“Ang Panday” (The Swordsmith) was adjudged Best Picture in the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and bested 6 other movies by cornering a majority of the awards handed out last night at the SMX Convention Center. The GMA Films/Imus Productions venture, which garnered 7 trophies in total, is also gunning to be the top grosser in terms of box-office earnings.

Selected as 2nd Best Picture of the festival is Star Cinema’s “I Love You, Goodbye” and following behind as 3rd Best is “Ang Darling kong Aswang.”

Here is the official list of winners:

Best Festival Picture: Ang Panday
2nd Best Picture: I Love You, Goodbye
3rd Best Picture: Ang Darling kong Aswang

Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dolphy

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

Video editing can test patience and take long. Especially if you work with 5 tapes covering a trip, 7 floats, hundreds of fans, and a galaxy of stars.

Still, our piece on the parade of stars in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival captures the glamour, intrigue, avid, and personal that is Pinoy showbiz.

And it’s on my first Christmas as a Kapamilya.

Gretchen Fullido reports live for Patrol.

Here are the remaining Filipino movies participating in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) which runs from December 25, 2009 to January 7, 2010 – comparatively longer than previous years’ editions.

I always have to keep in mind that the MMFF is more focused on generating success at the box-office than short-listing movies for competition in filmfests abroad. Hence, I don’t expect the highest of praises from critics. Nonetheless, entertainment is the key word. So I want movies that truly entertain, even if for only 2 hours.

5. ANG DARLING KONG ASWANG

WRITTEN BY: Tony Reyes, Vic Sotto, Bibeth Orteza

DIRECTOR: Tony Reyes

GENRE: Fantasy/Comedy/Horror

PRODUCERS: OctoArts Films, M-Zet TV Production, APT Entertainment

MAIN CAST: Vic Sotto, Cristine Reyes, Jean Garcia, Agot Isidro, Dante Rivero, Jackie Rice, Denise Laurel, Empress Schuck, Richie D’ Horsie, Rafael Rosell, Mika dela Cruz, Barbie Forteza, Wally Bayola, Allan K, Joonee Gamboa, Luz Fernandez, Gian Sotto, Jenny Miller, Shalala, Tita Swarding, Mosang

SPECIAL GUEST STARS: Joey de Leon, Oyo Sotto, Jacky Woo and Pia Guanio

SYNOPSIS. There are two kinds of aswangs: the white and black aswangs. The white ones are merely mischievous while their black counterparts eat human flesh.

The black aswangs in Isla Negra are led by the wicked Barang (Jean Garcia) and in her group are nieces Alfa (Jackie Rice), Beta (Denise Laurel) and Keka (Empress Schuck), nephew Joaquin (Rafael Rosell) and the cruel warlock Gino (Gian Sotto). Ida (Agot Isidro) and her lovely daughter Eliza (Cristine Reyes) are part of them too but they are reluctant to eat human flesh and without Barang’s knowledge, they feed upon animals.

When Joaquin pressures Eliza to marry him, Ida decides to escape and goes to the city. They sought shelter and protection in Ida’s cousin Banong. It is in Banong’s community where Eliza meets Victor (Vic Sotto) and there was instant attraction between the two of them.

Victor is a call center manager who is already a widower. He has two adorable daughters, Darlene (Barbie Forteza) and Angel (Mika dela Cruz). They live with Victor’s father Tata Do (Dante Rivero) who is the barangay captain of the place, Nana Simang (Luz Fernandez), the housekeeper and Tom (Richie D’ Horsie), Victor’s cousin who also works in the call center as a janitor. Gerry (Wally Bayola), the barangay aide is a fixture in the house as well.

Many girls in the workplace are attracted to Victor but he keeps distance from them. He says his loves are his two daughters. But when he accidentally met Eliza, things are bound to change.

Though they belong to different “races,” Ida tells Eliza that it’s not bad to fall in love with Victor for it might free her from the curse of being an aswang because there’s a legend that only the purest of love can turn a “creature of the night” into a normal human being.

Through the prodding of Tom and Gerry, Victor eventually courts Eliza and they became sweethearts. His daughters also came to like her in the long run. But at one point, Eliza reveals to Victor her true identity: that she’s an aswang. She asks him if he will still love her despite her dark secret.

Will Victor accept Eliza and her true nature? What will happen when Barang forces Eliza and Ida to return to their coven? Will Victor fight against the black aswangs or will he turn his back on his darling aswang?

