59th FAMAS Award

Ang Tanging Ina Mo Wins Best Picture, Albert Martinez Best Director; Ai-Ai delas Alas and John Lloyd Cruz Snag Top Acting Prizes.

The Filipino Academy for Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) goes for comedy this year, with Ang Tanging Ina Mo grabbing the Best Picture honors in the 59th FAMAS Awards. The third series of the Tanging Ina Installment also won the same feat in the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival and Star Awards for Movies. The film was directed by Wenn Derramas and produced by Star Cinema.


Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas became one of the only three actresses to win the most coveted Best Actress trophy for comedy, after her turn in Ang Tanging Ina Mo. The two previous winners for comedy roles were Judy Ann Santos, who won for Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006), and Ms. Gloria Romero, who won for Dalagang Ilokana (1954). She bested out past best actress winners Lorna Tolentino and Dawn Zulueta and fellow nominees Bea Alonzo and Jennylyn Mercado, who earned nods for dramatic performances. 


John Lloyd Cruz won his second FAMAS and first Best Actor trophy for Miss You Like Crazy, where he played opposite fellow nominee Bea Alonzo. He had earlier won Best Supporting Actor as Aga Muhlach's younger brother in Dubai (2003). 


Meanwhile, Albert Martinez won Best Director for Rosario. This was his first directorial debut and the film competed in last year's MMFF, where he and the film were the leading favorites for the best director and best film awards, although the feat went to Wenn Derramas and Ang Tanging Ina Mo, respectively. 


Eugene Domingo and Allen Dizon won the best supporting actor and actress awards, respectively. Domingo earned the trophy for her role as the feisty lawyer whose soul switched with Angelica Panganiban in the summer blockbuster Here Comes the Bride. Meanwhile, Dizon scooped his fourth FAMAS trophy and second award for best supporting actor for his turn in the indi flick, Sigwa. He has won best actor for Paupahan (2008) and Dukot (2009) and best supporting actor for Twilight Dancers (2006).


Meanwhile, child stars Zyriel Manabat and Maliksi Morales were awarded best child performers. Manabat won for her role as Ai-ai delas Alas' grand daughter in Ang Tanging Ina Mo, while Morales won for portraying Kris Aquino's son in the horror flick, Dalaw. 

The 59th Annual FAMAS Awards Night was held December 10 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Theater.


Personal Note:


It's sad to note that Asia's oldest film award giving body has gone to oblivion. In the 50s and 60s, when the FAMAS was the only award giving body in the Orient, the awards night is the most glittering event in the local film industry and all the stars emerged to witness the most memorable moment of the year. Sadly, the same cannot be said these days. Since the FAMAS split into two factions in the recent decade, there's seems to be no stopping from the organizing from plunging into decline, and even the winners has been put to contention of whether or not they are worthy of receiving the prize.  Something's ought to be done here. FAMAS is not just your ordinary award giving body. It's a part of the Philippine cinema's history and literally, the local showbusiness grew with FAMAS. 


Even an actor proclaimed to be the year's best wouldn't care, because FAMAS has become insignificant these days. Once, a performer's mettle as an effective actor is measured by the award he's won. But today, nobody cares because it's importance as a significant recognition has faltered through the recent years. Even so, a grand slam feat would never be complete with without this golden statuette of prime significance in Philippine movies.