The Manila Times

Maja named best actress in 1st Asia Contents Awards

- NIKA ROQUE

TV star Maja Salvador made history when she bagged the Best Actress trophy in the new Asia Contents Awards, which held its debut edition in Busan, South Korea Sunday night.

Salvador was the only Filipino who made it to the roster of winners for her dual role in ABS-CBN’s suspense-drama series “Wildflower,” which was also nominated for Best Drama. An instant hit in the Philippine­s, the series is a story of a feisty young woman out to avenge her parents’ death. Besides her acting, Salvador was praised for essaying a role advocating women empowermen­t.

Salvador flew to South Korea with series director Raymund Ocampo and ABS-CBN production manager Maru Benitez to attend the awards. She was also escorted by her non-showbiz boyfriend, Rambo Nuñez Ortega.

Surprised by her win, Salvador started her speech by saying, “I’m shaking.”

Looking glamorous nonetheles­s in a modernized pantsuit terno, she continued,“Thank you Asia Contents Awards for this award. Playing Ivy Aguas and Lily Cruz was a great challenge and pleasure for me as an actor,” she said.

“It was an honor to be trusted with this role by our network, ABS-CBN and the whole team of Wildflower… I share this recognitio­n [with] all of my brilliant colleagues in the show most especially to the veteran genius Mr. Tirso Cruz 3rd who upped my game and encouraged me when I thought I had nothing more to give… Thank you for this great honor for the Philippine­s.”

In her Instagram account, Salvador said she considers the win as a birthday gift. Salvador turned 31 on October 5.

“Thank Yo u # A s i a Co nt e nt - sAwards and #BIFF2019. Congratula­tions [t] eam #Wildflower wala ako dito sa [B]usan ngayon kung hindi dahil sa inyong lahat. This award is ours. Masaya ako na nakapagbig­ay tayo ng karangalan para sa [i]ndustriya natin sa Pilipinas. [K]ayo ang inspirasyo­n ko para ibigay lagi ang best ko. Mahal ko kayo. Indeed!!! Happy Birthday To Me!!! Thank You Lord.”

The 1st Asia Contents Awards recognized the finest TV dramas that were produced in the last five years. It is organized by the renowned Busan Internatio­nal Film Festival and Asian Film Market, an annual film market in South Korea. Salvador and the show were the only nominees from the Philippine­s.

“Wildflower”competedwi­thotherout­standing Asian TV series from South Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO ?? Maja Salvador
CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO Maja Salvador

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