Find out when this fantaserye opens on Christmas Day on December 25, 2009.

6. SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL XI

Every year, Regal Films has made it a tradition to scare families with their horror franchise Shake, Rattle and Roll. This 2009, moviegoers will be able to watch the 11th installment of SRR for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.

Also known by its initials SRR, this three-part movie takes inspiration from Filipino mythology to shock and entertain viewers at the same time.

The episode “Lamang Lupa” features young stars Jennica Garcia, Rayver Cruz, Iya Villania, Mart Escudero, Bangs Garcia and twin brothers Dominic and Felix Roco.

The story focuses on the lamang lupa of Philippine mythology. A group of friends go camping only to find themselves relentlessly pursued by ferocious creatures who are not dwarves but lamang lupa. Unknown to the barkada, they “disturbed” the creatures’ sacred area and they will pay the price for their mistake. The director for this episode is Jessel Monteverde.

“Diablo” stars Maja Salvador and Mark Anthony Fernandez, two of the finest performers of their generation. Directed by Rico Gutierrez, the episode revolves around Claire, a young doctor-intern at a provincial hospital who is haunted by demonic visions after she encounters a female patient suspected of carrying a deadly flu virus. Claire’s aunt brings her to Fr. Ronnie who turns out be Claire’s ex-boyfriend. Old flames are rekindled as Fr. Ronnie and Claire battle the demons.

Completing this “horror-fest” is the “Ukay-Ukay” story with Ruffa Gutierrez and Zoren Legaspi as a would-be couple Kayla and Harold whose wedding plans are deterred by a possessed vintage gown. When it falls into their hands, heavy breathing, nightmares, dragging footsteps and an apparition of a headless bride start happening. Instead of planning a wedding, Kayla must now fight against the evil spirits. Megan Young is also cast in this episode. Writer-turned-director Don Michael Perez is at the helm.

“SRR 11 is still the same scare and excitement that people have grown to love all these years, even more,” says producer Roselle Monteverde-Teo. “This year, we’re tackling horror concepts that are very unique to our culture in more thought-provoking and exciting ways.”

The haunting happens again when Shake, Rattle and Roll 11 opens in theaters nationwide starting December 25, 2009

7. NOBODY, NOBODY…BUT JUAN

SYNOPSIS. Juan (played by Dolphy) is a senior citizen who lives in a nursing home in the United States. In his younger days, he was a vaudeville performer who was part of a comedy duo called Wan and Tu. The younger version of Wan (Dolphy) is portrayed by his son Epy Quizon while Tu is portrayed by his other son, Vandolph.

To entertain himself and ease the loneliness, Juan watches Wowowee on The Filipino Channel (TFC). His enthusiasm for the show rubs on his friends in the nursing home, and they too, turn into “Wowowee” converts – much to the chargin of the strict son of Juan who runs the nursing home.

The elderly Juan misses the Philippines, especially his first love Aida whom he lost touch with during the Japanese occupation of Manila. He finds a way to come back to the Philippines and along the way, he is reunited with his good friend Tu (portrayed by Eddie Garcia). He also finds out the whereabouts of his lady love Aida (portrayed by Gloria Romero).

G Toengi is cast as the wife of Eric Quizon, who is also cast as a son of Juan in the movie.

The screenplay of Nobody, Nobody but… Juan is written by Bibeth Orteza and directed by Eric Quizon.

Be part of Juan’s journey in finding his one true love when the movie opens on December 25, 2009.

Good luck to all the entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival! I sincerely hope that all 7 movies will make loads of money during their holiday run.

Why Paint?

So the big question.  The first painters, on cave walls, were supposed to have been engaged in some sort of attempt to gain a magical advantage over the animals which they hunted for food.  Or, perhaps they were done by a caste of artist/priests, as part of religous, or magical ceremonies.  Either way, they would have been part of a process of gaining some sort of control, or influence over, their environment.

For centuries, a major purpose of art was to relate or reinforce the narratives of the great religions, with the exception of Islam, where the prohibition on images of the prophet precluded this and stimulated abstract art.

Later, painting and sculpture served to provide a record of important individuals and families rich enough to pay for them.

Later still (but overlapping, of course) landscapes, still lifes, historical scenes, interiors, all evolved to supply a developing market for art, while helping to shape and extend it at the same time.

Marxists say that, like all forms of culture, it helps to reinforce the power of the status quo – or rarely, fleetingly, can help the forces that seek to overthrow it. 

