'Huwag niyo kaming kalimutan': Eva Darren dedicates EDDYS Icon Award to fellow veteran actors

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran actress Eva Darren dedicated her Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) EDDYS Icon Award to her fellow veteran actors.

Eva is one of the recipients of the Icon Award along with Gina Alajar, Leo Martinez, Nova Villa and Lito Lapid.

"Maraming, maraming salamat po at magandang gabi sa inyong lahat, sa ating lahat. Talagang nakakakaba. Wala akong masasabi kundi magpasalamat sa mga bumubuo ng SPEEd, ng EDDYS," Eva said in her speech. 

“At ibinabahagi ko rin po sa lahat ng mga beteranong kagaya ko. Hindi sa giyera, ha?! Kundi sa teleserye, sa pelikula, ibinabahagi ko rin sa kanilang lahat ang napakagandang karangalang ito na ipinagkaloob po ninyo sa akin.

“Marami pong salamat. Pahabol din ito sa birthday ko dahil nag-birthday ako noong June 28. Seventy-eight ako noong araw na iyon. At salamat sa mga kapwa ko beterano, noon at ngayon."

Eva also had a message for the younger generations.

“Nabanggit ko ang noon at ngayon. Siyempre, wala 'yung ngayon kung wala 'yung noon, 'di ba?" she said. 

“Para sa inyo na kapwa ko beterano, maraming-maraming salamat. At sa inyo po, sana, huwag niyo naman kaming pabayaan. Huwag niyo kaming kalimutan. Salamat po, at magandang gabi,” she added. 

Last May, Eva's son Fernando dela Pena blasted Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) after the veteran actress was supposed to be an award presenter together with Tirso Cruz III, but the actor went onstage with a young singer. 

FAMAS then apologized to Eva and her family. 

RELATED: Veteran actress Eva Darren's son blasts FAMAS; award-giving body apologizes