‘BUYBUST’ NABS URIAN BEST PICTURE
Hosted by Butch Francisco and Cherie Gil, the awards night saw members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the award-giving body, many nominees and guests wearing red pins as statement against the prevailing political climate
Tuesday night ended with a high for the film BuyBust as it went home with the biggest number of awards including
Pinakamahusay na Pelikula or Best Picture at the Ika-42 Gawad Urian, held at the Cine Adarna of the University of the Philippines, Quezon City.
The Erik Matti-directed action-thriller about an anti-drug operation gone wrong beat other nominees, A Short History of a Few Bad Things, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw,
ML and Signal Rock. It clinched four wins from in its 10 nominations, including Best in Production Design, Best in Cinematography and Best in Music.
Meanwhile, young actress Nadine Lustre and veteran actor Eddie Garcia led the acting awards although both were absent to receive their trophies.
Hosted by Butch Francisco and Cherie Gil, the awards night saw members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the awardgiving body, many nominees and guests wearing red pins as statement against the prevailing political climate. The red pins read “Atin ang Pinas” (The Philippines is ours); “Artists fight back” and “Stop the attacks.” Last year, people also wore statement pins.
The night was also celebratory as the awards event commemorated the centenary of Philippine cinema, showing a short video on its history. It was also emotional as it commemorated deaths in the film industry and observed a moment of silence for Eddie Garcia, who remains in critical condition since 8 June, following an accident while filming.
Ninety-year-old Garcia, who was also nominated for
Hintayan ng Langit, won for his portrayal of a violent colonel during the Martial
Law era who tortures a young man he mistakes for an activist in ML. Other Best
Actor contenders were Carlo Aquino (Meet Me in St.
Gallen); Christian Bables ( Signal Rock); Dingdong Dantes
( Sid and
Aya); Ketchup Eusebio (Mamang); Miyuki Kamimura (Tanabata’s Wife); Tony Labrusca (ML); Victor
Neri (A Short History of a Few Bad Things); and Dante Rivero (Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon).
Benedict Mique Jr., director of ML, accepted the trophy on his behalf, and read a message of thanks from Garcia’s family. Garcia won an Urian in 2000 for Death
Row and was honored with a Natatanging
Urian in 2006.
“Natitiyak naming hihingin ni Eddie ang inyong suporta para panoorin ang mga indie films na bigyang pansin ang indie films na nagbibigay karangalan at citations para sa
Pilipinas sa ibang bansa (We are sure Eddie will ask for your support to watch indie films, to give notice to indie films, which give the Philippines honor and citations in other countries),” Mique added.
On the other hand, Lustre won for the romantic drama Never Not Love You, beating Ai-Ai delas Alas (School Service); Perla Bautista (Kung Paano Hinihintay
ang Dapithapon); Anne Curtis (BuyBust and Sid and Aya); Glaiza de Castro (Liway); Maribeth Fanglayan (Tanabata’s Wife); Celeste Legaspi (Mamang); Iyah Mina (Mamu: And a Mother Too); Bela Padilla (Meet Me in St. Gallen); and Pokwang or Marietta Subong (Oda sa Wala). Lustre has also won accolades from the Young Critics’ Circle and FAMAS.
It was a joyous birthday for Cherie Gil, who won against Pinky Amador (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), Bituin Escalante (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), Daria Ramirez (Signal Rock) and Nova Villa (Miss Granny) for the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role as a heartless pimp in
Citizen Jake.
She was overcome with emotion as she accepted her very first Urian award, which she dedicated to all women. At the start of the show, she told the audience that many in her family have won Urian awards — brother Michael de Mesa has two, sisters-in-laws Gina Alajar and Jaclyn Jose each have five and even nephew Sid Lucero has two. Finally, she had clinched a trophy, which she described as “pangarap ng lahat ng artista (the dream of all actors).”
Meanwhile, director Joel Lamangan received his trophy for acting when he won Best Supporting Actor for School Service, after
defeating Arjo Atayde (BuyBust), Nonie Buencamino (Citizen Jake), Teroy Guzman (Citizen Jake), Victor Neri (BuyBust), Romnick Sarmenta (Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon)
and Lou Veloso (Citizen Jake).
Newbie director Denise O’Hara won for the Cinemalaya film Mamang, beating out a pool of both veterans and newcomers including Whammy Alcazaren (Never Tear
Us Apart), Keith Deligero (A Short History of a Few Bad Things), Lav Diaz (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), Alec Figuracion (The Eternity
Between Seconds), Carl Joseph Papa (Paglisan), Chito S. Roño (Signal Rock),
Erik Matti (BuyBust), Benedict Mique, Jr. (ML) and Irene Emma Villamor (Meet
Me in St. Gallen). Signal Rock scored its only win out of nine nominations when Rody Vera was hailed for his screenplay. His competitors
were Dwein Baltazar (Gusto Kita with all my Hypothalamus), Lav Diaz (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), Alec Figuracion
(The Eternity Between Seconds), Paul Grant
(A Short History of a Few Bad Things), Erik
Matti and Anton Santamaria (BuyBust), Benedict Mique Jr. (ML) and Irene Emma Villamor (Meet Me in St. Gallen).
