Septic Tank sweeps Cinemalaya Awards

MANILA, Philippines - Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) was the big winner at the recently-concluded seventh Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival held last Sunday night at the CCP.

The movie, which is about a day in the life of three ambitious filmmakers (played by Kian Cipriano, JM de Guzman and Cai Cortez), won four Balanghai trophies for the New Breed Full-Length category: Best Screenplay for Chris Martinez, Best Actress (Eugene Domingo), Best Director (Marlon Rivera) and Best Film. Early in the program, Septic Tank also received the Audience Choice certificate, likewise under New Breed Full-Length category. Thus, the movie won both the jury and public’s nod of approval.

“Kung hindi pa ako nakakain ng dumi hindi ako mananalo. (And to our foreign friends), I had to eat s--t to win this,” said Eugene in her acceptance speech which elicited guffaws and applause from the crowd. The actress, who can easily shift from comedy to drama, thanked the people behind Septic Tank, especially her best friend Chris “for having bigger dreams for me than I have for myself.”

“Maraming, maraming salamat po at pinagbigyan ninyo akong manalo,” she added. “Napakaraming mahusay na artista ngayon sa batch na ito. I would like to acknowledge Fides Cuyugan. Congratulations. Napakahusay mo. Shamaine (Buencamino), congratulations. Napakahusay mo. Buti na lang (napunta) ka sa Best Supporting Actress. Sino pa nga ba ang kinatakutan ko? Buti na lang puro lalake ang nasa Amok.”

Eugene also acknowledged the PETA actors and took the opportunity to speak about Rafa Santos’ remark about theater actors who will work for Sky Flakes.

“Everybody knows that I come from the theater,” she shared. “Forgive me if I have to say this. I met up with Rafa and he asked for an apology. In behalf of the theater actors, Rafa, we forgive you. We are all united here. I would also like to share this (the award) with all the actors. You know, this is very ironic because I played the role of a star (in Septic Tank). I would like you to know that I never believe in stars. I believe in the actor (and) I believe in the filmmaker (who are) sharing the same vision and the same dream. We all continue this together. Mabuhay tayong lahat!”

Edgar Allan Guzman won his first Cinemalaya Best Actor (New Breed Full-Length) trophy for Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me. He hoped that “this will be the start of doing more movies for Cinemalaya  and also for mainstream. This is my dream.”

Bembol Roco, on the other hand, offered his Best Actor (Directors Showcase) win to God, while Raquel Villavicencio, Best Actress (Directors Showcase) winner, thanked Cinemalaya for a quick reward after joining the film festival just last year. She also shared the award with the Bisperas cast for the ensemble acting.

Tony Boy Cojuangco (far right) with (from left) Milo Tolentino (Best Director for short film Niño Bonito; Marlon Rivera (Best Director/New Breed, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank); and Auraeus Solito (Best Director/Directors Showcase, Busong)

Chris considered his Best Screenplay plum as a welcome-back gift to him after his two-year hiatus from Cinemalaya while busy with mainstream work.

However, it was a sweet victory for Shamaine Buencamino who won the Best Supporting Actress trophy after seven years of participation. She said that it is a never-ending learning process to help tell stories about Filipinos and to give them a voice.  

Cinemalaya winners particularly the actors deserve to be ecstatic because the Balanghai trophy is a testament of one’s cinematic achievement. To paraphrase Cinemalaya Competition director Laurice Guillen’s statement, every movie is outstanding and every artist is true to his craft.