Now of course, one reason for painting or sculpture or any form of artistic production is the fact that it is an established thing.  Like sex or cooking, people have been doing it one way or another since the beginning of society, so to use pigment or line to establish patterns and make a picture does not seem an odd thing to do.

 The sort of thing you hear artists and critics saying is art tells you things about the world you live in, or makes you see the world in a new way- or art is about emotion, it expresses what the artist feels.  I saw Louise Bourgeois on TV last night saying just that – art for her is never just about the materials, it is about emotion.  I suppose these are two poles of perception; one addresses the external world, the other expresses the internal.  But then there is a third position; those artists for whom it is exactly about the materials; what you can do with them, what their properties are, how far you can push them…

I don’t know, but I imagine most artists do all three to some degree.  Anyway, I paint with no preconceived philosophy, it’s a physical process that gives me pleasure and pain (in the form of irritation and disgust when it’s not going right), and the process is something that keeps me sane and gives me a reason for living, over and above the duties which I have.  It’s nothing to do with money – selling pictures is all about knowing that people are prepared to part with cash to put my stuff on the wall.

I was trained years ago at university (history, not art) to be dissatisfied with a theory that wasn’t properly unified – that is to say, it explained things one way for one epoch and another way for another.  So, if I paint because I need to, to express something or maybe just to do it, that should be true for the cave painters as well, and all the ones who have painted since.

Anyway, must stop now – to do some painting.

Listening to Mingus again today – Video of Stockholm concert with Dolphy, 1964.  Mellow, fantastic – my, my they cry (great line, Donovan, but Mingus was rarely mellow).

Blackpaint, drunk, 14.12.09

Lupang Hinirang Art Project is a small t-shirt company that I put up in 2007 dedicated to nationalism and my country, Philippines.The designs show portraits of Filipino icons, heroes, political leaders, celebrities, and ordinary individuals, all of which drawn with one single string. (Continuous Line Movement- a gestural style in drawing wherein the artist draws a picture without lifting his pen on the paper)

It has come a long way but somehow I took a break from reproducing them when I did my design thesis and studied at Parsons in NYC…

I will be producing a newbatch of designs very very soon… (and a new shirt line too) -hopefully i do not get shot for it
(literally)

or kinakamay nalang?

Marian Rivera’s new Darna?

Angel Locsin’s Darna?

Ate Vi’s Darna?

Or Tito Dolph’s Darna Kuno?

I say it’s hands down Tito Dolphs!

“Life is a Racetrack (Turf) – One has to run the race and win it”. Is life really as easy as this saying? No isn’t it? We run without even knowing what’s there at the next turn! One needs to cross lot of hurdles in that race.

Recently I saw a punch line in one of the advertisement, which says “Winning is not everything, it’s the only thing” – Now a day’s people focus only on winning the race without knowing the actual meaning of life. Here are some of my thoughts how a person should be “On a Life Turf”.

Be Happy: Try to be happy always, it will not only make you energetic, but also makes your environment happier. Spread happiness among people.

Help Others: Help yourself by helping others, feel the satisfaction by helping the persons in needy. Help and bring smiles on people’s faces.

Forgive Others: Try to forgive others, this shows your kindness and humbleness towards people.

Think Positively: Always think positively and do smarter things.

Share with Others: Sharing shows your affection towards the human race. So share and be united.

Treasure Every Moment With the Loved Ones: These are the moments that you will remember in whole life, so spend quality time with your loved ones and treasure them.

Respect Aged Ones: Respect the aged people and get their blessings.

Understand Money Isn’t Everything: Finally you are not remembered for the money that you earned in the life, you are remembered by people whom you made happy, people whom you helped, people whom you have forgiven, people who have shared with and by your loved ones.

Using all this in a life will make you a winner “On a Life Turf”.

Box Office King:
John Lloyd Cruz (A Very Special Love)

Box Office Queen:
Sarah Geronimo (A Very Special Love)

Film Actor of the Year:
Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)

Film Actress of the Year:
Sharon Cuneta (Caregiver)

Prince & Princess of Philippine Movies & TV:
Richard Gutierrez & KC Concepcion (For The First Time)

Male Concert Performer of the Year:
Gary Valenciano (Gary Live@25)

Female Concert Performer of the Year:
Sarah Geronimo (The Next One)

Male Recording Artist of the Year:
Martin Nievera (Milestone)

Female Recording Artist of the Year:
Sarah Geronimo (The Next One)

Most Popular Recording Group:
Spongecola

Most Popular Novelty Singer:
Moymoy Palaboy

Most Popular Loveteam of Movies & TV:
Gerald Anderson & Kim Chiu

Most Promising Male Star of Movies & TV:
Aljur Abrenica

Most Promising Female Star of Movies & TV:
KC Concepcion

New Male Recording Artist of the Year (Most Promising Singer):
Bugoy Drilon (Paano Na Kaya?)

