Glitz and glamour at Parangal ng Sining
Timely honor for Filipino film artists and industry stakeholders.
By Rica Arevalo
Published Apr 30, 2023 11:35 pm
The *Parangal ng Sining* was short and sweet, held on April 23 at Seda Hotel, Quezon City. The government through the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) gave recognition to a number of important pillars and movers in the film industry.
Paolo Villaluna and Mrtiks Escobar; Dolly de Leon and Soliman Cruz
Dolly de Leon came with her children. “Hindi kami sanay sa ganito, hindi kami sanay sa atensyon (I am uneasy with the attention),” she said. “It doesn’t mean I am not grateful.” Dolly’s passion for acting started at the University of the Philippines. She kicked off her career as a costume mistress at school, staying mostly backstage. “Pinapanood ko yung mga batchmates ko na mas mahuhusay sa akin umarte, tapos inggit na inggit ako sa kanila (I was watching my batchmates who were better actors than me. I was so jealous),” she mused. For her first play, National Artist for theater Tony Mabesa was her director. “Maliit lang ang role ko pero hindi ko siya makakalimutan (I had a small role but I will never forget the experience),” she recalled. All her struggles as an actor was worth it for the 54-year-old actress. She is grateful for the support of her family. “Mahirap tumira sa isang bahay kasama ang isang baliw na nanay (It is difficult to live in a house with a crazy mother like me),” she said. There were times she had difficulty paying for the utilities or putting food on the family table. “Never nila sinabing, ‘Mommy, tama na, mag-quit ka na. Magturo ka na lang ng English, never nila sinabi yon (They never told me to quit or to just teach English to earn),” she said. “They keep telling me, ‘Keep doing it, keep fighting.’” The dream continues and the*Triangle of Sadness* actress became the face behind the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme D’Or winner. She was the first Filipina actress to receive nominations from the Golden Globe Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA). Mother Lily Monteverde was represented by her daughter Roselle. “I’m truly grateful and really happy that she is given this Lifetime Achievement award,” says the co-chief executive officer of Regal Entertainment Inc. “Gusto ko lang sabihin, sa anim na dekada niya dito sa pelikula, ito talaga ang kanyang pamilya. Kayo, ang industriya ang kanyang mahal (I want to tell you that in all the six decades she was working in the film industry, you are her family. You, the industry, are her greatest love).” Roselle also read Mother’s Lily’s thank you speech: “Now my children inherited my passion, Regal will continue to make movies. Regal will continue to discover and give voice to filmmakers for even more decades.”
Christopher de Leon, Vilma Santos, and FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III
Another Lifetime Achievement Awardee was Vilma Santos, who started as a child star at nine years old. “I want you to know tonight, I am a fan,” she said. “Great artists are here tonight, great people from the industry.” The Star for All Season’s acting career took a backseat for 24 years when she became a public servant. “Nabigyan na naman ako ng recognition, uminit na naman ang dugo ko (This recognition is making me want to act again),” she beamed. Six decades as an actress is a real feat for anyone. “If there’s anything I can do to be of help, maging isa man pong artist o nagsilbi din sa gobyerno, (as an artist or as someone who serves in the government) please do not hesitate, let me know naka-suporta po ako sa industriyang ito (I will support this industry),” said the former Batangas governor. The *Trudis Liit*star became informal when she invited the audience to watch her upcoming film, *When I Met You in Tokyo*, which pairs her up yet again with her favorite loveteam, Christopher de Leon. Love has no boundaries according to her. “It’s a love story, very simple pero ito po ang sinasabi nila ang pag-ibig ay walang pinipiling edad (Love chooses no age),” she said. “Papa-ibigin namin kayo ulit ni Boyet (Boyet and I will let you experience love again).” Other awardees include actor Soliman Cruz for his lead role in the Romanian film *To The North*, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, director Martika Escobar for winning the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival for her debut film *Leonor Will Never Die*, film historian Nick DeOcampo for his substantial research on Philippine cinema, and the Cinemalaya Foundation for giving seed grants to independent filmmakers and championing their cause.
