MANILA, Philippines — The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) recently presented its highest honor to the late matriarch of Regal Entertainment Mother Lily. She was particularly cited for her “lifelong dedication to Philippine cinema as a producer and leader” at the 62-year-old film studio.
Mother Lily’s grandson, Keith Monteverde, accepted the posthumous recognition given during the closing ceremony of the Philippine Film Industry Month held every September.
FDCP chairperson Jose Javier Reyes recognized her “second mother’s lifelong love and dedication to Philippine cinema, as a movie fan and as a producer of countless films which have become benchmarks of our popular culture.”
“The Film Development Council of the Philippines gives this highest honor and distinction to Lily Yu Monteverde, otherwise known as Mother Lily, for being the driving force of Regal Entertainment and her precious contribution for the shaping and forming of what Philippine cinema is today,” Reyes remarked as he presented the award to Keith.
Keith, on the other hand, thanked the FDCP not only for paying tribute to his grandmother, but to other agencies as well that have continued to support the entertainment industry.
“You know, my grandmother really loved producing movies. She always told me when I was a kid that she would always be a movie fan. And because of her, I am also a movie fan, and not just of any movies, but of Filipino movies. Because it’s really different when you watch Filipino movies in theaters,” the lawyer, who is the new executive vice president of Regal, said.
“So, thank you so much for all the work that everyone’s done to continue to support this industry and thank you for this tribute for my grandma.”
During the program, the FDCP also announced its upcoming activities, namely, the CreatePHFilms Fund for Short Films, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Student Short Film Competition, Films for Peace Funding Program, National Artists Program, and Meisner Crash Course for Young Talents.
According to a media release, the CreatePHFilms Fund for Short Films provides up to P500,000 per project to support Filipino filmmakers in the production or post-production of their short films.
The MMFF Student Short Film Competition, on the other hand, will offer young filmmakers from universities across the country a platform to showcase their creativity and unique stories.
The Films for Peace Funding Program will fund short film projects promoting peace. Selected projects will receive support for further development, marketing, or distribution to a broader audience.
The National Artists Program, meanwhile, offers up to P2 million for film projects inspired by National Artists, including publication and graduate research, preserving their legacy through cinema and academic work.
Lastly, the Meisner Crash Course for Young Talents is a crash course in November for teens and young adults, featuring eight talented actors from each network: ABS-CBN, GMA, and Net 25. This course will provide invaluable training to help participants further hone their acting skills.
The Filmmakers’ Night event was hosted by Justin Quirino and Gretchen Ho. The performers include Janno Gibbs, Nina, Justin Pinon, 92AD, Jastine Rose Pagsanghan, and the SPEED Dancers.