Technical awards
In the technical awards, Michael Espanol and Roma Regala, BuyBust production designers, won over Popo Diaz of Ang Panahon ng Halimaw; Roy Lachica, Goyo; Martin Masadao, Mamang; Mark Sabas, Signal Rock; Aped Santos, Liway; and Thesa Tang, Never Tear Us Apart. BuyBust cinematographer Neil Bion stood out from co-nominees Neil Daza (Signal Rock); Nap Jamir (Tanabata’s Wife); Larry Manda (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw); Pao Orendain (Meet Me in St. Gallen); Sasha Palomares (Never Tear Us Apart); and Rommel Sales (The Eternity Between Seconds).
Malek Lopez and Erwin Romulo (BuyBust), who were also nominated for their work in Never Tear Us Apart, emerged triumphant from the talented Music nominee roster, which included Jake Abella (Aria); Pearlsha Abubakar (ML); Jamaar Ajero and others (A Short History of a Few Bad Things); Kurt Alalag, May-i Guia
Padilla and Mark Tan (Tanabata’s Wife); and Teresa Barrozo (Mamang and Paglisan).
For Best Sound, Jonathan Hee, Steff Dereja and Miguel Hernandez of Never
Tear Us Apart won over Aian Caro, Lamberto Casas Jr. and Albert Michael Idioma (ML); Jason Conanan,
Daryl Libongco and Mikko
Quizon (Meet Me in St. Gallen); Whannie Dellosa and Steven Vesagas (BuyBust); Albert Michael Idioma (Signal Rock); and Rico Mambo and Angeli Sarmiento, A Short History of a Few Bad Things.
May-i Guia Padilla (Tanabata’s Wife) won in the Best Editing category. Nominated in that category were Gerone Centeno and Tom Estrera (Citizen Jake); Keith Deligero and Maria Estela Paiso (A Short History of a Few
Bad Things); Alec Figuracion (The Eternity
Between Seconds); Jay Halili (BuyBust);
Carlo Francisco Manatad (Meet Me in St.
Gallen, Sid and Aya and Signal Rock); and
Mikael Angelo Pestano (ML).
In the Best Documentary category, Jewel Maranan’s Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang won over Dancing Manilenyos by Patrick
Alcedo; Ang Pag-ukit sa Paniniwala by
Hiyas Baldemor Bagabaldo; Pagkatapos ng Tigkiwiri by Daniel Madrid; Beastmode: A
Social Experiment by Manuel Mesina III; Call Her Ganda by PJ Raval; and All Grown Up by Wena Sanchez.
Maranan admitted she found it difficult to celebrate her win, knowing the dire situation of its subject. She dedicated her win to the urban poor, who are the victims of the bloody and abusive drug war of the present administration. She hoped that her recognition will emphasize the role of film in our society and future.
More awards
Meanwhile, in the Best Short Film category Shaira Advincula’s “Tembong” (Connecting) emerged victorious over “Last Order” by Joji Villanueva Alonso; “Baguio Address No. 10” by Mervine Aquino; “Pamati-I Bala ang Akon
Ihutik nga Binalaybay” (Listen to the Poems I Will Whisper) by Elvert Bañares; “Inday” by Lawrence Fajardo; “Pulangui” by Bagane Fiola;
“‘Wag Mo ‘Kong Kausapin” by Joseph Gacutan; “Manila is Full of Men Named Boy” by Andrew Stephen Lee; “To Remain is To Have Been Left” by Pam Miras; “Palabas” by Arjanmar Rebeta; and “Siyudad sa Bulawan” (City of Gold) by Jarell Serencio.
Veteran Cebuano actor and producer Gloria Sevilla was honored with a Natatanging Gawad Urian for lifelong achievement, particularly for being instrumental in keeping Cebuano cinema alive. The timing of the award was apt as this year is the golden anniversary of her film, Badlis sa Kinabuhi.
Gawad Urian has been the country’s most credible and one of the most prestigious and long-running award events for local films. It is annually given out by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino whose members are esteemed film and culture scholars and academicians including Rolando Tolentino, Grace Javier Alfonso, Patrick Campos, Butch Francisco, Mario Hernando, National Artist for literature Bienvenido Lumbera, Miguel Rapatan, Benilda Santos, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson and Tito Genova Valiente.
Tolentino praised all the films nominated for tackling varied subjects, even the marginalized stories; for bringing to light injustices; and for trying to make audience think and be aware. “Ang pelikulang pinapangaralan ngayong gabi ay parang kalamansi sa sugat
(The films being honored tonight is like lemon to wound),” he said. “Pinapaalala sa atin ang sakit at pighati para manatiling gising at may muwang para maging maalam at makialam laban sa halina ng ibong Adarna na sa pag-awit nito ay nahihimbing tayo at sa pag-ipot nagiging bato (They remind us of pain and sorrow so we can be aware and informed to participate, to fight the enchantment of the Adarna bird, which lulls us to sleep with its song and turns us to stone with its poop).”
Newbie director Denise O’Hara won for the Cinemalaya film Mamang, beating out a pool of both veterans and newcomers.