COMEDIANS RULED the Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night) of the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), held at the Meralco Theater in Pasig last Sunday.

Comediennes Ai-Ai de las Alas and Eugene Domingo were named Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively for their roles in the comedy Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last Na ’To).

Meanwhile the country’s king of comedy, Dolphy, emerged doubly victorious as he both won the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor trophies for his roles in the movies Father Jejemon and Rosario, respectively. 

While both Ms. Domingo, and Dolphy were not present to personally accept their awards, Ms. de las Alas was crying when she went up the stage to accept her Best Actress trophy.

It is Ms. de las Alas’s second acting award -- she was named Best Actress at the 24th Star Awards for Movies two years ago for the comedy Ang Cute ng Ina Mo.

“I really did not expect this,” Ms. de las Alas said in the vernacular, while reaching for a small piece of paper from her pocket which contained a list of people she wanted to thank, including the movie’s producer, Star Cinema, as well as “all those who prayed that I will win.”

Ms. de las Alas, who was very vocal about her wish to win Best Actress in this year’s film festival, beats young stars Carla Abellana (Shake, Rattle & Roll 12) and Marian Rivera (Super Inday and the Golden Bibe) for the award. 

Change in nominations rule

Kris Aquino (Dalaw) and Jennylyn Mercado (Rosario) -- who were both earlier favored to win the award -- were not even nominated following a rule change this year that allows only three nominees per category.

“We changed the nomination rules this year to limit the number of the nominees to the top three, unlike before when everybody from all the entries were nominated. This makes being nominated even more of an honor,” Francis N. Tolentino, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) told reporters. Mr. Tolentino is the head of the festival’s organizing committee.

Tanging Ina Mo Rin beats Rosario

Meanwhile, Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last Na ’To) pulled the rug out from under the period drama Rosario -- which had been expected to sweep the awards -- to win as Best Picture.

Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last Na ’To) is the third installment in the franchise that started six years ago. The first movie, Ang Tanging Ina, grossed P178.82 million when it was shown in 2004. The sequel, Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat grossed P197 million when it was shown at the 34th MMFF two years ago.

Aside from winning the Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress awards, Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last Na ’To) won six other awards: Most Gender Sensitive Film, Best Child Performer (Xyriel Manabat), Best Musical Score (Jesse Lasaten), Best Story (Mel Mendoza-del Rosario), Best Screenplay (Mel Mendoza-del Rosario), and Best Director (Wenn V. Deramas).

Mr. Deramas was teary-eyed when he accepted his first award for Best Director in his career -- he started directing movies in 1997. The former Aristocrat restaurant waiter bested directors Mike Tuviera (Super Inday and the Golden Bibe), and Luis Suarez (RPG: Metanoia) for the award.

Mr. Deramas dedicated his award to his mother who passed away last year. 

“It is unfortunate that she is not around anymore to witness this happening,” he told reporters in Filipino.

Rosario not empty-handed

Rosario, the period drama based on the life of the grandmother of business mogul Manuel V. Pangilinan, went home with seven awards, including the Second Best Picture trophy and the Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Memorial Award for promoting Filipino history, values and culture.

Aside from the Best Supporting Actor award for Dolphy, the movie also bagged the awards for Best Production Design (Joey Luna and Mikki Hahn), Best Editing (John Wong), Best Cinematography (Carlo Mendoza), and Best Float during the Parade of Stars last Dec. 24.

The animated film RPG: Metanoia grabbed the Third Best Picture Award, as well as the trophies for Best Theme Song (“Kaya Ko”) and Best Sound Recording (Ambient Media). The movie also received a special Gender Sensitive Citation from the Quezon City government for promoting fair and equal treatment among men and women.
The blockbuster hit Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote won the Best Make-Up and Best Visual Effects awards.

The festival jurors (who included National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera and Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda) showed no love for this year’s horror entries -- Dalaw and Shake Rattle & Roll 12 -- which both went home empty-handed.

Mr. Tolentino said the festival organizers are optimistic that they will reach the target gross box-office income of P500 million after the MMFF reported record gross sales of P90 million on the opening day (Dec. 25). The festival will run until Jan. 7, 2011.