New Female Recording Artist of the Year (Promising Singer):
KC Concepcion (A.K.A. Cassandra)

Most Promising Performing Group:
You’ve Got Male (Gian Magdangal, Jan Nieto, Harry Santos, and Bryan Termulo)

Most Popular Dance Group:
EB Babes of Eat Bulaga!

Most Popular Child Actor, Movies & TV:
Robert “Buboy” Villar

Most Popular Child Actress, Movies & TV:
Sharlene San Pedro

Most Popular Film Producer:
Star Cinema

Most Popular Film Director:
Cathy Garcia-Molina (A Very Special Love)

Most Popular Screenwriter:
Raz Sobida dela Torre (A Very Special Love)

Most Popular Television Program:
Dyesebel (GMA -7)

Most Popular TV Director:
Bb. Joyce Bernal (Dyesebel)

SPECIAL AWARDS

Bert Marcelo Award (for Comedians):
Eugene Domingo

Comedy Box-Office King/s:
Vic Sotto & Dolphy (Dobol Trobol)

Comedy Box-Office Queen:
Ai-Ai delas Alas (Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat)

Valentine Box-Office King & Queen:
Richard Gutierrez & Marian Rivera (My Best Friend’s Girlfriend)

Outstanding Global Achievement by a Filipino Artist:
Arnel Pineda & Charice

Outstanding/Special Merit Award for Music (posthumous award):
Francis Magalona

Dolphy, my lifelong idol, was on TV the other night. He complained that if he will have to pay the value-added tax (VAT) on his income, he may have to let go of his driver and, presumably, some other, ahem, amenities.  It was a brilliant performance, as always.

Let me show Dolphy how he can pay VAT and still keep his lifestyle. But, you may ask, who am I to be giving tax advice to the top movie star of the country? All insurance brokers and agents have been subject to the tax since 1994, if I recall right. So, we are all experts, at least as far as the VAT system applies to insurance.

Now, for some basics. The VAT is a sales tax. It is slapped on the seller, but the law allows him to pass on the tax to the buyer. In the end, the buyer pays the tax and the seller is BIR’s collecting agent.

When you insure your house, the invoice includes the premium and VAT (plus three other taxes which we will not take up so as not to clutter the discussion). You pay to your broker. Then the broker remits the premium and the VAT to the insurance company minus his commission and the VAT on the commission. If the premium is P1,000, the VAT is P100. Assuming a commission of 25 percent, the broker sends to the insurance company P750 plus P75. He keeps P250 plus P25. The broker sends the P25 to BIR less any VAT on his purchases. For example, if he bought stationery costing P100 plus P10 VAT, then he sends to BIR P25 less P10, or a net remittance of P15.

Back to Dolphy. Let us say he signs a P1 million contract. If his contract does not say anything about VAT, the law presumes that the VAT is included in the P1 million. As a result, he will be slapped a tax equal to one-eleventh (let us not go into where the one-eleventh comes from; just take my word) of the P1 million, or P90,909.09. Dolphy’s P1 million is down to P909,090.91. He will have to downgrade his lifestyle, poor fellow.

What Dolphy should do is to tell his producer that the contract will be for P1 million plus P100,000 VAT. With his clout, Dolphy should have no problem getting the producer to agree. Dolphy remits the P100,000 to BIR minus the VAT he pays on his purchases subject to the tax. For instance, Dolphy throws a  party, and the caterer charges him P100,000 plus P10,000 VAT. Dolphy deducts the P10,000 from the P100,000 he is to remit to BIR. Without the P100,000 VAT that Dolphy collected from the producer, he will have to pay the P10,000 from his pocket. Won’t Dolphy like this?

For his part, the producer pays the P100,000 out of the film rentals that he is already collecting from the movie house owners. Without the VAT on Dolphy’s contract, the  producer ends up sending P100,000 directly to BIR, instead of coursing it through Dolphy.

Dolphy’s P100,000 does not affect the movie house owners at all since they have been paying VAT on film rentals all along. This VAT on film rentals is part of the movie house owner’s operational cost and is built into the price of the ticket. As a result, Dolphy’s P100,000 should not raise ticket prices.

