Jennylyn Mercado Wins Best Actress In The Metro-Manila Filmfest Awards Night, With Derek Ramsay As Best Actor

THE METRO MANILA Filmfest Awards Night, hosted by Edu Manzano and Kris Aquino, was held at the PICC on Saturday night. Here are the winners in the mainstream section of the festival now still being shown in theatres nationwide. Best picture, Gatpuno Cultural Award, FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence, Youth Choice Award, best theme song and best float award – “Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo”. 2nd Best picture – “English Only, Please”. 3rd Best picture – “Kubot, The Aswang Chronicles 2”.

Best actor and actress – Derek Ramsay and Jennylyn Mercado in “English Only, Please”. They’re both very deserving. As the Fil-Am from New York who comes to Manila to seek revenge on the Pinay who dumped him, Derek topped the performances of more favoured actors like Robin Padilla in “Bonifacio” and Coco Martin in “Feng Shui” who were earlier predicted as the most likely winners. Jennylyn also clobbered more senior rivals Kris Aquino in “Feng Shui” and Vina Morales in “Bonifacio” in her role as a lovelorn Pilipino tutor who’s looking for Mr. Right.


“English Only, Please” is the night’s big winner as it also won the awards for best director for Dan Villegas, best editing for Marya Ignacio, best story for Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas, and best screenplay for Antoinette Jadaone and Anj Pessumal. This is a vindication for "English Only, Please" which got a mere B rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board, where as "Feng Shui 2" which got an A didn't win anything.

Best child performer is Ryzza Mae Dizon for “My Big Bossing”. Best supporting actress are Lotlot de Leon as Dingdong Dantes' termagant aunt in "Kubot" and best supporting actor is Joey Marquez as Dingdong Dantes' wacky father in law also in "Kubot". Best visual effects, best production design and best make up were all won by “Kubot, Aswang Chronicles 2”.

Here are the winners in the New Wave category of independent films. Best picture – “Magkakabaung”. Best director – Jason Paul Laxamana for “Magkakabaung”. Best actor – Allen Dizon as the guilt ridden father in “Magkakabaung”. Best actress – Zsa Zsa Padilla as the mom dying of cancer in “M, My Mother’s Maiden Name”. Best supporting actor – Kristoffer King in “Maratabat”. Best supporting actress – Gloria Sevilla in “M, My Mother’s Maiden Name”. Special Jury Prize – “M, My Mother’s Maiden Name”. Here’s hoping that both “Magkakabaung” and “M” will now be given a nationwide theatrical release.