Film personalities and advocates were given honor by the Film Development Council of the Philippines during its “Parangal ng Sining” last April 19, headlined by a number of Lifetime Achievement awardees, an Honorary Distinction for the late great Ms Jaclyn Jose, and a Posthumous Award for regional film champion Teddy Co.
The awarding ceremony, held at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City, was just the second of its kind since FDCP launched “Parangal ng Sining” in April 2023 - an annual event that aims to recognize film industry icons and pioneers for their significant contribution to the world of Philippine cinema and local heritage.
TEDDY CO, A CHAMPION OF REGIONAL CINEMA
Regional film champion Teddy Co (1958-2023) received a Posthumous Award from the FDCP. He spent almost an entire lifetime working on his advocacy of supporting independent and regional films. Greatly known for being a staunch advocate of cultural diversity in Philippine cinema, he found his purpose in the world of film curation and archiving.
His steadfast commitment to exploring the regions and bringing regional filmmakers to the fore was heavily evident through his co-founding of Cinema Rehiyon, a flagship project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
He died in 2023 after succumbing to cancer. He was 64.
HONORARY DISTINCTION FOR JACLYN JOSE
Mary Jane Guck (1964-2024), popularly known as Jaclyn Jose, still remains to be the country’s only honoree at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Her portrayal in Brillante Mendoza’s independent feature “Ma Rosa” (2016) won her the highly coveted Best Actress prize, being the first Southeast Asian actress to do so.
Her body of work is exemplary, to say the least, starring in Lino Brocka’s “White Slavery,” Chito Roño's “Private Show,” and Joel Lamangan’s “The Flor Contemplacion Story” – earning the versatile actress the credibility and respect universally recognized by her contemporaries.
She died of a heart attack in March 2024.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
This year’s awards night featured some of the biggest names in Philippine cinema history - all respected and iconic entities in their respective fields deserving of FDCP’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award:
Boots Anson-Rodrigo, the incumbent chairwoman of the Movie Workers Foundation Inc. (MOWELFUND), is an advocate of health and welfare provisions for film industry workers. As the president of a non-profit development foundation for almost 18 years, being at the helm from 2002 until her graceful retirement in 2020, she has witnessed the ups, the downs, and the evolution of Philippine cinema. Boots, 79, is also recipient of two other Lifetime Achievement Awards, one from FAMAS (2003) and another from Star Awards (2001).
Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, a Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute, is an acclaimed educator and film scholar whose body of work on media studies, cultural research, and many other scholarly works center crucially on local films and their cultural significance. An award-winning media practitioner, Dr. Tiongson is known for many groundbreaking roles he’s played during his long and storied career - having served as the vice president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1986, sitting briefly as the MTRCB chair in 2001, and co-founding the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2005. He is also a founding member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Legendary screenwriter, director and film scholar Dr. Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo Jr. received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his invaluable contribution not only for being the brilliant mind behind some of the best local films in history (screenplays for Lino Brocka’s Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Mike de Leon’s Kisapmata), but also for his crucial role as an educator and a conjurer of widespread appreciation for the arts. Known as “Sir Doy” to his students, del Mundo, 76, has
Multi-awarded filmmaker Armando “Bing” Lao wrote screenplays for highly acclaimed directors such as Chito Roño (Itanong Mo Sa Buwan), Jeffrey Jeturian (Kubrador), and Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay, and Serbis). He thrived as a film mentor and educator, providing invaluable insights to budding filmmakers through various efforts including his very own “Found Story” film workshops.
The Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the preservation of Philippine cinema and artistic heritage. Collaborative projects initiated by SOFIA have paved the way for the maintenance of audiovisual archives and the establishment of a national film repository in aid of bringing together assets that would’ve been long forgotten absent proper retrieval and restoration efforts. The award was received by Rose Roque and Ricky Orellana.
ABS-CBN Film Restoration was recognized for their excellent restoration projects, breathing new life into culturally significant Filipino movies such as Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, and Peque Gallaga’s Oro, Plata, Mata. The ABS-CBN-led restoration project, also known as Sagip Pelikula, has one main objective in mind: the digitization and restoration of iconic Filipino movies. ABS-CBN Film Restoration head Leo Katigbak received the award on behalf of the organization.
Award-winning actress Gloria Romero is a Filipina veteran actress who really needs no introduction. She gave life to a number of unforgettable characters in Philippine movie history, such as ‘Biday’ in “Dalagang Ilocana” (1954), and ‘Lola Magda’ in “Magnifico” (2003). Called the Queen of Philippine Cinema for all the good reasons, Romero, 90, has virtually won it all in her decades-long acting career.
