Actors, scholars, advocates receive FDCP’s highest honor

At the Film Development Council of the Philippines' second annual "Parangal ng Sining" gathering on April 19, the national agency for film bestowed its highest honor — the Lifetime Achievement Award — upon an esteemed list of actors, scholars, and advocates championing the preservation and restoration of Philippine cinema.

“We are celebrating the greatness in the lives and works of the guardians of our past and how — by sheer example of their lives and accomplishments — they have become the foundation of Filipino cinema today,” began newly-appointed FDCP chairman, direk Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes, in his speech to open the program held at SEDA Vertis North.

The filmmaker stressed that while movies serve to entertain, they also serve as reflections and manifestations of cultural identity, values and evolution over time.

That’s why the Parangal ng Sining honored “those who made movies more than just entertainment but turned them into treasure troves of culture.” Reyes called them the “guardians of tradition, the scholars of the arts and the inspirations who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of Philippine cinema.”

He added that they’re also the “onstage mentors who have shaped generations of Filipino writers and filmmakers as well as outstanding members of our community whose accomplishments have opened doors, broken glass ceilings and have become benchmarks of achievement.”

First to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award was veteran actress and industry leader, Boots Anson-Rodrigo. She was celebrated for her decades of public service as the former president and current chairperson of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND), which provided health and welfare assistance to marginalized workers in the industry.

Fellow actress Agot Isidro, who once played her daughter in the hit film “May Minamahal,” presented the FDCP’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Anson-Rodrigo.

“Sayo po ‘to lahat Panginoon,” said Anson-Rodrigo. She noted that for someone nearing 80 years old and to be awarded by an institution like FDCP, she quipped that it meant “may pinagkatandaan ako.”

She dedicated the award to MOWELFUND members and its founder, former President Erap Estrada (who incidentally celebrated his 87th birthday that day), as well as her family, including the “person who gave me a second chance at love,” her husband, lawyer King Rodrigo.

Nicanor Tiongson was honored for being a prolific writer and educator in the field of film scholarship and criticism. He’s best known for his cultural research and scholarly works on Philippine cinema, such as The Urian Anthology and The Cinema of Manuel Conde. He’s also a Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute and one of the founders of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Cinemalaya festival director Chris Millado presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Tiongson. In his acceptance speech, a grateful Dr. Tiongson said, “To me this is a personal validation of the scholarly books I’ve published on Philippine cinema, of my little contribution as critic and longtime member and former chair of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and my continuing efforts to advance film criticism and scholarship among the students of the UP Film Institute and the College of Mass Communication.” He thanked the organizations, institutions and individuals who were instrumental in his development as film critic and scholar.

Also joining the roster of FDCP’s Lifetime Achievement Awardees was Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo Jr. for being a film scholar and historian who “published crucial works in Philippine cinema” and penned the screenplays of “canonical” Filipino movies, from Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” to Mike de Leon’s “Kisapmata.”

UP Film Institute professor Patrick Campos presented the recognition to Del Mundo, who was both funny and poignant in his acceptance speech where he also thanked colleagues and loved ones who were instrumental in his career.

“Nitong mga nakaraang araw, nagkaroon ako ng pag-aagam-agam sa parangal na ito… Nang makita ko ang listahan ng mga bibigyan ng gawad, naisip ko na parang senior’s citizen award yata ito,” he quipped. “Pagkatapos nakita ko ang bahagi ng programa na In Memoriam, salamat nalang and wala sa listahan ang pangalan ko.”

“Nalaman ko rin na ang gawad para sa amin ay Lifetime Achievement Award. Lifetime. Buong buhay. Hay nako. Talaga ang nasa isip ata ng FDCP na tapos na ang buhay namin, kailangan na bigyan ng award. Gayunpaman nagpapasalamat ako at binigyang pansin ang lahat ng ambag ko sa pelikulang Pilipino. Ngunit kailangan idiin ko na nagawa ko ang aking nagawa dahil marami akong kasama na naniniwala sa isang layunin na gumawa ng mahusay at maipagmamalaking pelikulang Pinoy.”

