The 20th FAP Awards: Night of the veterans

The Honor Roll:

• Best Actress – Lorna Tolentino (Abakada... Ina)

• Best Actor – Ricky Davao (Minsan May Isang Puso)

• Best Picture – Abakada... Ina (Viva Films)

• Best Director – Eddie Garcia (Abakada)

• Best Supporting Actress – Caridad Sanchez (Bagong Buwan)

• Best Supporting Actor – Dante Rivero (Tuhog)

• Best Cinematography – Romulo Araujo (Abakada)

• Best Editing – Ike Jarlego, Jr. (Abakada)

• Best Original Theme – Tony Cortez (4 Fathers)

• Best Sound – Roel Brusn (Abakada)

• Best Musical Score – Blitz Padua (Parehas ang Laban)

• Best Screenplay – Shaira Salvador (Abakada)

• Best Production Design – Judy Lou de Pio (Bagong Buwan)

• Lifetime Achievement Awardee – Gloria Romero and Nida Blanca (Posthumous)

• Golden Reel Award – Fernando Poe, Jr.

• Celebrity of the Night – Gretchen Barretto

• Students’ Short Films – Ulirat (first), Deadline (second) and Palara (third)

The veterans ruled the 20th Film Academy Awards held last Saturday night at the UP Theater, easing out younger aspirants and contenders from the victory list – and the limelight. Oh, yes, the young ones provided the night’s entertainment.

As usual and as expected, Best Supporting Actress awardee Caridad Sanchez cried a river during her acceptance speech and it was because, besides her "credible" (Caridad’s word) win, her sister was buried earlier that day in their native Cebu. But then, the show must go on.

The Great FPJ, King of Philippine Movies for more than four decades, got a standing ovation when he received the Golden Reel Award, the first time the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) was giving it to an industry icon, impressing the audience at the UP Theater and TV watchers at home with his profound humility. Very FPJ!