JERRY OLEA
Nakachikahan sandali ang artistic director ng FAMAS na si Atty. Vince Tañada bago tawagin sina Direk Jose Javier Reyes at Governor Daniel Fernando bilang presenters para sa major categories ng 74th FAMAS Awards Night noong Oktubre 27, 2026, Martes, sa Fiesta Pavilion ng The Manila Hotel.
May lumapit na staff kay Atty. Vince. Iniatas ni Atty. Vince na dapat maging malinaw kina Direk Joey at Gov. Daniel na magkaiba iyong award na Best Actress at Actress of Distinction.
Naunang ihayag nina Direk Joey at Gov. Daniel ang winner bilang Best Actor, si McCoy de Leon para sa In Thy Name.
Kapagkuwan ay ipinaliwanag ni Direk Joey na ang next award — Actress of Distinction — ay separate sa Best Actress.
Ipinagkaloob yon kay Maris Racal (Sunshine).
Ang kasunod na ini-announce ay ang Best Actress, na natamo ni Maricel Soriano (Meet, Greet & Bye).
Panghuling award ang Best Picture, na nakamit ng In Thy Name.
Umalis na agad si Maricel kaya wala siya sa group photo ng FAMAS winners.
THE CONFUSION
May mga na-confuse sa award ni Maricel na Best Actress, at award ni Maris na Actress of Distinction.
May mga nag-akala na tabla sila.
May mga nag-post agad sa social media na ang trophy ni Maris ay Best Actress With Distinction.
Hindi siguro sila attentive nang sabihin ng presenter na si Direk Joey na Actress of Distinction ang award ni Maris. At least two times iyon binanggit ni Direk Joey.
Naka-engrave sa trophy ni Maris: “FAMAS Actress of Distinction Award.”
Sa trophy ni Maricel, nakalagay: “Best Actress.”
Sa trophy ni McCoy, nakalagay: “Best Actor.”
Sa trophy ni Karylle (Quezon), nakalagay: “Best Supporting Actress.”
Sa trophy ni Mon Confiado (Quezon), nakalagay: “Best Supporting Actor.”
Naka-chat namin si Atty. Vince ngayong Oktubre 28, Miyerkules ng hapon.
Aniya, noong Oktubre 10 pa nagbotohan ang members ng FAMAS.
Kaya may sapat na panahon upang i-engrave yung “FAMAS Actress of Distinction Award” para sa trophy ni Maris.
Read: 74th FAMAS: Maricel, Maris, McCoy win top acting honors
GORGY RULA
Binigyan ni Atty. Vince Tañada ang PEP Troika ng copy ng official statement ng FAMAS tungkol sa distinction sa pagitan ng “Best Actress” award ni Maricel Soriano, at “Actress of Distinction” award ni Maris Racal.
Ang nilalaman ng official statement ng FAMAS: “The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) wishes to clarify the distinction between the Best Actress Award and the Actress of Distinction Award, particularly in recognizing the exceptional achievements of two outstanding actresses, Maricel Soriano and Maris Racal.
“For the longest time, FAMAS has maintained that the selection of its Best Actress is not confined solely to an isolated performance but also takes into consideration the actress's collective body of work, consistency of artistic excellence, versatility, and enduring contribution to Philippine cinema.
“The Best Actress Award therefore recognizes not only the excellence of an actress in a particular film but also the depth, maturity, and cumulative artistic achievements that lend greater significance to her performance.
“In this regard, Maricel Soriano exemplifies the very essence of this recognition. Her remarkable and effective body of work, spanning diverse characters, genres, and generations, reflects an extraordinary command of her craft.
“Her sustained excellence, emotional authenticity, and profound contribution to Philippine cinema establish her as an actress whose artistry transcends any single performance.
“On the other hand, the Actress of Distinction Award recognizes a singular performance of exceptional artistic merit — one that demonstrates extraordinary depth, originality, emotional conviction, and an unmistakable impact on the cinematic experience.
“Maris Racal's performance in Sunshine embodies this distinction. Her compelling portrayal demonstrates remarkable courage, sensitivity, and artistic maturity.
“It is a singular performance of such distinctive quality that it merits recognition in its own right, independent of the cumulative achievements traditionally considered in the Best Actress category.
“FAMAS emphasizes that these two awards are neither competing recognitions nor measures of superiority over one another.
“Rather, they celebrate two equally important dimensions of cinematic excellence: the enduring brilliance of an actress's collective artistry and the extraordinary power of one unforgettable performance.
“The distinction does not diminish the achievements of either artist. On the contrary, it allows FAMAS to recognize their respective accomplishments with greater precision, fairness, and artistic appreciation.
“Ultimately, FAMAS believes that excellence in acting cannot be measured through a single standard alone. Some artists distinguish themselves through a remarkable legacy of performances, while others deliver a singular portrayal so exceptional that it deserves its own special recognition.
“Maricel Soriano represents the enduring excellence of a distinguished body of work.
“Maris Racal represents the extraordinary brilliance of a singular, distinctive performance.
“Both are deserving of recognition. Both embody excellence. Both are truly Pang-FAMAS.”
Read: Maricel Soriano, Maris Racal did not tie at 74th FAMAS Awards
NOEL FERRER
Tuloy, heto ang napagtanto ko — it was not a tie.
A closer look at their trophies clarified that Maricel Soriano was the sole winner of Best Actress, while Maris Racal received a newly introduced recognition called Actress of Distinction.
And this is where it got more confusing.
In its official statement, FAMAS said Best Actress Award “recognizes not only the excellence of an actress in a particular film but also the depth, maturity, and cumulative artistic achievements that lend greater significance to her performance,” while Actress of Distinction Award “recognizes a singular performance of exceptional artistic merit — one that demonstrates extraordinary depth, originality, emotional conviction, and an unmistakable impact on the cinematic experience.”
With due respect to FAMAS, anyare?
Since when did Best Actress become a body of work award?
If it is for collective body of work, why nominate by film — Maricel for Meet, Greet & Bye, Maris for Sunshine?
That has always been the domain of a Hall of Fame, an Icon Award, a Lifetime Achievement.
And if Actress of Distinction is for a singular, extraordinary performance in a particular film, isn’t that precisely what Best Actress has always been?
I get why Cinemalaya and even the MMFF have Special Jury Awards.
When you have two performances that are both excellent but incomparable — Maricel as Baby, the terminally ill mother whose last wish is to meet her K-idol, and Maris as Sunshine, the gymnast whose Olympic dream is derailed by an unexpected pregnancy — you want to honor both.
And I am not even insisting it should have been a tie.
My point is simpler: clear your definitions. It confuses the public, it confuses the press, and it also confuses both winners.
Both gave us two of the year’s most acclaimed performances. Both deserve the spotlight, without footnotes.
Congratulations to dear Marya and Maris.
But FAMAS, make up your mind.
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