Derek beats Robin in MMFF awards race

MANILA, Philippines - In what may be considered an upset in the Best Actor competition at the Gabi Ng Parangal of the ongoing 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Sunday night at the PICC, Derek Ramsay beat predicted winner Robin Padilla, a triumph of romantic-comedy over historical-themed action-adventure.

Ramsay won for “English Only, Please,” for which Jennylyn Mercado also won Best Actress. Padilla stars in “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” which aims to correct, if not rewrite, Philippine history on the role of The Great Plebeian in the revolution. But as far as the jurors were concerned, Padilla’s performance was no match to that of Ramsay as a Fil-Am who comes to the Philippines to hire a Filipino interpreter (played by Mercado) so he can better express his feelings for his girlfriend.

However, “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” was awarded Best Picture, with “English Only, Please” second best and “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” third best picture.

Best Supporting Actress/ Actor honors went to Lotlot de Leon and Joey Marquez both for “Kubot.”

The rest of the winners are: Best Child Performer – Ryzza Mae Dizon for “My Big Bossing’s Adventures;” Best Director – Dan Villegas for “English Only;” Best Screenplay – “English Only;” Best Original Story – “English Only;” Best Cinematography – Carlo Mendoza for “Bonifacio;” Best Editing – Marya Ignacio for “English Only;” Best Production Design – Ericson Navarro for “Kubot;” Best Visual Effects – “Kubot;” Best Makeup – “Kubot;” Best Original Theme Song – Von de Guzman for “Bonifacio;” Best Musical Score – Von de Guzman for “Bonifacio;” Best Sound Engineer – “Bonifacio;” and Best Float – “Bonifacio.”

For the New Wave category, Best Picture went to “Magkakabaung” while New Wave Best Actor and Actress were Allen Dizon for “Magkakabaung” and Zsa Zsa Padilla for “M: Mother’s Maiden Name,” respectively. New Wave Best Director was awarded to Jason Paul Laxamana also for “Magkakabaung.”

The top four spots in the box-office race are occupied by “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” (1), “Feng Shui” (2), “My Big Bossing” (3) and “Kubot” (4), followed by (at random) “Shake, Rattle & Roll XV,” “English Only, Please,” “Bonifacio” and “Magnum.357.”