Despite storm, the stars come out for the 8th Eddys
Not even Typhoon Crising and the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon could stop the country’s biggest stars from gracing the 8th Eddys Awards Night, held last Sunday (July 20) at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
Organized by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), the Eddys (short for “editors”) honor excellence in Philippine cinema and recognize outstanding contributions from individuals and organizations within the industry. SPEEd is composed of editors from major newspapers and tabloids, committed to upholding the standards of entertainment journalism.
This year’s ceremony, spearheaded by SPEEd president Salve Asis of Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang Masa, featured a star-studded guest list. Among the highlights was the presence of National Artists Ricky Lee and Kidlat Tahimik, who braved an eight-hour journey from Baguio City despite the storm. Kidlat Tahimik was one of six Icon awardees, alongside Perla Bautista, Laurice Guillen, Pen Medina, Odette Khan, and beloved showbiz couple Rosemarie Gil and Eddie Mesa.
The event began with the customary red-carpet walk hosted by Alexa Miro and Mr. Fu, showcasing celebrities in elegant Filipiniana-inspired ensembles. The main program was hosted by Alexa Ilacad, Kyla Estrada, Kyline Alcantara and Darren Espanto.
The show opened with Erik Santos performing a moving rendition of Lupa against a backdrop of images of entertainment figures who passed away in the past year. The memorial segment featured special production numbers for Lolit Solis, Pilita Corrales, Gloria Romero, “Mother” Lily Monteverde and National Artist Nora Aunor. What made these tributes especially poignant were the personal messages delivered by their loved ones.
Senator Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado shared heartfelt tributes to Lolit Solis and introduced Carla Guevara, who delivered a powerful rendition of Handog. For Pilita Corrales, her son Ramon Christopher Gutierrez gave a moving message, followed by her daughter Jackie Lou Blanco’s stirring performance of Kapantay ay Langit, the song made iconic by Asia’s Queen of Songs herself.
Maritess Gutierrez, the only child of Gloria Romero, spoke about her mother’s enduring legacy before Arman Ferrer captivated the audience with his performance of Tanging Yaman. For Mother Lily, her daughter Roselle Monteverde shared warm reflections on growing up as the daughter of the iconic producer. She then introduced Ice Seguerra — a former Regal Baby — who performed a soulful acoustic version of Walang Hanggang Paalam. Lastly, for the late Superstar Nora Aunor, her son Ian de Leon gave a tribute and introduced Kuh Ledesma, who closed the segment with an emotional performance of Paano Kita Pasasalamatan.
Several special awards were also given during the night. Nathan Studios received the Rising Producer Circle Award for their film “Topakk,” with Sylvia Sanchez accepting the honor. GMA Pictures was honored with the Producer of the Year award for its unwavering commitment to revitalizing the film industry, boldly taking risks and overcoming challenges to keep it alive and thriving.
The Joe Quirino Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has devoted their life to their craft and consistently pushed the boundaries of creativity. This year, the honor was bestowed on entertainment news writer, actor, talent manager and vlogger Ogie Diaz.
The Manny Pichel Award was presented to veteran journalist Crispina Belen, who exemplifies the same generous spirit and dedication that defined Manny.
Lastly, actor-producer-entrepreneur RS Francisco was honored with the Isah V. Red Award in memory of SPEEd’s founding president.
The Box Office Heroes Awards went to films that grossed more than P100 million. These included “Hello, Love Again,” starring Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo — a collaboration between ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures — which earned over P1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. Alden Richards personally received the award.
Other awardees were “Un/Happy For You,” starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia from Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Films, with Julia accepting the award; “Green Bones,” starring Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid from GMA Pictures, with both actors in attendance; “The Kingdom,” starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual from M-ZET Productions, MQuest Ventures and APT Entertainment; and “And The Breadwinner Is,” starring Vice Ganda and produced by ABS-CBN Films and IdeaFirst Company. The “unkabogable” Vice received the award in person.
In the acting categories, Aga Muhlach (“Uninvited”) and Ruru (“Green Bones”) tied for Best Supporting Actor. Lorna Tolentino was present when she won Best Supporting Actress for “Espantaho.” Dennis Trillo won Best Actor for his role as a convict in “Green Bones,” while Marian Rivera won Best Actress for her portrayal of a public-school teacher in “Balota.” Marian was present to receive the award.
Zig Dulay took home the Best Director award for “Green Bones,” which, not surprisingly, also won Best Picture. The award was accepted by Annette Gozon-Valdez of GMA Network and GMA Pictures.
All major award winners received a P50,000 cash prize from Playtime, the event’s major sponsor.
Before the show ended, rising artist David Young performed Long For Your Life, adding a fresh and hopeful note to the evening.
The 8th Eddys Awards Night was directed by Eric Quizon and produced by Brightlight Productions. For the complete list of winners, visit the official website of SPEEd.
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