Ai Ai delas Alas won the Best Actress Award in the recently concluded Cinemalaya 2018. She bested other Best Actress nominees, that include Celeste Legaspi, Iza Calzado, Glaiza de Castro and Perla Bautista.
Ai Ai won for her sterling portrayal of a partially blind wheel-chair bound woman who runs a syndicate victimizing children and then use these children as pawn for illegal activities in the movie School Service. Her director in the movie Louie Ignacio accepted the award in her behalf.
Ai Ai was having dinner with husband Gerald Sibayan when eldest son Sancho broke the news to her. She cried on learning that she won Best Actress.
In her official Instagram account Ai Ai explained, “I was watching The Clash and was analyzing the winners and the others who fought when Sancho said, ‘Mama nanalo ka ng Best Actress?’ Patanong na excited.”
Her initial reaction was to cry. Then it crossed her mind, “Nanalo ba ako? I asked Sancho, totoo ba yan, anak? Sancho said, he was tagged (in a post) by the movie’s director. So naniwala na ako.”
Ai Ai shared her award to director Louie (who also directed her in the movie Area where she won Best Female Actor award in the 7th Queens World Film Festival in New York City and a Best Actress award at the ASEAN International Film Festival), executive producer Baby Go, producers Dennis Evangelista and Ferdie Lapuz, co- actors Joe Gruta and director Joel Lamangan, cinematographer Rain Yamson and the other cast and crew of School Service.
Ai Ai added, “Kay Lord sabi ko pasensiya na Lord kung nag mumura ako sa movie na ito pero yun ang takbo sa buhay ng pelikulang ito. Ang hirap at katotohanan sa buhay. Mama Mary thanks din, To God Be The Glory.”
She also thanked her inspiration in life: children Sancho, Nikki, Sophia, Andrei and her husband Gerald Sibayan.
AiAi Delas Alas is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email [email protected], and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency