The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Alvin I. Dacanay
Top media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp. dominated the Seventh PMPC (Philippine Movie Press Club) Star Awards for Music, winning 10 trophies, four of which were for cross-dressing comedian, singer and television host Vice Ganda.
In a three-hour-plus concert-like ceremony hosted by nominees and ABS-CBN personalities Kim Chiu and Enchong Dee at the Kia Theatre in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, on November 10, Vice Ganda won prizes for male recording artist for his album #Trending, tying with rapper Gloc-9 for his album Biyehang Pangarap; novelty song for “Boom Panes”; and concert and male concert performer for Gandang-ganda sa Sarili sa Araneta, eh di Wow, which was staged in late May.
His album was produced by Star Music, and his concert was mounted by ABS-CBN Events and Star Events. All three are part of the Lopez-owned broadcasting giant.
Vice Ganda was absent at the ceremony—which ended past 1 a.m. the following day—as he was busy shooting for an upcoming film. Album producer Rox Santos accepted the awards on his behalf.
The prizes the comedian won are the latest he received from the PMPC. Last year, he was named male concert performer for I-Vice Ganda Mo Ako sa Araneta and his eponymous novelty album was deemed the best in its category.
Top recording company
The wins of the lead host of the noontime program It’s Showtime helped Star Music emerge on top of other recording labels in competition, including Universal Records, Viva Records and MCA Music.
It produced Yeng Constantino’s “Ikaw”, which won song of the year; Toni Gonzaga’s album Celestine, honored as album of the year; Edward Benosa and Morissette Amon’s self-titled albums, earning them the new male and female recording artist prizes, respectively; Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song, named compilation album; and Ai-ai de las Alas’ ADA: The EDM Diva, selected as top dance album.
Like Vice Ganda, Constantino and Gonzaga were not present to receive their awards. The former was in Australia; the latter, in Japan.
Sarah Geromino, a coach on the ABS-CBN singing-competition program The Voice of the Philippines who won female recording artist for Perfectly Imperfect; Noel Cabangon, who earned male acoustic artist honors for the fourth straight year, this time for Throwback; lauded vocal ensemble The CompanY, which garnered the duo/group of the year prize for Lighthearted OPM 2; ABS-CBN talent and On the Wings of Love star James Reid, R&B artist winner for Reid Alert; Lani Misalucha, one of two winners in the concert and female concert performer categories for Ultimate Concert and the ABS-CBN Events and Star Events-produced La Nightingale, respectively; and former ABS-CBN talent de las Alas were also no-shows at the event.
Twice blessed
Other recording artists who won more than once were Regine Velasquez, the other winner in the concert and female concert performer categories for Ultimate Concert, with the former award shared with no-shows Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano; Darren Espanto, the popular The Voice Kids Philippines season-one runner-up who won pop album and album cover concept & design for his self-titled album; and Christian Bautista, male pop artist winner for Soundtrack and music video winner for his and Rachelle Ann Go’s version of the Barbra Streisand classic “The Way We Were”.
In accepting the latter award with brother and co-director Joshua Bautista, Christian said receiving this prize was weird, and confessed that they “used a (smart)phone to shoot the video in London,” where Go is playing Fantine in Les Miserables on West End.
Sheryl Cruz, female pop artist winner for Sa Puso Ko’y Ikaw Pa Rin; Sabrina, female acoustic artist for Love Acoustic 7; the band Siakol, rock album for Haymabu; Kean Cipriano, male rock artist for Happy Together; Glaiza de Castro, female rock artist for Synthesis; Pilita Corrales, revival album for Duets; Kyla, R&B album for Journey; and Hannah Nolasco, who tied with Amon for the new female recording artist prize for Peksman, round out the list of winners.
Thankful
In her lengthy acceptance speech, Cruz shared her award with her fellow nominees, and thanked members of her family by name, as well as record producer Mon del Rosario.
For her part, de Castro said she did not expect to win, and that winning meant a big deal to her. “It isn’t always easy to make something out of nothing,” she said before taking a selfie with the PMPC member who handed the award to her, much to the audience’s delight.
The little-known Nolasco, a retired colonel’s daughter who performed “Peksman” early on during the ceremony, thanked Jesus in her speech for helping her give a chance in the recording industry.
During the ceremony, the PMPC paid tribute to two singer-songwriters for their contributions to the Philippine music industry: Ogie Alcasid, recipient of the Parangal Levi Celerio, named after the late National Artist for Music; and Rey Valera, winner of the Pilita Corrales Lifetime Achievement Award, named after Asia’s Queen of Songs.
They were introduced by nominee Janno Gibbs, who sang the Alcasid composition “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw”, which was popularized by Alcasid’s wife Velasquez; and Vina Morales, who sang the Valera hit “Pangako sa ‘Yo”, who were later joined onstage by the honorees.
The ceremony will be aired on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best program on November 29.