ABS-CBN bagged a total of 29 awards—including the top award for Best TV Station—at the 24th Star Awards for Television held last night, November 13, at the Newport Theater of the Resorts World Hotel in Pasay City. 

The night's major winners include Gerald Anderson, who won the first acting award of his career in the category Best Single Performance by an Actor, for Maalaala Mo Kaya's "Lubid" episode.

And Gretchen Barretto, winner of the Best Single Performance by an Actress, also for an MMK episode, "Larawan."

Gerald was extremely happy for his first-time win. 

"Pupunta ako sa GenSan bukas [today, November 14] at ipagmamalaki ko ito sa mga kababayan ko!" he said during the post-award interviews.

Gretchen won the same award last year for another MMK episode titled "Salamin."

Maalaala Mo Kaya also won as Best Drama Anthology.

Gretchen was teary-eyed as she delivered her "thank-you" speech. She said that it was a long-time dream to be recognized for her acting, which was all she ever wanted to do. 

She dedicated her award to her lifetime partner, businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, who attended the affair with her.

This year's Best Drama Actress winner was Maricel Soriano. The Diamond Star won her fifth award, as drama actress, for the teleserye adaptation of a Susan Roces classic movie, Florinda, on ABS-CBN.

Hotly contested was the award for Best Drama Actor, which went to first-time winner Dingdong Dantes. The matinee idol won for his performance in the local adaptation of a Korean telenovela, Stairway to Heaven of GMA-7. 

It was also Dingdong's first acting award. Obviously overjoyed, he thanked the PMPC and shared his award with his co-nominees.

Dingdong was also the lone Kapuso actor nominated in the Best Drama Actor category.

He bested Kapamilya actors Coco Martin (Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo), Gerald Anderson (Your Song Presents: Isla), Jericho Rosales (Dahil May Isang Ikaw), John Estrada (Dahil May Isang Ikaw), Piolo Pascual (Lovers In Paris), and Sid Lucero (Dahil May Isang Ikaw).

OTHER WINNERS. Aside from the award for Dingdong, GMA-7 won 13 other awards.

These were for the following categories: Best Magazine Show (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho), Best Magazine Show Host (Jessica Soho, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho),  Best Documentary Program (I-Witness), Best Program Hosts (Kara David, Howie Severino, Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc), and Best Documentary Special (Planet Philippines).