The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Alvin I. Dacanay
The Philippines’ acknowledged superstar Nora Aunor and two members of her family received Gawad Urian nominations last week from respected film critics’ group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), which revealed that the top winners of various film festivals here and overseas dominated its list of nominees for 2016.
In a press conference in Quezon City on June 27, 2017, the MPP named Aunor in the best actress category for a record 21st time for her performance in Kristian Cordero’s second film Hinulid.
An adaptation of Carlos Ojeda Aureus’ short story “The Night Express Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore”, Hinulid focuses on a teacher who loses her son (supporting actor nominee Jess Mendoza) to a fraternity hazing. Her role in the Bicol-set film is her first in Bikol-Rinconada, her mother tongue.
The celebrated 64-year-old leading lady previously won the best actress Urian for 1976’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, 1980’s Bona, 1989’s Bilangin Mo ang Bituin sa Langit, 1990’s Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina, 1995’s The Flor Contemplacion Story, 1997’s Bakit May Kahapon Pa?, and 2012’s Thy Womb.
She also received the Natatanging Gawad Urian for lifetime achievement in 2015.
Aunor’s daughter with award-winning actor and former husband Christopher de Leon, Lotlot de Leon, was included in the best supporting actress lineup for her role in Adolf Alix Jr.’s drama Mrs.
In the 2016 Sinag Maynila best picture winner, 46-year-old de Leon plays a loyal househelp who decides to marry her longtime boyfriend and return to the province, much to the dismay of her 70-year-old employer (actress nominee Elizabeth Oropesa).
Among de Leon’s competitors is Janine Gutierrez, her 27-year-old daughter by actor and ex-husband Ramon Christopher, who plays young Corazon, the wartime version of the late wife (Marita Zobel) of a retired judge (actor nominee Tommy Abuel) in Atom Magadia’s Dagsin.
Indie films rule
In a reflection of the MPP’s continued practice of recognizing independent features more than those produced by mainstream studios, this year’s Urian nominations are led by Zig Madamba Dulay’s Paglipay and Sheron Dayoc’s Women of the Weeping River with 11 each.
The top winner at the first ToFarm Film Festival, Paglipay centers on Atan (actor nominee Garry Cabalic), a 19-year-old Aeta arranged to be married to fellow tribe member Ani (supporting actress nominee Joan de la Cruz) who goes to town to find work and raise money that he will pay as dowry to her family.
There, he meets and falls for a college student named Rain (supporting actress nominee Anna Luna), who is researching marriages between Aetas and lowlanders for her thesis.
Women of the Weeping River tells the story of a young Tausug widow (actress nominee Laila Ulao) caught in a generations-spanning blood feud, or rido, who initially seeks vengeance for her husband’s death, but later realizes the need to break the cycle of violence that the feud perpetuates.
The film, which was shot in Zamboanga City, was named best picture at last year’s QCinema International Film Festival awards.
Vying with Paglipay and Women of the Weeping River for best picture are Lav Diaz’s Ang Babaeng Humayo, which won the Golden Lion at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival; Bagane Fiola’s Baboy Halas, a QCinema entry last year; Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa, which won for nominee Jaclyn Jose the best actress award at the 69th Cannes Film Festival; and Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Pamilya Ordinaryo, which copped the best picture trophy at the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and the best actress accolade for nominee Hasmine Killip at the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
This year’s Natatanging Gawad Urian recipient is Vilma Santos, the MPP’s most honored performer. She won the best actress Urian eight times, for 1982’s Relasyon, 1983’s Broken Marriage, 1984’s Sister Stella L., 1989’s Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, 1991’s Ipagpatawad Mo, 1993’s Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story, 1998’s Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, and 2002’s Dekada ’70.
The winners will be announced on July 20 during a ceremony that will be aired on the Cinema One cable channel at 9 p.m.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
Picture: Ang Babaeng Humayo; Baboy Halas; Ma’ Rosa; Paglipay; Pamilya Ordinaryo; and Women of the Weeping River.
