Gabi Ng Parangal: Nothing Great, Just Plain Okay - STARBYTES by Butch Francisco

Like what many of us have already said, the line-up of films in this year’s Metro Filmfest is quite impressive. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the line-up of production numbers presented in last Thursday night’s Filmfest awards ceremonies.

Aired over RPN-9, the early part of the Gabi ng Parangal of the 26th Metro Manila Film Festival was – how should I say it? – just okay. Nothing great. Nothing spectacular. Just plain okay.

Fr. Larry Faraon gave a short, but meaningful invocation – which was followed by Dulce’s a cappella singing of the national anthem.

Zsa Zsa Padilla, looking slightly overweight (but didn’t we all gain weight during this holiday season?), did the opening number – actually a tribute to the father of the filmfest, the late Manila Mayor Antonio J. Villegas.

The song is an original composition by Mon del Rosario who put melody into a poem written by Villegas. Zsa Zsa’s singing of this new piece, mercifully, didn’t vibrate with so much tremolo – unlike her rendition of We’re All Alone which drives me to scale all four walls around me every time I hear it played on the radio.

But the tune of this new song by Del Rosario is so repetitive, it might as well have been used as a jingle for a floor wax commercial. A formal awards presentation is the last place where it should be played – unless, of course, they air it during a commercial break.

After Zsa Zsa’s opening number came the introduction of the three hosts: Lorna Tolentino, Ara Mina and Phillip Salvador.

Lorna – aside from being a gifted actress – should now also be acknowledged as a seasoned host of special events. During the filmfest awards night, she was very spontaneous and she merely breezed through her spiels.

Phillip’s hosting style, on the other hand, was just serviceable. And the fact that he was unable to divorce himself from the stack of cue cards in front of him didn’t help his hosting at all.

And Ara Mina? Was she there as host or as stage decor? I don’t think I even heard her speak at all – except when she had to thank Inno Sotto for the dress she wore.

Heard loud and clear were the wonderful singing voices of Nonoy Zuñiga, Janet Basco and Hajji Alejandro who did a medley of local pop tunes. Their popularity may have faded long ago, but not their musical talent. This was a number I truly enjoyed.

The sexy number rendered by Priscilla Almeda, Glydel Mercado and Janna Victoria was also entertaining because they did it with so much verve and energy. But I’m not sure if feminists will be thrilled to find out that this sexy (exploitative?) number – with sexpots always scantily-clad – is already standard entertainment fare in the filmfest awards presentation year after year. The same nymphets are used (usually Glydel and Priscilla) and the only thing that changes is the erotic music.

The number after this was certainly not sexy. With the exception of Mae Rivera, all the performers here look like they’re still trying to shake off calories accumulated from eight Christmases past: April Boy Regino, Mike Hano—pol and – was that Sampaguita? I thought I saw Ruby Regala (mother of actor John Regala) learning to rock ‘n’ roll late in life.

Anyway, there was really nothing memorable about this production number. Only forgettable performances and bad choreography.

Jolina Magdangal’s number was just as mediocre. Billed as Super Pinoy, it was super boring. It also came out like one of those hastily-produced propaganda ads of the Philippine Information Agency.

The Fame number of Antoinette Taus, Carol Banawa and Cris Villonco was fast, bouncy and lively – except that this is the type of musical number you see week after week in SOP.

The finale, fortunately, more than made up for all those ill-staged production numbers in the middle of the program. It featured Lani Misalucha who was enthralling as she sang modified versions of popular Christmas carols. That to me is what a finale number should be.

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I may not have enjoyed watching all the production numbers that were presented in last Thursday night’s Metro Filmfest awards ceremonies, but at least I agree wholeheartedly with the list of winners. (Hurray for Cherie Gil!)

It was an upset victory for Johnny Delgado (everyone thought it was going to be either Dolphy or Eddie Garcia) whose role in Tanging Yaman borders between lead and supporting. (Star Cinema apparently submitted his name in the lead category and the board of jurors just had to abide by that.)

The biggest thrill of the night was the victory of Gloria Romero who gave a highly-emotional acceptance speech that was delivered straight from the heart.

I am truly happy for Gloria Romero. I am happy for Laurice Guillen. And I am happy with the three best picture winners. But I was not happy at all with this awards show which I thought was tedious, boring and totally lacking in imagination.