It’s not often that people see the two most celebrated actresses in Philippine cinema share the same stage, let alone the same award.
But there they were: Superstar Nora Aunor and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, both winning the coveted Movie Actress of the Year award in the 33rd Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for Movies Sunday night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila.
Nora won for “Kabisera” while Vilma won for “Everything About Her.” The two actresses who are also known for their fierce decades-long rivalry, last tied for the Best Actress award in 1990 when they both clinched the Gawad Urian for their performances in “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit” and “Pahiram ng Isang Umaga,” respectively.
While the victory of Vilma and Nora was the highlight of the star-studded awards night, it was also a bountiful harvest for Jun Robles Lana’s “Die Beautiful” which won five awards, including Movie of the Year, Movie Director of the Year, Movie Screenwriter of the Year for Rody Vera, Movie Cinematographer of the Year for Carlo Mendoza and Movie Editor of the Year for Benjamin Tolentino.
“Everything About Her” won two other awards, Movie Supporting Actor of the Year for Xian Lim and Movie Musical Scorer of the Year for Carmina Cuya.
The wealth was pretty much spread in the acting categories as Daniel Padilla won Movie Actor of the Year for “Barcelona: A Love Untold,” Ana Capri won Movie Supporting Actress of the Year for “Laut,” Rhed Bustamante took home the Child Performer of the Year trophy for “Seklusyon,” Joshua Garcia was adjudged New Movie Actor of the Year for “Vince & Kath & James” and Hasmine Killip won New Movie Actress of the Year for “Pamilya Ordinaryo.”
“Pamilya Ordinaryo” was the big winner in the indie categories as it also won Indie Movie of the Year, Indie Movie Director of the Year for Eduardo Roy, Jr. and Indie Movie Editor of the Year for Carlo Francisco Manatad.
“Seklusyon” also won two more awards, Movie Production Designer of the Year for Ericson Navarro and Movie Sound Engineer of the Year for Albert Michael Idioma and Bebet Casas.
Other films that won one award each are “Patay na si Hesus” (Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year for Fatrick Tabada and Moira Lang); “Sakaling Hindi Makarating (Indie Movie Cinematographer of the Year for Ice Idanan); “Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli” (Indie Movie Production Designer of the Year for Arthur Nicdao); “Pauwi Na” (Indie Movie Musical Scorer of the Year for Pike Ramirez, Paolo Villaluna, and Veena Ramirez; and “Kusina” (Indie Movie Sound Engineer of the Year for Raffy Magsaysay).
In the music categories, “Imagine You and Me” from the movie of the same title won Movie Original Theme Song of the Year for Nicomaine Mendoza (lyrics), Marvic Sotto (music), Jimmy Antiporda (music arrangement) and for Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (interpreters).
Indie Movie Original Theme Song of the Year was won by “Panata” from “Tibak, The Story of Kabataang Makabayan” as composed by Alimuddin Ariesgado, arranged by Karl Ramirez, and interpreted by Marion Aunor.
Career achievement awards were also presented to filmmaker Joel Lamangan, who was honored with the Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod Ng Kamera, and to actor Pen Medina, who was given the Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award.
Luis Manzano was also recognized as Darling of the Press while KathNiel was adjudged Movie Love Team of the Year.