Director: Sheron Dayoc, Women of the Weeping River; Lav Diaz, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Zig Madamba Dulay, Paglipay; Bagane Fiola, Baboy Halas; Avid Liongoren, Saving Sally; Lem Lorca, for Ned’s Project; Brillante Ma. Mendoza, Ma’ Rosa; Eduardo Roy Jr., Pamilya Ordinaryo; and Paolo Villaluna, Pauwi Na.
Actor: Tommy Abuel, Dagsin; Paolo Ballesteros, Die Beautiful; Garry Cabalic, Paglipay; Ronwaldo Martin, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Khalil Ramos, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten; Bembol Roco, Pauwi Na, and Pepe Smith, Singing in Graveyards.
Actress: Irma Adlawan, Oro; Nora Aunor, Hinulid; Angeli Bayani, Ned’s Project; Ai Ai de las Alas, Area; Jaclyn Jose, Ma’ Rosa; Hasmine Killip, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Elizabeth Oropesa, Mrs.; Cherry Pie Picache, Pauwi Na; Charo Santos, Ang Babaeng Humayo; and Laila Ulao, Women of the Weeping River.
Supporting Actor: Christian Bables, Die Beautiful; Nonie Buencamino, Ang Babaeng Humayo, John Lloyd Cruz, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Taha Daranda, Women of the Weeping River; Julio Diaz, Ma’ Rosa; and Jess Mendoza, Hinulid.
Supporting Actress: Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans, Women of the Weeping River; Rhed Bustamante, Seklusyon; Mariam Zimadar Caranay-Raper, Women of the Weeping River; Joan de la Cruz, Paglipay; Lotlot de Leon, Mrs.; Barbie Forteza, Tuos; Janine Gutierrez, Dagsin; Anna Luna, Paglipay; Lui Manansala, Ned’s Project; and Meryll Soriano, Pauwi Na.
Screenplay: John Bedia, Ned’s Project; Sheron Dayoc, Women of the Weeping River; Lav Diaz, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Zig Madamba Dulay, Paglipay; Troy Espiritu, Ma’ Rosa; Eduardo Roy Jr., Pamilya Ordinaryo; and Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, Pauwi Na.
Cinematography: Albert Banzon, Paglipay; Albert Banzon, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Mycko David, Tuos; Lav Diaz, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Odyssey Flores, Ma’ Rosa; Rafael Meting and Mark Limbaga, Baboy Halos; and Rommel Sales, Women of the Weeping River.
Editing: Lav Diaz, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Diego Marx Robles, Ma’ Rosa; Zig Madamba Dulay, Paglipay; Carlos Francisco Manatad, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Carlos Francisco Manatad, Women of the Weeping River; Ellen Ramos and Paolo Villaluna, Pauwi Na; and Benjamin Tolentino, Die Beautiful.
Music: Gian Gianan, Paglipay; Kit Mendoza, Women of the Weeping River; Jema Pamintuan, Tuos; Pablo Pico, Saving Sally; Pike Ramirez, Paolo Villaluna, and Veena Ramirez, Pauwi Na.
Production Design: Harley Alcasid, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Harley Alcasid, Women of the Weeping River; Ryan Cuatrona and Celine Belino, Hinulid; Angel B. Diesta, Die Beautiful; Joel Geolamen, Baboy Halas; Erik Manalo, Rommel Laquian and Rocketsheep Production, Saving Sally; Dante Mendoza, Ma’ Rosa; Aped Santos, Paglipay; and John Paul Sapitula, Ned’s Project.
Sound: Willie Apa Jr. and Charlie Daclan, Baboy Halas; Corinne de San Jose, Mark Locsin, and Che Villanueva, Ang Babaeng Humayo; Albert Michael Idioma, Ma’ Rosa; Albert Michael Idioma and Immanuel Verona, Women of the Weeping River; Albert Michael Idioma and Immanuel Verona, Pamilya Ordinaryo; Mark Laccay, Hinulid; and Andrew Milallos, Paglipay.