MANILA, Philippines - The grand night to honor and celebrate excellence in Philippine cinema is finally here, as Cinema One sets the stage for the 37th Gawad Urian. The awards show of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) will be aired live tonight at 8 on the said cable channel.
This year’s awarding ceremony will be hosted by Piolo Pascual, Bianca Gonzales and Ai-Ai delas Alas. They will be joined by MPP member Butch Francisco.
The Gawad Urian is considered the most prestigious film award-giving body in the country, which has shaped cinematic history over the years. This annual ceremony is held in light of a partnership formed between the oldest and most respected film awards institution in the country, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Cinema One.
It can be expected of the awards ceremony that the biggest names in Philippine cinema and stars of all generations will be in attendance to gather in celebration of local cinema at Dolphy Theater Studio 1 of the Main Building of ABS-CBN to witness the awards night, where tight competition is highly expected.
For this year’s awards, the nominations are dominated by two films that have 10 nominations each — Lav Diaz’s Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan and Armando Bing Lao’s Dukit. On The Job and Porno have nine nominations each with Transit coming in with eight noms. Riddles of my Homecoming and Ekstra are tied with six nominations each. Also part of those raking in four nominations each are Badil and Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti.
Also heightening the anticipation is the competition between long-time rivals Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos who are both in the running for Best Actress for their roles in their respective movies, Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti and Ekstra. The two are pitted against Cherie Gil (Sonata), Eugene Domingo (Instant Mommy), Angeli Bayani (Norte), Rustica Carpio (Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap), Agot Isidro (Mga Anino ng Kahapon), Vivian Velez (Bendor), Lorna Tolentino (Burgos) and Teri Malvar (Huling Chacha ni Anita). Joel Torre, an assassin in On The Job, competes with Mark Gil (A Philippino Story), Sid Lucero (Norte), Mimi Juareza (Quick Change), Alex Medina (Babagwa), Ping Medina (Transit) and Jhong Hilario (Badil) in the Best Actor race of the Urian.