PEN MEDINA in “Layang Bilanggo”

MANILA, Philippines—It was a virtual sweep for Michael Angelo Dagñalan's "Layang Bilanggo" which won four top prizes in the recently concluded Cinema One Originals digital fest.

In an interview with Inquirer after the awards rites at ABS-CBN's Dolphy Theater on Sunday, Dagñalan said it was gratifying that the cast and crew's "hard work was rewarded with the recognition."

"Layang Bilanggo" won Best Film, Director (for Dagñalan), Actor (for Pen Medina) and Screenplay (for Dagñalan, Ma-an Asuncion and Melchor Escarcha).

Dagñalan said winning was "fulfilling," but for him screening his film in a movie house like Shangri-La Mall's Cineplex was reward in itself.

Communal experience

"It feels great to watch your film in a theater with good seats, great sound, HD projection during gala screenings… like bringing back one's youth when movie-watching was a communal experience," Dagñalan explained. "Pinoy filmmakers have to [reclaim] the theaters from Hollywood... return Pinoy culture to the big screen."

He felt especially pleased that his lead actor won as well. "Pen is an underrated actor," said Dagñalan.

According to Medina's online bio, this is only his third acting honor in an illustrious three-decade career.

Dagñalan recounted, "Veteran actors like Pen came to the set on time and prepared for the scene, bringing their own costumes and props. I didn't have to direct them much; they knew their characters and lines by heart."

He said Medina gave his all to the film. "I gave him total freedom," said the filmmaker. During his acceptance speech, the actor said he was grateful for the creative independence.

AUDIENCE Choice Award: Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Astro Mayabang”

Jodi Sta. Maria won Best Supporting Actress for "Third World Happy"; Marc Abaya, Supporting Actor, for "Dagim." No Best Actress award was given because this year's stories focused on male characters, said Ronald Arguelles, the channel's director for programming.

Inspiring speeches

It was an "inspiring" awards ceremony, said Dagñalan, with the speeches of filmmaking heavyweights Celso Ad. Castillo and Lav Diaz, recipients of special honors, "encourage us to keep making movies. I am also thankful to our creative consultants, Sherad Anthony Sanchez and Bing Lao."

(Diaz, who is in Austria, e-mailed his acceptance speech.)

Other winners are: Audience Choice, "Astro Mayabang"; Music, "Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum" (Jerrold Tarog); Sound, "Dagim" (Mark Lacay); Production Design, "Ishmael" (Adrian Torres); Editing, "Ishmael" (Borgy Torre); Cinematography, "Ishmael" (Alex Espartero, JA Tadena, Louie Quirino, Herman Claraval); Jury Special Citations, Jason Paul Laxamana's "Astro Mayabang" and Remton Zuasola's "Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum."

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