The Film Academy of the Philippines honored the winners of the 26th Luna Awards during a formal dinner held at the Mandarin Suites last February 8, 2009.
Uploaded: February 12, 2009
Winners include (from left) Best Supporting Actor Dante Rivero (A Love Story), Best Supporting Actress Angelica Panganiban (A Love Story), and Best Actor Paolo Contis (Banal), and Best Director Maryo J. De los Reyes (A Love Story).
Angelica told PEP that she did not expect to win since she felt that she was just playing around on the set of A Love Story. However, she became very serious every time she had to shoot scenes with the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano. In this Star Cinema movie, Angelica figured in a love triangle with Maricel and Aga Muhlach.
ABS-CBN star Angelica Panganiban and GMA-7 TV host-actor Paolo Contis pose for photographers while holding their golden trophies from the Film Academy of the Philippines.
Angelica Panganiban posed with A Love Story's director Maryo J. De los Reye. This romantic drama was chosen by the FAP as the Best Picture for 2007 as well as the recipient of the Best Screenplay Award (Vanessa Valdez).
Angelica Panganiban became a bit emotional when she gave her acceptance speech. She says that she has already forgotten the feeling of accepting an award onstage since her last acting recognition was given to her around 12 years ago.
Paolo Contis told PEP that his fiancee Lian Paz already had prepared her dress for the awards night. However, she had to back out at the last minute because she had a taping for her new TV5 show, Lipgloss. Still, Paolo dedicated his acting award to Lian, whom he hopes will be the last woman in his life.
Boots Anson-Roa is honored with the Fernando Poe Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for her "lifelong and unrelenting work as actress and local film industry leader, specially her stewardship of the Movie Workers' Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund)."
Jorge Estregan Jr. accepted the Golden Reel Award in behlaf of his uncle, former President Joseph Estrada. Erap, as the actor is often called, is cited for being the first Filipino movie actor who was awarded as Best Actor (Hall of Famer) by FAMAS. He is also recognized for founding the Mowelfund in 1974 to support thousands of workers in the Philippine movie industry.
This is Direk Maryo J. De los Reyes's second trophy from the Film Academy of the Philippines. He also bagged the Luna Award for Best Director in 2003 for the film Magnifico.
Other nominees for Best Director were Eddie Romero (leftmost) for Faces of Love and Cesar Apolinario (rightmost) for Banal. Raquel Villavicencio accepted the nomination trophy in behalf of Joel Lamangan, the director of Silip. She wrote the screenplay of the sexy-suspense film starring Diana Zubiri, Polo Ravales, and Francine Prieto.
Cesar Apolinario was nominated in the Best Director category for his directorial debut Banal. He is now working on his second full-length feature titled Puntod.
For the first part of the program, Robert Arevalo and Gina Alajar announced the nominees and the winners of the different categories. Ms. Gina became a bit emotional when they bestowed the Manuel de Leon Award (posthumously) to director Cirio Santiago.
Among those who attended the awarding ceremony were (from left) Tirso Cruz III, Lorna Tolentino, Raquel Villavicencio, Gina Alajar, and director Elwood Perez.
FAP Chairman Atty. Espiridion Laxa (leftmost) is joined by celebrities (from left) Gina Alajar, Lorna Tolentino, FAP Director Leo Martinez, Tirso Cruz III, and FAP winner Dante Rivero.
During the intermission number, Angelique Garcia performed songs from her upcoming album. These were "I Need You In My Life" and "A Promise to Keep," composed by Pablo Vergara.
