MANILA, Philippines - Luz Fernandez and Augusto Victa led radio personalities honored for their contributions to the development of radio drama at Star Theater as part of DZRH’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, executive director of National Commission on Culture and Arts, bestowed the awards for Most Outstanding Drama Talents to Fernandez and Victa, whose careers in radio and TV have spanned decades.
Susan Roces presented trophies to the top honorees. Cited for their prowess in voice-acting were Betty Roxas (Dolorosa), Tony Angeles and Nick de Guzman (both for May Pangako ang Bukas), Marichu Villegas (Sagrado), Rosanna Villegas (Dolorosa), Eddie Legaspi (Sagardo), and Phil Cruz (Dolorosa). Bobby Cruz and Jun Legaspi shared directorial honors for Hukumang Pantahanan along with Eloisa Cruz Canlas for Dolorosa.
Amancio Salonga was named Best Musical Director for Mr. Romantiko, with Mike Perez taking home the award for Best Narrator (Gabi ng Lagim), and Fundador Soriano being honored as Best Scriptwriter for Ukay-Ukay ni Manang Kikay.
Taking home the award for Best Drama was Sagrado.
Since the ’50s, DZRH has been a goldmine of soap operas from 11 a.m. until mid-afternoon, and again in the evenings. Radio was so powerful then that even filmdom’s biggest stars had to have their own soap operas.