The Asian Television Awards has already posted on its website, www.asiantvawards.com, the shortlisted nominees for the 2007 edition of the annual award-giving body that honors the outstanding works of television networks in the Asian region.
As earlier reported by PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), the Philippines bagged a total of 14 nominations; 10 from GMA-7 and four from ABS-CBN. Last year, the Philippines got 11 nominations.
The Asian Television Awards is divided into three categories: Programming Category, Performance Category, and Technical and Creative Category.
In the Programming Category, ABS-CBN and GMA-7 programs combined for a total of nine nominations.
Bandila's "Subic Rape Case Promulgation" and TV Patrol World's "Taguig Hostage Drama" are nominated Best News Program, along with 24 Oras' "Super Typhoon Milenyo." The other nominees are news programs from Malaysia, Taiwan, and India.
GMA-7's Reporter's Notebook is recognized as Best Current Affairs Program for its "Giyera sa Lebanon" coverage. The other nominees are from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore, which has three nominations for this category.
ABS-CBN's daily game show, Pilipinas Game KNB?, will compete for Best Game or Quiz Program. Other nominees are two shows from Thailand and Singapore and one from Taiwan.
Vicky Morales's Wish Ko Lang is the lone Philippine entry in the Best Reality Program category for its "Maestro" episode. Other nominees are shows from China, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho ("One In Heart," Episode 135) is nominated Best Infotainment Program. It will go up against three shows from Singapore and one each from Taiwan and Japan.
Two Kapuso shows made it in the Best Social Awareness Program: Emergency ("Batang Magsusunog") and The Philippine Agenda ("Education"). Other nominees are from Japan, Singapore, and Korea.
In the Performance Category, Reporter's Notebook's Jiggy Manicad and Maki Pulido will compete against each other for Best Current Affairs Presenter, along with the nominees from India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Matinee idol Dennis Trillo is among the nominees for Best Drama Performance by An Actor. Dennis is nominated for his performance as a transvestite in APT Entertainment's Lenten Special, Unico Hijo, aired on GMA-7.
Dennis will compete with Anthony Starr (Outrageous Fortune) of New Zealand, Shahkrit Yamnam (The Lady of Sangsoon) of Thailand, Rajiv Khandelwal (Left Right Left) of India, Huang Ho (Dangerous Minds) of Taiwan, and Shabbir Jaan (Hai Lou Zindagi) of Pakistan.
Veteran actress Gina Pareño is nominated in the Best Drama Performance by An Actress category for her outstanding performance in the "Rehas" episode of ABS-CBN's Maalaala Mo Kaya.
The other nominees in this category are Robyn Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune) of New Zealand, Achint Kaur (Virrudh) of India, Andrea De Cruz (Do Not Disturb-Lunch Hr) of Singapore, Numthip Jongrachatawiboon (The Lady of Sangsoon) of Thailand, and Huang Bi Ren (Mars vs. Venus) of Singapore.
Finally, Michael V and Ogie Alcasid of Bubble Gang are both nominated in the Best Comedy Performance by An Actor category. Michael V won this award last year.
The other nominees this year are Teng Thursteng (Raberd Thurteung) of Thailand, Adrian Pang (Maggie & Me) of Singapore, Chua Enlai (My Sassy Neighbor) of Singapore, and Gurmit Singh (PCK Final Season) of Singapore. Adrian was Lea Salonga's leading man in the musical play They're Playing Our Song.
The Philippines has no nominations in the Technical & Creative Category.
The winners of the 12th Asian Television Awards will be announced on November 29 at the Suntec Convention Hall in Singapore.