The 1st MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification Board) Awards ceremony held on Sept. 4 at the Gateway Cinema 5 in Quezon City ran for just a little over two hours but it had its good share of highlights and sidelights.

Actress Gloria Romero, for example, was honored with a standing ovation upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from presentors MTRCB chairperson Consoliza Laguardia, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Eddie Romero and Marichu Maceda, whose family owned Sampaguita Pictures that built up Gloria to be a movie queen in the early 1950s.

She tearfully recalled how her childhood dream of becoming an actress turned into reality when Sampaguita Pictures signed her up at age 16, and how she hasn’t stopped working on TV and film even at 75 years old.

The audience, including MTRCB board member Amalia Fuentes who played supporting role in Gloria’s 1956 starrer “Senorita” before she became a movie queen herself in the late 1950s, was visibly moved.

Child actor Zaijan Jaranilla, meanwhile, unintentionally made the audience laugh when he couldn’t say “MTRCB” correctly while accepting the special award for promoting moral values bestowed upon “May Bukas Pa,” where he plays the lead role of Santino. He had to be coached by the audience to get it right.

Showbiz stars were in modest attendance but those who made it either as nominees, presentors, guest performers or board members made an effort to look stellar.

Presentor Isabel Oli, chosen as Female Star of the Night, stood out in the white one shoulder Grecian gown by Randy Ortiz. The statuesque and olive skinned TV actress completed the look with a classic upsweep hairstyle and a slim belt that accentuated her tiny waist.

Gladys Reyes, host of Net 25’s “Moments,” the recipient of the special award for promoting family values and solidarity, led a handful of actresses who opted for colorful outfits. She was pretty in a carnation pink ball gown while Michelle Madrigal exuded sexiness in a canary yellow bustier number.

The gentlemen were, on the other hand, dapper in tuxedo but Ryan Agoncillo outshone them all by winning the Male Star of the Night.

Song numbers by Charice, Ogie Alcasid and standup comic Pooh were well applauded and rightfully so since they had to struggle with the overpowering audio system. Pooh scored more points with his self-deprecating humor and chutzpah.

Actor, TV host and MTRCB board member Jojo Alejar relieved his days as a dancer when he performed with his old group (The Tigers) a Michael Jackson hit.

 “Darna” star Marian Rivera, whose given name was oddly pronounced as “Mary Anne” by the voiceover announcer, did the opening number with her signature song, “Sabay-Sabay Tayo.”

From the stage, she went straight to the exit so the audience didn’t see her with her rumored boyfriend, actor Dingdong Dantes, who presented the last two awards of the night, Best Male Host and Best Female Host.