Diana Zubiri brought down the house!

The former sexy actress-turned comedian-turned full-time college student delivered a speech that was both touching and hilarious at the Young Critics Circle (YCC) Awards ceremony held at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman's Claro M. Recto Faculty Center, this Wednesday, June 27.

Diana received her (...inhales air...) Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role award (whew!) from the YCC for her performance in Eduardo Roy's Bahay Bata, where she played the role of a nurse attending to expectant mothers in varying  stages of labor at an understaffed public maternity hospital in Christmas Day.

UP professors, students, guests, and media representatives covering the event laughed at Diana's acknowledgement, recollection of how she began in show business and her first major "award" courtesy of Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos.

Diana was emotional when she took the podium after receiving her award. She thanked God, and shared her award to her friends and family, co-nominees, Seiko Films producer Robbie Tan, and her manager PEP blogger and veteran showbiz writer Jojo Gabinete, whom she said, "Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala  na nanalo ako."

Diana began in showbiz in 2001, appearing in sexy movies under Seiko Films. She became a member of the Bubble Gang cast in 2003 and began doing TV work which included Encantadia, Etheria, Asian Treasures, and Zaido. She disappeared from showbiz around 2009. She's currently a third year Theater Arts student in Miriam College.

"Bago po ako makapag-artista, ang nasa isip ko lang po kasi ay makatulong ako sa pamilya ko, ang magtrabaho, 'tsaka po ang motivation ko dati ay makabili lang ako ng cellphone na may camera, masaya na po ako," recalled Diana which made the audience laughed.

The laughter and applause became even wilder when Diana related her "first award."

"Noong nasa showbiz na po ako, naalala ko noong nagkaroon po ako ng kaso. Kung naaalala nyo po yung malaking 'award,' yung iskandalong kinasangkutan ko noon dahil po sa indecent exposure noong nag-pictorial po ako para po sa FHM.”

Her controversial 2002 FHM Philippines cover photo shoot got her an indecent exposure and public scandal case from Abalos. The mayor later withdrew the case. Diana became a household name because of that photo shoot.

The 27-year-old actress also said she was in shock when she learned that she was the winner among the list of nominees that was made up of Arthur Acuña, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino for Loy Arcenas’ Niño, Tirso Cruz III, Raquel Villavicencio, Jennifer Sevilla and Edgar Allan Guzman for Jeffrey Jeturian’s Bisperas, Vincent Sandoval in his film, Señorita and Alfred Vargas for Zurich Chan’s Teoriya.

"Ito pong award na ito ay malaking surpresa po na ako ang napili ninyo para po sa mga miyembro. Kasi po nung tinanggap ko po itong pelikula na 'to, ginawa ko lang po kung ano yung nasa script. Na-shock po ako nung talagang ako na po yung nanalo. Kasi po nakita nyo naman dun sa pelikula, wala po akong ginawa kundi maglakad nang maglakad," joked Diana.

She thanked again the YCC for appreciating her performance in Bahay Bata.

"Nakalimutan din po 'ata nila na hindi lang facial expressions yung ginagamit, hindi ba? Pati po yung body language. Kaya salamat po. Yun po ang isang bagay na nakita po ninyo at inobserbahan ninyo sa pelikula ko po at sa aking pagganap. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat po sa mga miyembro po ng YCC.

"Libre naman po ang mangarap. Dahil sa inspirasyon na ibinigay ninyo sa akin, nangangako po ako na hindi po ito ang una at huling award na matatanggap ko. Thank you!" she concluded on her speech.

video uploaded in YouTube by eloindigoart