Bong Revilla, wife Lani Mercado and Phillip Salvador. (Photo by JUDE L. BAUTISTA)

When he accepted his Best Actor trophy during the 35th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night at the SMX Convention Center, senator and “And Panday” lead actor Bong Revilla thanked his “best friend” for it. It didn’t take us long to realize he was referring to Phillip Salvador, who was also a winner that night. Ipe brought home the Best Supporting Actor trophy, for his villain role as Lizardo, in “Ang Panday.” Ipe was also the Best Supporting Actor awardee in last year’s MMFF for the movie “Baler.” He deserved to win the two consecutive awards indeed!

At a recent get-together with close friends from the entertainment press at Annabel’s Morato, Bong said it was Ipe who acted as his acting coach during the filming of the heavy dramatic scenes of “Ang Panday.” Ipe guided him all throughout such scenes, especially when Bong’s character Flavio became blind.

“He really guided me well, and I’m so grateful for this. I acknowledge the fact that he is better than me in the drama department, siyempre Brocka baby siya. Mas mahirap talaga mag-drama kaysa action. But he guided me patiently and so I was able to perfect my dramatic scenes.”

Anyway, the prediction that “Ang Panday” will be the topgrosser of the 2009 MMFF has come true as it earned P20.3-M on the first three-days of the festival (from Metro Manila theaters only). And now that it has also gotten full provincial booking, a box-office earnings of “Ang Panday” is expected to even double up its box-office earnings.

Their efforts certainly paid off. Bong said it took them more than a year in the planning of the filmfest project. “We made the teaser first bago namin nabuo ang pelikula. Talagang pinaganda namin, kasi pangpamilya, para sa lahat.”

He was just wondering why “Ang Panday” did not win the Best Sound Recording award since it was done in Dolby surround.

Tribute to FPJ

Bong has also now and then reiterated what he said during the press conferences for “Ang Panday” that the movie, filmed collaboratively by GMA Films and Imus Productions, is his tribute to the late Fernando Poe Jr. who was the original “Panday” and who entrusted to Bong the legendary komiks hero created by National Artist Carlo J. Caparas.

And no less than FPJ’s widow, Ms. Susan Roces, has said “it’s a fitting tribute to FPJ.” Susan watched the movie on Christmas day, the first day of 10-day December filmfest and gave it a thumbs-up.

Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda and her sister Lilibeth also watched “Ang Panday” on the same day and they too were all praise for the movie. “The special effects are comparable to those in Hollywood movies,” Manay Ichu said. On her part, her sister said “watching the movie made me proud to be a Filipino. It proves that we can be at par with the best of foreign films.”

But more than an amazing action-fantasy-adventure film, “Ang Panday” according to GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar, is “a movie with a heart. A beautiful love story is woven into the breathtaking state-of-the-art special effects. It was a perfect combination.”

“Ang Panday” was just being true to form and tradition. The highly successful franchise, with the late FPJ in the title role, topped three consecutive Metro Manila Film Festivals in the early ’80s.

Bong added: “I owe everything to Ninong Ronnie, to my father Ramon Revilla Sr., and to Carlo J. Caparas for believing in me.”

Directed by Mac Alejandre, “Ang Panday” also stars Iza Calzado, Benjie Paras, Buboy Villar, Rhian Ramos, King Gutierrez, and Geoff Eigenmann among others.

“Ang Panday” will be showing in theaters nationwide until the culmination of the festival on Jan. 7, 2010.

By the way, what was also a spectacular sight during the MMFF Awards Night was the female stars in their elegant and fabulous designer gowns. Even Mother Lily’s yellow/gold gown was spectacular as everyone noted.

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‘Hung,’ ‘Entourage 6’ premieres on HBO

Two shows are set to premiere Monday night on HBO: “Hung” and “Entourage 6.” The brand new HBO Original Series “Hung” will start showing at 10 p.m. Monday night with new episodes to be shown weekly on HBO and HBO HD (now available on Cignal DTV).

Created by Dmitry Lipkin (creator of “The Riches”) and Colette Burson, the timely show uses dark humor to tell the story of a man fighting to survive personal setbacks that have been compounded by a troubled economy.

“Hung,” an offbeat comedy, is about Ray Drecker, a former high school sports legend turned middle-aged high school basketball coach who is a divorced dad struggling to make ends meet and regain control of his life. Because desperate times call for desperate measures, the well-endowed Ray decides to exploit his best asset in a last-ditch attempt to change his fortunes. This 10-episode first season stars Thomas Jane (“The Punisher”) as Ray Drecker, Jane Adams (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) as Ray’s business partner, Tanya Skagle; Anne Heche (“Men in Trees”) as Ray’s ex-wife, Jessica Haxon; Eddie Jemison (“Ocean’s Thirteen”), as Jessica’s successful husband Ronnie; Sianoa Smit-McPhee (“As the Bell Rings”) as Ray’s daughter Darby; and Charlie Saxton (“The Lovely Bones”) as Ray’s son Damon.

Also Monday night at 9, “Entourage” resumes on HBO with the premiere of its sixth season.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Monday, Jan. 4, go to Justice Ricardo Puno, Katrina Halili, Isaac Belmonte, Ms. Barbara Perez, Richard Teo, Marlene dela Peña, Celia Tiu, Carmen Mosica, Chloe Nelsson, Priscilla Reyes-Pacheco, Rufo Angelo “Gio” M. Mauricio, Gemma Garceniego, Ferdie Ramos, Jesselyn dela Cruz, Lourdes Carino-Fabian, Louie Guarin, James Ang, Christian Espiritu, Babette Aquino-Benoit, Cora Vizconde, Eduardo “Wendy” Antoni, Ines D.C. Alegre, Col. Mateo Luga, and MB’s Executive Vice President-Advertising Dept. Mrs. Paciencia M. Pineda…