Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat main star and co-presenter for the three Best Picture awards, with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, summed it all up with her funny remark after announcing the Second Best Picture winner in last night's 34th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night: "Ay, kami na pala yun! Akala ko kami ang Best Picture. Ikaw [Jinggoy] na ang magbasa ng Best Picture. Hindi na ako excited, hindi na kami, e!"
MMDA Chairman and MMFF Chairman Bayani Fernando made a controversial ruling two years ago on the criteria for choosing the Best Picture winner; whoever gets the highest gross in the box office wins the top plum. That is why in 2006, OctoArts and M-Zet Productions entry Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Lives On And On bested notable entries of that year, including Star Cinema's Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo and CM Films' Ligalig.
The third installment of the sitcom turned movie serial of Vic Sotto was leading the first week of the festival. Ironically, by the end of the MMFF 2006 two-week screening, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo outgrossed Enteng Kabisote, but the award remained on the shelf of OctoArts Films.
Last year, with the new ruling in place, everyone expected it to be the year of Star Cinema's Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo, the sequel of Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, as it has led all the ten entries in the box-office. Star Cinema's quest to get the top plum failed again as Resiklo, the fourth movie in the box-office race—after Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo, Enteng Kabisote 4, and Shake Rattle & Roll 9—took home the Best Festival Picture with four other technical awards.
During Chairman Fernando's thanksgiving presscon after winning this year's Celebrity Duets earlier this month, he reiterated that the ruling of highest grosser becomes the best picture stays. This was not to be, again.
The MMFF awards ceremony last night, December 27, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza overturned that Best Picture criteria again as the winner of the most number of awards, Viva Films' Baler, was also named Best Picture; thus Ai-Ai's off-the-cuff joke.
In its official gross for the first day, Baler trailed behind Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat, Iskul Bukol: 20 Years Later, Shake, Rattle & Roll X, and Desperadas 2; just besting three other entries: One Night Only, Dayo, and Magkaibigan.
WINNERS ALL. This year though, the MMFF committee made sure everyone got at least one award and no shut-out happened. This made Rufa Mae Quinto remark that at least "consistent ang Desperadas, ha, dahil last year, ito [Best Festival Make-up] lang din ang napanalunan namin!"
Regal Entertainment producer Lily Monteverde, who was not able to get the award on stage, "forgot" to bring the trophy home when she left the proceeding with supervising producer Manny Valera looking for the trophy upon knowing it was "left" on the table.
It was a night of statistics for two winners: Baler's Phillip Salvador (Best Supporting Actor) and Anne Curtis (Best Actress). For Ipe, this is his comeback movie in seven years and his first acting award from MMFF. For Anne, this is her first acting award since joining showbiz 12 years ago.
Interestingly, most of the winners from Baler who went to the stage and were given the opportunity to make a thank-you speech—the first eight awards were just announced with the winner simply getting the trophy on stage—thanked Senator Edhardo Angara and PAGCOR first before their producer, Viva Films.
Among the performance winners, Manilyn Reynes was not able to personally accept her Best Supporting Actress award for One Night Only. Joey Reyes, writer and director of the movie, received the award for her; thanking the actress for accepting the role even if she knew she was just a last-minute replacement as the lesbian lover of Jennylyn Mercado in the movie. Manilyn's manager Olive de Jesus was surprised that her talent was even nominated. This could be the same reason that Best Child Performer Robert Villar for Shake, Rattle & Roll 10 was not around to accept his award.
As of last year, the nominees in all categories were not mentioned. As host Boy Abunda explained, all movies and performances are automatically nominated in their respective category. There was an exception though; singers Richard Poon and Sitti only performed six theme songs as the two Regal entries, Desperadas 2 and Shake, Rattle & Roll X, have no theme songs.
MISSING IN ACTION. The MMFF 2008 Awards Night was filled with the stars of the eight film entries—like Magkaibigan's Christopher de Leon, Jinggoy Estrada, Dawn Zulueta, and Maricel Laxa; Desperadas 2 girls Ruffa Gutierrez and Rufa Mae Quinto; One Night Only's Diana Zubiri; Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat's Ai-Ai delas Alas; and Baler's Anne Curtis, Jericho Rosales, and Phillip Salvador. But there were several curious cases of non-appearance such as the cast of Iskul Bukol, Katrina Halili (One Night Only), and Marian Rivera (Desperadas 2 and Shake, Rattle & Roll X).
No cast member of the reunion movie of Tito, Vic & Joey was in the audience. PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) later found out that everyone is on vacation, mostly in Tagaytay, for a pre-New Year bonding. Co- producer Orly Ilacad of OctoArts received the 3rd Best Picture trophy for Iskul Bukol.
Meanwhile, Marian, who was definitely among the most diligent stars when it comes to promoting a movie, was also not around. "Hindi po" was her manager Popoy Caritativo's reply to PEP when we asked him if his talent is attending the ceremony.
Interestingly, opening the night's ceremony were Yeng Constantino, Sheryn Regis, and Karylle.
Another very diligent star when it comes to promotion is Katrina, who has just been involved in another controversy, the Vicki Belo-Hayden Kho breakup.
BOOBOOS. Two notable slips were made. First by red-carpet host Tim Yap, who praised Maricel Laxa as "one of the most beautiful actresses to grace showbiz since That's Entertainment days." Maricel was never part of the teen show of German Moreno, although she was one of the female hosts of the other Kuya Germs show then—GMA Supershow.
In announcing this year's screening committee, the voiceover host mentioned Angie Magbanua as among its members. Host Boy Abunda had to correct this immediately since "our dear colleague has passed away more than a year ago."