John Lloyd Cruz and Ai Ai de las Alas (Photo by Sany Chua)

MANILA, Philippines — “Front Row,” a flagship GMA News TV program, recently won a number of awards from international and local award-giving bodies.

“Front Row’s” “Yaman sa Basura,” a documentary which followed the lives of children subsisting on meager earning from urban mining is the only finalist from the Philippines in this year’s UNICEF Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award.

Barely eight months on the air, “Front Row” gained various citations locally. Its “Pag-Uwi” episode, a documentary that featured the struggles of Overseas Filipino Workers upon coming back to the Philippines after surviving tragedies in different conflict areas in the Middle East bagged the Television Journalism Award of the 1st Migration Advocacy and Media Awards.

Recipients of inaugural awards were chosen from a field of 64 official entries, including media from the Philippines, US, New Zealand, South Korea, and UAE. “Front Row’s” “Bente Dos” which profiled the life of a family with 22 children eking out a living in Manila’s slums, was a runner-up in the Best Documentary Category of the recently concluded POPDEV Awards given annually by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development.

The AnakTV-awarded show airs every Saturday at 8:40 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel 11.

Roxanne Guinoo ready for comeback

One year after giving birth to her firstborn, Rein Elliana, Roxanne Guinoo feels she’s more than ready to resume her showbiz career.

Aside from going back to acting, “Gusto ko rin matutong magluto for my family,” she said and that is why she is now studying Culinary Arts.

Roxanne, who is now 25 years old, said her husband is supportive of her showbiz career.

“Nag-start ako sa showbiz 17 years old pa lang ako, so hinahanap talaga ng katawan ko ang magtrabaho ulit.” She has been offered a kontrabida role but Roxanne said, “parang ayoko muna ang magkontrabida, focus muna ako sa drama.”

Before she settled down, Roxanne acted in teleseryes, “Natutulog Ba ang Diyos” and “Ligaw na Bulaklak.” Her first movie was “D’Anothers.” She also appeared in “Yaya Angelina,” “Shake, Rattle & Roll 8, 9 and 10,” and “Palos.”

59th FAMAS Awards winners

Honored during the 59th FAMAS Gabi ng Parangal held at the Tanghalang Leandro Locsin Theater at the NCCA Dec. 10 are the following:

“Ang Tanging Ina Mo,” Best Picture; Ai Ai de las Alas, Best Actress; for “Ang Tanging Ina Mo;” John Lloyd Cruz, Best Actor (“Miss You Like Crazy”); Albert Martinez , Best Director (“Rosario”); Eugene Domingo, Best Supporting Actress (“Here Comes the Bride”); Allen Dizon, Best Supporting Actor (“Sigwa); Xyriel Manabat, Best Child Actress (“Ang Tanging Ina Mo”); Maliksi Morales, Best Child Actor (“Dalaw”); Bonifacio Ilagan, Best Story and Best Screenplay (“Sigaw”); Carlo Mendoza, Best Cinematography (“Rosario”); Marya Ignacio, Best Editing (“Miss You Like Crazy”); Adiss Tabong and Albert Michael Idioma, Best Sound (“Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote”); Jess Lasaten, Best Musical Score (“Si Agimat at the Enteng Kabisote”); Best Theme Song (“Miss You Like Crazy”); Joey Luna, Best Production Design (“Rosario”); Erick Torrente, Best Special Effects (“Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote”); Jay Santiago, Kim Erik Samson and Melvyn M. Quimosing , Best Visual Effects (“Si Agimat at the Enteng Kabisote”).

Special Awardees are: Danny L. Dolor, Dr. Jose Perez, Jr. Memorial Award; Crispina M. Belen, Arturo M. Padua Memorial Awardee; Persida Acosta, Public Service Award; Sarah Lahbati, Louise Delos Reyes, Alden Richards, Kathryn Bernardo, Julia Montes and Sam Concepcion, German Moreno Youth Achievement Award; Ric Camaligan, Grand Award; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Presidential Award; Nora Aunor, Lifetime Achievement Award.

Angelo “Eloy” Padua is president of FAMAS while Ms. Alice H. Reyes is vice president.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Dec. 14, go to Leo Valdez, director Nick Lizaso, Phillip Ella Juico, Nancy Muñoz Chiongbian, Atty. Dan de Padua, Domingo Pabalate, Ryan Palma of California, Danilo V. Clarino, Grace Tapia, Shielah A. Martinez, Vergel V. Danaytan, Juiljo Pisk, Eda Nolan, Joshua Dionisio and Mark Herras…