What a difference a Gawad Urian makes

WITH too many movie awardgiving bodies around today, the Gawad Urian thankfully makes a difference. True to its name— the Filipino term "gawad," which means to hand out, and urian, a kind of stone used to appraise the value of a gem-the critics behind it known as the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) is arguably the most discerning and credible award giving body in the industry.

In its 39th year of recognizing the best of 2015's cinematic yields, the Urian has scored yet another radical selection of

In the Best Film roster of contenders alone, only two out of the eight nominees came from a - Solar Entertainment's Imbisibol and Bambanti. There were no outputs in this category from big studios like Star Cinema, GMA Films, Viva Entertainment, Regal Films, Imus Productions, M-Zet or Octo Arts, save in some part for HonorThyFather of Reality Entertainment, which is

For other awards groups, maybe except for the Young Critics Circle ( also an interesting and exciting academe-based arts crit unpopular as ARI:MyLifewith aKing about the immortality of poetry, and produced by academic institution Holy Angel University Center for Kapampangan Studies but at the Urian, it warranted multiple nominations.

The rest of the nominees, HeneralLuna (winner, Best Direction for Jerrold Tarog); Taklub (Best Film); AninosaLikodngBuwan, and DaDogShow, were made industry players, namely Artikulo Uno Productions, Centerstage Productions, Octobertrain Films/ Idea Films, Sans Cinema, and Germany/Queen B Productions, respectively.

Even the big name star who won Best Actor, John Lloyd Cruz did so for an indie in HonorThy Father. The same with LJ Reyes, Best Actress for AninoSaLikodng Buwan; Bernardo Bernardo, Best Supporting Actor for Imbisibol; and Ana Abad Santos, Best Supporting Actress for ApocalypseChild.

Cruz himself expected, according to an interview, a John Arcilla win for HeneralLuna in his place, but keeping Urian’s unexpected twists and turns of choices, it could have been Francisco Guinto for ARI, but that would have been too anticlimactic.

Nevertheless, since the found- ing of the Manunuri in 1976, there has been this notion that it bestows awards to “non-stars” who would soon become big stars. Take for example Best Actress Beth Bautista in HindiSa’yoang Mundo, Baby Porcuna ( 1978), Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio in Lola (2009), and Fe Gingging Hyde in Sheika (2010); Best Actor Lou Veloso in Colorum (2009); Best Supporting Actresses Yvonne in LigawnaBulaklak (1976), Angela Ruiz in Tirador (2007), Aleera Montalla in Yanggaw (2008), Sue Prado in Himpapawid ( 2009), and Santos for this year’s awarding; and Best Supporting Actor Ruel Vernal in Insiang ( 1976), Menggie Cobarrubias in Jaguar (1979), Raul Arellano in Batang Westside (2001), Ketchup Eusebio in SaAkingPagkagisingMulasa Pagkamulat (2005), Soliman Cruz in Himpapawid (2009); and Art Acuña in Niño (2011).

It is a fact that a Gawad Urian is the most aspired award by most if - munity because it is perceived as the most credible and scandal-free awards organization. But mind you, the Urian is not without its share of controversies, such as the year Lino Brocka refused his Best Director award for Jaguar ( 1979); or the cancellation of an awards night in 1987 because the Manunuri deemed there were deserved recognition from the previous year.

Given this rich history, I see the Urian as the testament of the continued excellence in the Filipino filmmaker's "truthful portrayal of the human condition," to borrow the words of the the Manunuri. And that makes all the difference in this industry. Winners all—the 39th Gawad Urian’s top honorees (from left) Bernardo Bernardo, Best Supporting Actor; John Lloyd Cruz, Best Actor; LJ Reyes, Best Actress, and Ana Abad Santos, Best Supporting Actress