Another Lifetime Award recipient was Armando “Bing” Lao, the award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter behind the screenplays of Chito Roño’s “Itanong mo sa Buwan,” Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Kubrador,” and Brillante Mendoza’s “Kinatay” and “Serbis.” He established the “Found Story” workshops that trained many Filipino filmmakers.

His Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by his friend and colleague Jeffrey Jeturian who stressed that he wasn’t only a screenwriter, but more importantly, a mentor.

“Pinaniniguraduhan niyang magpapatuloy ang husay at galing ng mga Pilipinong manunulat sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo at pagbabahagi ng kanyang mga kaalaman sa paglikha ng dulang pampelikula. Alam ko ito dahil maski ako, maraming natutunan sa kanya,” the director said.

Speaking on Lao’s behalf was one of his former students, Honee Alipio, who also cited organizations and people like Brillante and Coco Martin who have continuously extended help to the ailing screenwriter.

Institutions championing film restoration and preservation were also among the Lifetime Achievement honorees.

One of them is the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), an organization dedicated to “preserving the nation’s film heritage and creating a sustainable repository of audiovisual works that contain the cultural history of Filipinos,” according to FDCP.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by UP Film Institute professor Dr. Roland Tolentino and accepted by Rose Roque and Ricky Orellana. In her thank-you message, Roque gave credit to SOFIA’s founding members and partner institutions in their advocacy for the preservation of the country’s audiovisual heritage.

“Marami naman tayong nagawa na and naabot but we continue to dream… that we finally realize our ultimate dream of an exclusively mandated and national autonomous audio-visual archive,” Roque.
Last year, the Senate public information committee heard a bill looking to put up a National Film Archive of the Philippines.

The ABS-CBN Film Restoration, on the other hand, was recognized for being an organization that restored also canonical works in Philippine cinema, from Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” to Peque Gallaga’s “Oro, Plata, Mata.” The FDCP gave them the Lifetime Award for its successful efforts to revive Filipino films and reintroduce classic works to the younger audiences.

Presented by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, the Lifetime Achievement Award was received by ABS-CBN Film Restoration head Leo Katigbak, who spoke briefly about the struggles of Sagip Pelikula in the last two years.

Upon learning they were among the awardees, Katigbak said they felt “overwhelmed because Sagip Pelikula is usually an unsung hero… But when people watch a restored film and they are happy, that’s where we get our reward. That’s why this award is such a big deal for us.”

Katigbak also recognized former ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio as their “guardian angel” — the person who encouraged them to setup and start Sagip Pelikula’s advocacy and film restoration initiatives.

Completing the list of Lifetime Awardees was the “Queen of Philippine Cinema,” Gloria Romero, whose works “Dalagang Ilocana,” “Cofradia,” “Magnifico,” and “Tanging Yaman” made her one of the most iconic figures in the Philippine entertainment industry.

Actress and TV host Amy Perez, who previously acted with Romero in the sitcom “Palibhasa Lalake,” presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to the veteran star.

Receiving the award on Romero’s behalf, as she couldn’t make it to the event, was family friend, fellow actor and host Butch Francisco.

“Ms. Gloria Romero would have wanted to be here. But she’s OK, I checked with her yesterday. Her labworks are OK, she sleeps well, eats well, and is generally fine. I’m sure all of you will agree with me that Ms. Gloria Romero is the greatest movie queen of all time,” Francisco said.

“She has done everything in her career… Let’s all be grateful that we have a Gloria Romero who lent her immense talent to the entertainment profession. Long live the queen!”

“Parangal ng Sining” also gave posthumous honors to film curator and archivist Teddy Co and Cannes-winning actress Jaclyn Jose.

Alden Richards served as host, while 92AD, Lara Maigue, Gian Magdangal, Aicelle Santos-Zambrano, and Bituin Escalante were the special performers.