FDCP pays tribute to Filipino film icons and pioneers through “Parangal ng Sining”

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) presents this year’s “Parangal ng Sining,” an annual bestowment of recognition to exemplary Filipino artists, scholars, and organizations for their significant contributions to the development of Philippine cinema. The awarding ceremony will be held on April 19, 2024, at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City.

Through “Parangal ng Sining” (“Honor of the Arts”), the FDCP aims to gather the creatives and stakeholders of the Philippine film industry to celebrate the role of cinema in distilling the nation’s cultural identity. It also aims to encourage Filipino artists, educators, and film institutions to continue to achieve and work for excellence in their craft.

“Parangal ng Sining” will revive the glamor of the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema with the theme of Old Hollywood. Reminiscent of classic Filipino films and the elegant parties held at Sampaguita Studios, honorees and guests will be dressed in black and white finery while the main stage will be displayed in technicolor.

Parangal ng Sining: Lifetime Achievement Awards

• Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo

Veteran actress Maria Elisa Anson Rodrigo, known as Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, has a prolific body of work in the Philippine film, television, and radio broadcasting industry. Her remarkable career started in 1968, working as an actress under Sampaguita Pictures and starring in films alongside other Filipino icons such as Fernando Poe, Jr. and Dante Rivero.

Most notably, Anson-Roa served as the President of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), Inc. for 18 years. During her presidency, she remained steadfast in upholding MOWELFUND’s mission to protect and support marginalized workers in the local film industry.

• Dr. Nicanor Tiongson

Regarded as an esteemed film critic, writer, educator and scholar in the Philippines, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson is a founding member of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute. He served as vice president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and co-founder of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

He has produced scholarly works on the rich history of Philippine cinema such as the “The Urian Anthology” and “The Cinema of Manuel Conde,” fostering appreciation and understanding of Filipino films and cultural heritage.

• Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr.

Known as an influential figure in the Philippine film industry, Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. is an eminent filmmaker, screenwriter, and educator who has written the screenplays of acclaimed Filipino classics such as National Artist for Film Lino Brocka’s “Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” and Mike De Leon’s “Kisapmata” and “Batch ‘81.” He has also directed films such as “Pepot Superstar” and “Paglipad ng Anghel.”

Del Mundo was a founding member and former chairman of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a film critic organization which confers the annual Gawad Urian Awards to outstanding Filipino films. He serves as the President Emeritus of the Society of Filipino

Archivists for Film (SOFIA) and is a staunch advocate of film archiving, believing that the preservation of Filipino films is essential for the preservation of Philippine culture and history.

• Armando “Bing” Lao

Armando “Bing” Lao is an award-winning filmmaker and prolific screenwriter who has written the screenplays of Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Kubrador” and Brillante Mendoza’s films “Kinatay” and “Serbis,” both of which competed at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. He has won numerous Gawad Urian Awards for Best Screenplay for films such as Chito S. Roño’s “Itanong mo sa Buwan” and “La Vida Rosa.”

He is well-known for the “Found Story” screenwriting workshops, which served as a platform to nurture and educate aspiring screenwriters in crafting original screenplays that reflect the lived experiences of Filipinos. He has also served as a creative consultant and invaluable mentor to contemporary Filipino filmmakers who are making waves in Philippine independent cinema.

• Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA)

Formed in 1993, the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) is composed of individuals from various professional backgrounds brought together by a shared purpose of preserving the country’s cinematic heritage.

With the organization’s valiant efforts in film archiving for 30 years, SOFIA remains true to its mission of preserving Filipino films and educating the public of our rich cinematic history.

They are the modern heroes: our very own film archivists, restorators and preservationists.

• ABS-CBN Film Restoration (Sagip Pelikula)

The ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project or Sagip Pelikula is headed by Leo Katigbak of the ABS-CBN Film Archives. Since 2011, it has successfully digitized and restored more than a hundred Filipino films, including National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala,” Peque Gallaga’s “Oro, Plata, Mata,” and Carlos Vander Tolosa’s “Giliw Ko,” which is the first film produced by LVN Pictures.

The ABS-CBN Film Restoration has been instrumental in reintroducing well-loved Filipino classics to Filipino audiences, particularly the youth. It remains committed to its purpose of preserving the country’s cinematic legacy for future generations of Filipinos.

• Gloria Romero

Known as the “Queen of Philippine Cinema,” Gloria Romero is an award-winning veteran actress who starred in iconic films by Sampaguita Pictures such as “Dalagang Ilocana” and “Cofradia” before venturing into matriarch roles in acclaimed films “Tanging Yaman,” “Magnifico,” and “Rainbow’s Sunset.”

Romero is a prominent figure in the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema and is known for her sophisticated image and the longevity of her career, which spans more than 70 years in the industry and serves as an inspiration to new generations of Filipino actors.

Parangal ng Sining: Posthumous Award

• Teddy Co

The FDCP will confer the Posthumous Award to film curator and archivist Teddy Co for his invaluable contribution to the conservation, development, and archiving of the country’s film heritage.

Co is also known as a staunch advocate of Philippine independent and regional cinema, encouraging cultural diversity and wider visibility of regional films in the country. He also served as the Head of National Committee on Cinema and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commissioner for the Arts, solidifying his legacy in the local film industry.

Parangal ng Sining: Honorary Distinction

• Jaclyn Jose

The FDCP pays homage to legendary actress Jaclyn Jose, who passed away last month. Jose was well-known for being the first Southeast Asian actress to win the highly coveted Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her notable performance in Brillante Mendoza’s film, “Ma’ Rosa.”

She was the recipient of various accolades for her roles in Lino Brocka’s “White Slavery,” Chito Roño’s “Private Show,” and Joel Lamangan’s “The Flor Contemplacion Story.” Her appearances in independent films, television series, and theater marked her as one of the most versatile actresses in the Philippine entertainment industry.

In Memoriam

Furthermore, “Parangal ng Sining” will honor the memory of the following Filipino artists:

• Mario Dumaual, Veteran Broadcaster and Reporter (July 5, 2023)
• Willie Nepomuceno, Satirist and Impersonator (July 26, 2023)
• Robert Arevalo, Veteran Actor (August 10, 2023)
• Angie Ferro, Veteran Actress (August 17, 2023)
• Mike Enriquez, Veteran Broadcaster (August 29, 2023)
• Ethel Ramos, Veteran Talent Manager and Entertainment Columnist (September 10, 2023)
• Leo Bukas, Entertainment Writer and Publicist (November 6, 2023)
• Jun Urbano, Comedian and Director (December 2, 2023)
• Gil Soriano, Veteran Television Director (December 6, 2023)
• Ronaldo Valdez, Veteran Actor (December 17, 2023)
• Mario Bautista, Veteran Entertainment Journalist (January 13, 2024)
• Tony Tantay, Jr., Veteran Photographer (January 18, 2024)
• Romy Vitug, Cinematographer (January 18, 2024)
• Deo Endrinal, Dreamscape Entertainment Head (February 3, 2024)
• Joe Gruta, Veteran Theater and Film Actor (March 10, 2024)

Through this year’s “Parangal ng Sining,” the FDCP honors the rich history of Philippine cinema and its influence on the future of Filipino films. The awarding ceremony will be

attended by esteemed guests along with a special lineup of hosts and performers which will be announced soon.