Sharon Cuneta

It was a glittering and successful Awards Night for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that was held last Monday, Dec. 28, at the SMX Convention Center. Except for a more than an hour delay in the program, everything went on smoothly, and fans and guests had a grand time ogling the stars who came in beautiful, elegant designer gowns.

But first, here are the awardees: “Mano Po 6 (A Mother’s Love),” Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award; “Panday,” Best Picture; “I Love You Goodbye,” 2nd Best Picture; and “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” 3rd Best Picture. (For the Gatpuno award, it took the board of jurors about two hours to deliberate on). “Mano Po 6” also was chosen the Most Gender Sensitive Film.

Joel Lamangan, Best Director (“Mano Po 6”); Bong Revilla, Best Actor (“Panday”); Sharon Cuneta, Best Actress (“Mano Po 6”); Phillip Salvador, Best Supporting Actor (“Panday”); Heart Evangelista, Best Supporting Actress (“Mano Po 6”); Best Child Performer, Robert “Buboy” Villar (“Panday”); Vanessa Valdez, Anna Karenina Ramos and Kriz Gamen, Best Original Story ( “I Love You, Goodbye”); Roy Iglesias, Best Screenplay (“Mano Po 6”); Lee Briones-Meily, Best Cinematography (“I Love You, Goodbye”); Von de Guzman, Best Musical Score (“Mano Po 6”); “Tanging Ikaw Lamang” sang by Ogie Alcasid, Best Theme Song (“Panday”); Manet Dayrit and Efren Jarlego (“I Love You, Goodbye”); Mike Idioma, Best Sound Recording (“Ang Darling Kong Aswang”); Richard Somes, Best Production Design (“Panday”); Riot, Jay Santiago, Best Visual Effects (“Panday”); Noel Flores Best Make-Up Artist (“Shake, Rattle & Roll XI”).

The Best Picture winner gets P800,000 in cash prize, while the Gatpuno and 2nd Best Picture get P550,000 each; the 3rd Best Picture gets P300,000. The other winners of major awards get P100,000 each and the minor awards winners, P50,000.

3-day box-office receipts

MMFF official figures for the first three days of the festival in Metro Manila (Dec. 25-27) showed that “Panday” grossed P20.3 M; “Shake, Rattle & Roll XI,” P19.8 M; “Aswang” P18.5 M; “I Love You, Goodbye,” P17.9 M; “Nobody, Nobody but Juan,” P10.2 M; and “Mano Po 6” P10.1 M.

The program, with delayed telecast on RPN 9, was hosted by Pops Fernandez and Paolo Bediones, with Rhian Ramos and Jake Cuenca as segment hosts/anchors.

There were only two musical numbers, first was the opening number participated in by Vina Morales, Rhap Salazar and Ms. Kuh Ledesma with the X-Trail Dancers, and the second, Ms. Lea Salonga who rendered in her own inimitable way John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”

Special Awards

Dolphy was given a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his six decades of outstanding performance on stage, television and the movies. Presenting the award was the new MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes (who was also overall chairman of the 2009 MMFF), and the members of the Executive Committee, among them Rolando Josef, Boots Anson-Roa, Leo Martinez, Robert Nacianceno, Ms. Imperial, Wilson Tieng, and Ric Camaligan. They also presented the trophies for the Gatpuno, and Best Picture awardees, and the Posthumous Award for Atty. Espiridion Laxa, one of the respected pillars of the local movie industry who passed away a few months ago.

Seven official entries

The seven official entries to this year’s film festival are: “Ang Darling Kong Aswang” (Octoarts Films/M-Zet Productions/APT Entertainment, Inc.), “I Love You Goodbye” (Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.), “Nobody, Nobody but Juan” (RVQ Productions/Kaizz Ventures), “Mano Po 6 (A Mother’s Love)” (Regal Entertainment, Inc.), “Ang Panday” (GMA Films/Imus Productions), “Shake, Rattle & Roll XI” (Regal Entertainment, Inc.) and “Wapakman” (Solar Entertainment Corp.).

By the way, the Board of Jurors was composed of National Artist Eddie Romero (chairman); Ma. Consoliza Laguardia, chairperson, Movie & TV Review & Classification Board (MTRCB); Ms. Christine Dayrit, chairperson, Cinema Evaluation Board; Ricardo “Bebong” Osorio, film director; Jesus Navarro, president, Film Editors Guild; Simon Ongpin, movie producer and former executive director of the Video Regulatory Board; Dero Pedero, composer/singer and newspaper columnist; Rolando Josef, MMFF executive director; Ms. Julie Borje of the Marikina Center for Excellence; Ms. Corazon B. Cruz, AGM for Planning MMDA; and this writer.

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GMA’s Countdown Special

On Thursday, Dec. 31, welcome the New Year with a blast as GMA Network brings the most extravagant party of the year with “Prosperity to 2010: The New Year Countdown Special.”

Live at the Mall of Asia-Seaside Blvd., everyone can experience prosperity as early as 7 p.m. or await its live telecast starting at 11 p.m.

Kapuso stars will come together in reliving the musical hits of 2009 and in giving a tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Hosting the grand celebration are John “Sweet” Lapus, Bayani Agbayani, Gabby Eigenmann and Gian Magdangal. Joining in the revelry are Kyla, Iza Calzado, Katrina Halili, Glaiza De Castro, Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, Rich Asuncion, Rainier Castillo, Sheena Halili, Mark Herras, Chris Cayzer, Chynna Ortaleza, Geoff Taylor, Francheska Farr, JC Tiuseco, Maxene Magalona, LJ Reyes, Jay Perillo, Mae Flores, Ryza Cenon, Angelika dela Cruz, La Diva, “Starstruck” Final 14, Sexbomb, and many more.

Certainly, the celebration will not be complete without the grandest fireworks display which will have a first round at 7 p.m. and a finale at midnight to open 2010 with the merriest and most prosperous blast of good wishes and merriment!

So experience the Kapuso New Year’s Eve Countdown on Thursday at the Mall of Asia, Seaside Boulevard and live telecast at 11 p.m. only on GMA!

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Dec. 31 go to Mrs. Elaine G. Cuneta, MB Lifestyle editor Isabel de Leon, Esther Musngi Gacutan, John Arvin Molintas, Fely C. Bautista, and Dr. Joven Cuanang of St. Luke’s Medical Center. Happy wedding anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Godofredo Camacho. Belated b-day greetings to Soledad A. Lagana (Dec. 20), US-based Ernesto Talampas (Dec. 24), and K.S.A.-based nurse Lilian Alcontin (Dec. 30).