Maricel, Dingdong finally get MMFF awards
Better late than never. This statement applies to Maricel Soriano and Dingdong Dantes, who finally received their Best Actress and Best Actor awards respectively from 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival officers on Thursday, February 23 at Emar Suites in Mandaluyong.
Maricel thanked her producer, Regal Entertainment’s Mother Lily Monteverde of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” and friends, talent managers Malou Choa-Fagar and Shirley Kuan, in her (Maricel’s) short acceptance speech.
Maricel did not attend the 2011 MMFF awards at the Resorts World in December out of sympathy to Mother Lily Monteverde, whose family drama, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” was disqualified in four categories at the awards night due to issues regarding the script.
Dingdong, on the other hand, was vacationing with his family in Boracay when the awards night was held.
“Kaya suot ko ang jacket na dapat kong sinuot nung awards night,” he told the press and other showbiz people at the dinner event. “I hope this inspires others who want to shine (as Best Actors) for the first time.”
The Best Actor award (for “Segunda Mano”) is a first in Dingdong’s career.
Eugene Domingo (for My Househsuband: Ikaw Na!) and John Regala (for The Asiong Salonga Story) were also there to receive their Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor trophies respectively.
Cash prizes were handed out to “Asiong Salonga,” which swept the awards with 11 wins, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” “Segunda Mano,” “Panday 2,””My Househusband,” “Enteng ng Ina Mo” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll 13.”
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, who produced “Pintakasi,” proclaimed Best Picture in the New Wave – Independent Film Section, went on stage to receive her prize.
The moving forces behind other award-winning indie films – “HIV,” “Mate,””Payaso,” “Biyahe ni Barbie and “Speechless’ were also present.
MMFF 2011 grossed an all-time high of P636,792,509.57.
