GLITCHES OVERPOWER GLITTER IN MFF AWARDS
by Marinel R. Cruz, Inquirer News Service, June 26, 2002

"I CAME prepared but the people behind the show obviously did not."

A composed Sharon Cuneta said this to a dumbfounded crowd after a technical problem forced her to stop performing in the middle of a song and to step down the stage in last Saturday night's Manila Film Festival awards ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The megastar's humbling experience was only one of several glitches that marred the show, which was directed by Jay Alterejos.

Host Dina Bonnevie gave the show organizers a piece of her mind when her presenter son Oyo Boy Sotto and actress Anne Curtis were mistakenly introduced as Piolo Pascual and Nancy Castigleone.

"I made sure my kids would come dressed in their best, tapos magkakamali lang pala sila sa pagpapakilala," said the irrepressible Ms D. Her daughter Danica was also a presenter.

Ricky Davao, Eric Quizon and Charlene Gonzales also co-hosted the awards show.

Halfway into the show, a voice-over announced that Dingdong Dantes and Judy Ann Santos were to sing with Alessandra de Rossi, Polo Ravales, Anne Curtis and Vhong Navarro in a vaudeville number. Neither Dingdong nor Juday came out to perform. They must have been shocked to hear their names included in the number since they were there to present the next award.

Mercifully, the production number of the Philippine National Folkdance Co. came right after the vaudeville booboo. Probably the only remarkable performance in the entire show, the dancers wowed the audience with their grace and colorful number.

Viewers couldn't help but think that Ara Mina was merely added on to the "Super B" production number when she and Rufa Mae Quinto performed near the show's end. While the dancers' pink and black outfit matched Super B's two-piece bikini costume, Ara stuck out like a sore thumb as she was dressed in black. And the number ended with Rufa Mae being lifted up by the dancers while Ara was left posing below her like she was just one of Rufa Mae's backup dancers.

"Magkapatid" raked in the highest number of awards that night, for best picture, best story and best screenplay (Mel del Rosario), and best director for Joel Lamangan, aside from Sharon's best actress trophy.

Sharon bested Judy Ann, Ara, Rufa Mae, Joyce Jimenez and Elizabeth Oropesa.

A breathless Rudy Fernandez went up the stage to accept his second best actor plum in a Boy Vinarao-directed film. He earned his first with Vinarao in 1998 from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) for his work in "Birador." Rudy dedicated the MMFF award to his friend, former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

The best supporting citations were awarded to veteran actors Gloria Romero and Joonee Gamboa for their works on "I Think I'm In Love" and "Diskarte," respectively.

"I Think I'm In Love," a remake of the Kuh Ledesma original, was picked the best theme song. Francis Vinarao received the best editing award, also for "Diskarte."

Jon Red's innovative comedy "Utang ni Tatang" took home the honors for best cinematography (Larry Manda) and best production design (Bona Fajardo).