So, it is also incorrect for the Finance Department to say that slapping VAT on the movie stars will raise government income. Let the Finance people show me how this is so.

Finally, all the uproar by the movie stars was misplaced. Their income must be subject to the value-added tax, as an additional and specific amount paid by the producers, because that is the system.

If the commissions of insurance brokers and agents are subject to the tax, so should the income of the movie stars and, for that matter, the professionals. Fair is fair.

—————————————————————————–

PROFESSIONALS LIVING WITH VAT

One would think that the deafening uproar against slapping the value-added tax on professionals would be spearheaded by loquacious lawyers from the bar association. Instead, the medical doctors marched with movie and TV stars and, with surgical masks off, swung away with their scalpels, so to speak.

But, it was clear from the furor that, like the entertainment people, the doctors know little about the workings of the VAT system. Or, maybe, they know it only too well.

If will help to clear things up if we stop mixing income tax with value added tax. The income tax is a tax on your net taxable income, defined as your gross income minus all deductions or expenses allowed by the tax code. Income tax is always payable from your own pocket.

Poor Dolphy, seen as the top earner in the entertainment industry, is being crucified for paying P2.5 million only in income tax. Why doesn’t BIR look into his deductions? If there are illegal deductions, throw the book at him. But, until then, let us take Dolphy down from his cross.

The value-added tax is a tax on the sale of goods or services. It is slapped on the seller but the law allows him to pass it on to the buyer. A doctor is considered the seller, his patient is the buyer. When a doctor issues his patient a receipt for P500, and the receipt says nothing about VAT, the law presumes that the tax is included in the P500. The net income to the doctor is P454.55 (let’s not go into how I arrived at this figure; just take my word, please). If the doctor wants to keep his P500 intact, he must charge the  patient an extra P50. The receipt must clearly be itemized, thus: P500 medical fee, P50 VAT.

The trouble is doctors, like all taxpayers, cheat on their income tax by issuing no receipts. And they want their fee in cold cash. I met a neurologist once who insisted that his P16,000 fee for reading a CT Scan be paid in cash, and no receipt, please. I told him where to go, asked the hospital to include his fee in the bill, and I covered the whole amount with my credit card.

With the imposition of VAT on professional fees, the doctor can very well tell his patient, “If you want a receipt, I will charge P550 in all; if you want to pay only P500, I will issue you no receipt, and I will accept no checks, please.” Such deals have been negotiated all over the country since President Aquino introduced the VAT in 1987.

But, some  patients, especially insurance brokers and agents, will insist on receipts. The patient does not mind  paying the extra P50 because he will deduct this from the VAT that he collects from his clients. For his part, the doctor can charge the VAT he pays on his purchases against the VAT he collects from his patients.

But once the doctor issues his receipt, he will have to declare the P500 as income subject to the income tax. From this view, the income tax and the value-added tax, although different, are actually related. Strict compliance with VAT rules will result in higher income tax revenue.

Then, the doctor will have to keep accounting records. But computerization should make things easier. Hiring a part-time accountant should not cost too much. And the doctor runs his clinic like a business. What’s wrong with that?

The VAT on doctor’s fees will have little or no impact on the  poor. The poor do not go to the doctors’ cubicles in Makati Med, St. Luke’s, or Chinese General. They go to the barangay clinics where service is free. If hospitalized, they find a bed in the charity ward.

My suggestion to the professionals is to stop their media campaign and buckle down to understanding the workings of the VAT system. Professional fees have been exempt from the tax since 1994.  It is time the exemption should stop.  If insurance brokers and agents have been able to live with VAT, so should the other professionals.

————————————————————————

VAT AND YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM

Recently, an insurance claimant asked the Insurance Commission for help. He was covered by two fire insurance companies. When his property burned down, the companies deducted from the claim the value-added tax (VAT) that the contractor charged him for repairing the damage.

Was this the correct treatment of the VAT in a property insurance claim? In other words, is the VAT insured, or part of the insurance?

This was the subject of a workshop-seminar staged by the Association of Philippine Adjustment Companies at the Philippine Columbian last Friday. I was flattered that one of the handouts was a clipping of my recent column, “VAT.”

The resource speaker was Atty. Victorino Carreon Mamalatao, CPA, Tax Consultant, Author, Professional Lecturer, and Bar Reviewer. He was a member of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Executive Committee that drafted the original Value-Added Tax Law (E.O. 273) and the implementing rules.

