Manalo, Cherry Pie Picache, Madeleine Nicolas and the late Luciano "Chaning" Carlos.

Nine Mornings – A feel good movie from Star Cinema, it received citations for the direction of Jose Javier Reyes, screenplay, cinematography and the performance of its lead male star, Piolo Pascual.

Prosti – The launching film of sexy actress Aubrey Miles, this movie was cited for cinematography, production design, editing, sound and the performances of Jay Manalo, Pinky Amador and Raquel Villavicencio.

Hibla – A sexy movie released by Viva Films, it was cited for the cinematography of William Laranas, production design and editing.

Munting Tinig – The official Philippine entry to the Oscar Awards in Hollywood, this movie about how a young teacher changed the lives of people in a small barrio received citations for direction (Gil Portes), screenplay (Sennedy Que, Adolf Alix and Portes), cinematography, production design, editing, music, sound and the performances of Alessandra de Rossi, Dexter Doria, Irma Adlawan, Malou Crisologo, Amy Austria, Gina Alajar, Nonie Buencamino, Pierro Rodriguez III and Bryan Homecillo.

Kailangan Kita – From Star Cinema, this romance-drama was cited for production design, music, sound and the performances of Aga Muhlach, Claudine Barretto, Johnny Delgado, Cris Villanueva and Liza Lorena.

Ang Agimat: Anting-anting ni Lolo – One of the biggest moneymakers in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival, this action-fantasy was cited by the Manunuri for cinematography, production design, editing, music and sound and the performances of Jolo Revilla and Gina Alajar.

Dekada ’70 – Voted Second Best Picture in the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival, this movie based on the Palanca Award-winning novel by Lualhati Bautista was given citations for the direction of Chito Roño, screenplay by Bautista, cinematography, production design, editing, music, sound and the performances of Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, Piolo Pascual and Marvin Agustin.

Mano Po –Winner of the Top Best Picture Prize in the filmfest, this movie from Regal Films was cited for direction (Joel Lamangan), screenplay (Roy Iglesias), cinematography, production design, music, editing, sound and the performances of Ara Mina, Maricel Soriano, Kris Aquino, Eddie Garcia, Boots Anson Roa, Tirso Cruz III, Richard Gomez, Jay Manalo, Amy Austria, Cogie Domingo and Maxene Magalona.

Two other Metro Manila Film Festival entries – Lastikman and Spirit Warriors – were not included in the list of citations of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for the last quarter of 2002 because these opened Jan. 1, 2003. The two films, however, will be considered for citations during the first quarter of this year.