Top Winners in the 3rd Golden Screen Awards

Ana Capri and Carlo Aquino won top acting honors in drama while Zsa Zsa Padilla and Robin Padilla copped top acting honors in comedy respectively at the 3rd Golden Screen Awards held on Thursday (October 28) at the Pagcor Grand Theater at Casino Filipino in Parañaque City. All four were all first time winners at the Golden Screen Awards given by the Entertainment Press Society.

Ana won for the digital movie "Ala Verde Ala Pobre" directed by Briccio Santos where she played multiple characters. Ana earlier won as Best Actress in last year's Cinemanila festival for her role in "Ala Verde Ala Pobre." In 1999, she won as Cinemanila's Best Actress trophy for "Pila Balde."

But Ana was unable to accept her award personally. While she did confirm her attendance, she failed to show up. She was out of town, taping a show. Lito Manago, a fellow Golden Screen Awards voting member made Ana listen to the announcement of her name as winner via cellphone. Ana cried and said she regretted not being able to accept the award herself, her first from a local award-giving body.

Carlo won for his quiet performance of a young man with a hidden violent streak in the indie film "Sa Aking Pagkakagising sa Kamulatan" directed by Ato Bautista. A multi-awarded child actor, the award was Carlo's first acting award as a lead actor, beating a formidable field composed of Aga Muhlach, Ricky Davao, John Arcilla, Yul Servo and the iconic Eddie Garcia for the honor.

"My knees are still shaking," Carlo said backstage shortly after receiving his award. He didn't think he stood a chance since he was up against veteran performers who were all award-winners. "I didn't expect this. Sino ba naman ang mage-expect? When I heard my name being called, I even asked my companion, hindi kaya sila nagkamali sa pagbasa? Eh tama pala." He shared his award with his co-stars Ketchup Eusebio (who was nominated as best supporting actor) and the rest of the cast of the indie film as well as his parents, whom he thanked for the continuous support. He made special mention of his two pamangkins, Mark and Angel, whom Carlo called his "little angels."

With this award, Carlo might reconsider his decision of quitting showbiz as he was rumored to be doing so a few months back. "In the absence of good film offers, I'd like to try my hand in singing. But now that work is coming my way, I'd continue acting. And this award will definitely inspire me to go on," he said.

Third time in a row for Zsa-Zsa, Robin

Zsa Zsa won for her role as Jay Manalo's wife in Regal Entertainment's "Ako Legal Wife" while Robin won his for "La Visa Loca," a comedy about a man's desire to secure a US Visa. Both are first-time winners in the Golden Screen Awards. The best actress award is Zsa Zsa's third since winning the best actress trophy at the Metro Manila Film Festival last December and at the recent Luna Awards. Zsa Zsa attended the awards night even if she just underwent a gall bladder bypass operation days before the event. But she begged off performing for the awards night as per advice of doctors.

Robin's award from the Golden Screen Awards was his third best actor trophy, having won in Gawad Tanglaw and Urian Awards. "Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa mga kapanalig natin na mga manunulat sa parangal na ito. Magsisilbi po itong inspirasyon para lalo ko pang pagbutihin ang aking trabaho," said Robin. The action star dedicated his award to megastar Sharon Cuneta who produced "Las Visa Loca" for Unitel Pictures.

Veteran actress Boots Anson Roa bagged the best supporting actress award as Eddie Garcia's long-lost love in "Blue Moon." Boots, who failed to attend the awards night, last won an acting award in 1973-a Famas best actress trophy for the comedy "Tatay Na Si Erap." Thespian Soliman Cruz was best supporting actor for playing hoodlum father in "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros." "I don't consider my co-nominees for this award as rivals but rather as co-workers in the field of acting. It just happened I was chosen as winner in this particular category," said Soliman in a backstage interview. "I'd like to dedicate this award to my mother who said that I should love my job and to my daughter Tala, ang liwanag sa anino ng aking pagkatao."

"Blue Moon," the romantic period drama from Regal Entertainment, won the Best Picture award (drama) while its director Joel Lamangan was named best director. Direk Joel said he has lost count on the number of best director awards he has won. "I don't keep track on how many I have won. I just accept them," he said. "I am happy because my work has been recognized anew. It gladdens my heart and this will serve as an inspiration to do my job well."

"La Visa Loca" was named Best Picture (comedy) while its writer Mark Meily won the award for Best Original Screenplay. Mark gave credit to Robin for agreeing to do the project, even if he'd be doing a different kind of role in it. Producer Tony Gloria, whose Unitel Pictures did "La Visa Loca," thanked director-writer Mark Meily, Robin and Sharon who joined hands in coming up with the comedy that satirizes the Pinoy's desire to secure a US visa.

Dennis Marasigan won the award for Best Screenplay Adaptation for "Sa North Diversion Road." He shared the award with Tony Perez, who wrote the stage play for which it was based. "Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong" won the award for Best Picture (Independent-Digital). The digital film that was shot in Baguio by a crew of five people also won awards for best sound (Bob Macabenta). The award for best editing went to Anil Rao for the digital film "Ala Verde ala Pobre."

Herculean effort from Enpress

Other acting winners include Jaycee Parker (Breakthrough Performance by an Actress for "Ilusyon") and Angelo Ilagan (Breakthrough Performance by an Actor for "Sarung Banggi"). Jaycee when interviewed backstage was speechless minutes after receiving her award. Her boyfriend Danilo Barrios brought her to the awards' venue. "He said I should come with Yul (Servo, her leading man in 'Ilusyon') since we were together in the film. I really can't say anything. I didn't expect I'd win. I am happy and contented that I was nominated." Jaycee, who considers Danilo as her lucky charm, is not planning any celebration to mark her victory but she surely was ecstatic. Angelo also didn't expect he'd win as he thought Nathan Lopez (nominated for "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros") was a shoo-in for the award, even saying that he wasn't quite confident of his performance. He thanked God for his victory and shared it with his family and his former manager Maryo J. de los Reyes. He even mentioned Robin Padilla in his acceptance speech, saying that the action star is his idol. "Idol ko po siya kasi mabait siya. Magaling siyang makisama sa mga tao at sa acting niya." Angelo even added he couldn't understand how he felt when his name was called as the winner. "When my name was called, parang maiiyak ako na natutuwa na hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nararamdaman ko."

"Blue Moon" also won best production design (Joey Luna) and best musical score (Von de Guzman) while "Ilusyon" also picked up the award for best cinematography (Odyssey Flores). The best original song went to "Ikaw Lamang" (theme song of "Dubai) written by Ogie Alcasid. The Lino Brocka Lifetime Achievement was given to veteran TV-stage and movie director Mario O'Hara. The award was presented by Phillip Salvador and Ms. Gina Alajar.

The Entertainment Press Society put up a Herculean effort to come up with the 3rd Golden Screen Awards but they have to hurdle another problem as their producer, X-Zone Entertainment and PRO-ADS Concepts reneged on their agreement that the awards night would be televised last Saturday, October 28 on IBC 13. We waited for it all night long, and even told Robin Padilla about the telecast that night, only to be disappointed. When we asked Joven Tan, the representative of X-Zone Entertainment, he told us thru text that the awards night would probably be aired this week. When we asked him if he informed Ruel Mendoza (president of Golden Screen Awards) and Jun Nardo (president of the Entertainment Press Society) about the change in plans, he answered yes.