Mamalatao spent a full two hours explaining, in lucid detail, what the value-added tax is, how the system operates, and what the current applicable laws, regulations, and rulings on VAT are. He had everything at the tip of his fingers. I was quite impressed.

Most important for me was the question: is VAT insurable under property insurance?

During the open forum, I presented a theoretical, not an actual case. Let us say, I said, my house burns down. For simplicity, let us assume that the contractor I have hired to rebuild my house has quoted P1,000,000 plus VAT of P120,000. Is the VAT of P120,000 payable under my fire insurance policy or not?

The standard fire insurance policy guarantees that I must be returned to the same situation I was in just before the fire. If the VAT is not payable, then I will not be able to return to where I was before the fire.  In fact, I would be short of pocket by a cool P120,000.

Someone said that a fire insurance policy is a contract of indemnity. The insured can only claim what he lost. Is the VAT part of my house that burned down? Maybe it is not, but it is part of my expense to have the house rebuilt. It is not so much what burned down. What matters most is how much it will take to repair or rebuild.

Besides, there is the old-time principle of “proximate cause.” This principle proclaims that if there is an unbroken chain of events from the occurrence of a peril insured against (in my case, the fire) to the final repair expense (the VAT of P120,000), then that final expense is payable.

Manalatao agreed with me.  However, he added that I should hand over to the insurance company a valid VAT receipt so that the company can claim the amount as VAT input. In which case, the P120,000 is deducted from the output tax that the company remits to the BIR.

All in all, I was glad I came. The whole morning was pleasant, ending in an enjoyable lunch with red Cabernet. It was a wonderful chance to meet old friends and make new ones.

Makisig Morales will portray the role of Pinocchio in the newest ABS-CBN V series Utoy. Morales will be joined by Dolphy who will play the role of Gepetto.

As obvious with the characters, the series will be derived from the classic story about the toy who became a boy “Pinocchio”.

Box Office King:
John Lloyd Cruz (A Very Special Love)

Box Office Queen:
Sarah Geronimo (A Very Special Love)

Film Actor of the Year:
Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)

Film Actress of the Year:
Sharon Cuneta (Caregiver)

Prince & Princess of Philippine Movies & TV:
Richard Gutierrez & KC Concepcion (For The First Time)

Male Concert Performer of the Year:
Gary Valenciano (Gary Live@25)

Female Concert Performer of the Year:
Sarah Geronimo (The Next One)

Male Recording Artist of the Year:
Martin Nievera (Milestone)

Female Recording Artist of the Year:
Sarah Geronimo (The Next One)

Most Popular Recording Group:
Spongecola

Most Popular Novelty Singer:
Moymoy Palaboy

Most Popular Loveteam of Movies & TV:
Gerald Anderson & Kim Chiu

Most Promising Male Star of Movies & TV:
Aljur Abrenica

Most Promising Female Star of Movies & TV:
KC Concepcion

New Male Recording Artist of the Year (Most Promising Singer):
Bugoy Drilon (Paano Na Kaya?)

New Female Recording Artist of the Year (Promising Singer):
KC Concepcion (A.K.A. Cassandra)

Most Promising Performing Group:
You’ve Got Male (Gian Magdangal, Jan Nieto, Harry Santos, and Bryan Termulo)

Most Popular Dance Group:
EB Babes of Eat Bulaga!

Most Popular Child Actor, Movies & TV:
Robert “Buboy” Villar

Most Popular Child Actress, Movies & TV:
Sharlene San Pedro

Most Popular Film Producer:
Star Cinema

Most Popular Film Director:
Cathy Garcia-Molina (A Very Special Love)

Most Popular Screenwriter:
Raz Sobida dela Torre (A Very Special Love)

Most Popular Television Program:
Dyesebel (GMA -7)

Most Popular TV Director:
Bb. Joyce Bernal (Dyesebel)

SPECIAL AWARDS

Bert Marcelo Award (for Comedians):
Eugene Domingo

Comedy Box-Office King/s:
Vic Sotto & Dolphy (Dobol Trobol)

Comedy Box-Office Queen:
Ai-Ai delas Alas (Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat)

Valentine Box-Office King & Queen:
Richard Gutierrez & Marian Rivera (My Best Friend’s Girlfriend)

Outstanding Global Achievement by a Filipino Artist:
Arnel Pineda & Charice

Outstanding/Special Merit Award for Music (posthumous award):
Francis Magalona