The Senate has adopted a resolution congratulating and commending Filipino actor Romeo “John” Gonzales Arcilla for winning the coveted Volpi Cup for best actor in the 78th Annual Venice International Film Festival.
It was Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid who introduced Senate Resolution No. 490. Lapid is an actor himself before he entered politics. All senators were made co-authors of the resolution.
Lapid said Arcilla’s win is a “truly outstanding feat that deserves all the recognition and praise,” being the first Filipino to win such prestigious recognition.
Arcilla, he said, is truly one of a select few who won the Volpi Cup which included Brad Pitt, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Joaquin Pheonix, Javier Bardem, Ben Affleck and Sean Penn.
The senator said Arcilla’s success is a testament to the world-class talent, skill and passion of the Filipino, which brings inspiration to aspiring artists and creative individuals in the country.
“Recognizing the achievement of John Arcilla is in accord with the Constitution’s acknowledgement of the importance of arts and culture in fostering patriotism and nationalism and in promoting total human liberation and development,” Lapid said.
Arcilla portrayed the character of Sisoy Salas in Erik Matti’s “On the job: The missing 8,” which was included in the 78th Venice International Film Festival held from September 1 to 11 last year. He bagged the Volpi Cup for best actor out of 92 films from all over the world.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Robin Padilla (also a fellow actor) also commended Arcilla for showcasing his acting ability to the world stage, saying he raised the Filipino flag and brought great pride and honor to the country.