Underground hip hop film “Respeto” bested all films at the 41st Gawad Urian with four wins, including Best Actor for rapper Abra in its awards night held last Thursday (June 14) at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent in Quezon City.
Abra, who garnered his first lead acting award, thanked the music community for joining him in the film. “This would not be complete if not for my family from the hip hop community,” he said.
“Respeto” also earned Best Supporting Actor for Dido de la Paz, Best Editing for Lawrence Ang, and Best Sound for Corrine de San Jose.
The Best Picture award went to “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness,” the wartime drama set in 1901 featuring a child who flees town with his grandfather to escape a burn and kill order, produced by Achinette Villamor, Edong Canlas, and Khavn.
The musical “Ang Larawan” earned Best Production Design for Gino Gonzales and Best Actress for Joanna Ampil, while Odette Khan of “Bar Boys” won Best Supporting Actress.
Arnel Barbarona of “Tu Pug Imatuy,” who was hailed as Best Director, dedicated the award to the Lumads of Mindanao. “Their struggles are very much our struggles. If they lose their lands, we lose our identity,” he said in his acceptance speech.
This year’s Urian awards night highlighted original Filipino music (OPM) featuring songs from the films “Ang Larawan” performed by Rachel Alejandro and Joanna, “Changing Partners” sang by Klarisse de Guzman and Sandino Martin, and “Respeto” staged by Abra and Loonie. Darren Espanto, Jason Dy, and Janine Berdin also opened the show with an exciting OPM performance.
The Natatanging Gawad Urian award went to musician Winston Raval of Vanishing Tribe, a musical director, composer, and arranger who scored music for over 20 movies in four decades, including “Himala.”
“Kita Kita” stars Empoy Marquez and Alessandra de Rossi hosted the show with Butch Francisco, a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
The winners were chosen by the Manunuri composed of reputable pillars in Philippine cinema led by its president Rolando Tolentino together with members Butch, Grace Javier Alfonso, Bienvenido Lumbera, Miguel Rapatan, Benilda Santos, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, Tito Genova Valiente, Patrick Campos, Shirley Lua, and Gary Devilles.