Paolo Villaluna and Mrtiks Escobar; Dolly de Leon and Soliman Cruz
Dolly de Leon came with her children. “Hindi kami sanay sa ganito, hindi kami sanay sa atensyon (I am uneasy with the attention),” she said. “It doesn’t mean I am not grateful.” Dolly’s passion for acting started at the University of the Philippines. She kicked off her career as a costume mistress at school, staying mostly backstage. “Pinapanood ko yung mga batchmates ko na mas mahuhusay sa akin umarte, tapos inggit na inggit ako sa kanila (I was watching my batchmates who were better actors than me. I was so jealous),” she mused. For her first play, National Artist for theater Tony Mabesa was her director. “Maliit lang ang role ko pero hindi ko siya makakalimutan (I had a small role but I will never forget the experience),” she recalled. All her struggles as an actor was worth it for the 54-year-old actress. She is grateful for the support of her family. “Mahirap tumira sa isang bahay kasama ang isang baliw na nanay (It is difficult to live in a house with a crazy mother like me),” she said. There were times she had difficulty paying for the utilities or putting food on the family table. “Never nila sinabing, ‘Mommy, tama na, mag-quit ka na. Magturo ka na lang ng English, never nila sinabi yon (They never told me to quit or to just teach English to earn),” she said. “They keep telling me, ‘Keep doing it, keep fighting.’” The dream continues and the*Triangle of Sadness* actress became the face behind the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme D’Or winner. She was the first Filipina actress to receive nominations from the Golden Globe Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA). Mother Lily Monteverde was represented by her daughter Roselle. “I’m truly grateful and really happy that she is given this Lifetime Achievement award,” says the co-chief executive officer of Regal Entertainment Inc. “Gusto ko lang sabihin, sa anim na dekada niya dito sa pelikula, ito talaga ang kanyang pamilya. Kayo, ang industriya ang kanyang mahal (I want to tell you that in all the six decades she was working in the film industry, you are her family. You, the industry, are her greatest love).” Roselle also read Mother’s Lily’s thank you speech: “Now my children inherited my passion, Regal will continue to make movies. Regal will continue to discover and give voice to filmmakers for even more decades.”
Christopher de Leon, Vilma Santos, and FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III
Another Lifetime Achievement Awardee was Vilma Santos, who started as a child star at nine years old. “I want you to know tonight, I am a fan,” she said. “Great artists are here tonight, great people from the industry.” The Star for All Season’s acting career took a backseat for 24 years when she became a public servant. “Nabigyan na naman ako ng recognition, uminit na naman ang dugo ko (This recognition is making me want to act again),” she beamed. Six decades as an actress is a real feat for anyone. “If there’s anything I can do to be of help, maging isa man pong artist o nagsilbi din sa gobyerno, (as an artist or as someone who serves in the government) please do not hesitate, let me know naka-suporta po ako sa industriyang ito (I will support this industry),” said the former Batangas governor. The *Trudis Liit*star became informal when she invited the audience to watch her upcoming film, *When I Met You in Tokyo*, which pairs her up yet again with her favorite loveteam, Christopher de Leon. Love has no boundaries according to her. “It’s a love story, very simple pero ito po ang sinasabi nila ang pag-ibig ay walang pinipiling edad (Love chooses no age),” she said. “Papa-ibigin namin kayo ulit ni Boyet (Boyet and I will let you experience love again).” Other awardees include actor Soliman Cruz for his lead role in the Romanian film *To The North*, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, director Martika Escobar for winning the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival for her debut film *Leonor Will Never Die*, film historian Nick DeOcampo for his substantial research on Philippine cinema, and the Cinemalaya Foundation for giving seed grants to independent filmmakers and championing their cause.