'Walang Forever' tops MMFF 2015 awards

MANILA - Romantic-comedy "Walang Forever" dominated the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards night at the Kia Theater in Cubao on Sunday, taking home five major awards, including the coveted Best Picture prize.

Directed by Dan Villegas, "Walang Forever" also took the top acting awards for lead stars Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado.

The film also bagged the trophies for Best Screenplay and Best Original Story.

Mercado scored a back to back win as Best Actress, having won the same award last year for "English Only Please," which was also directed by Villegas.

In her acceptance speech, the actress thanked Villegas for including her again in his film, and her son, Jazz, for serving as an inspiration.

"Maraming, maraming salamat po Atty. Joji (Alonso), Quantum Films. Maraming salamat po sa pagkuha sa akin taun-taon. Maraming salamat po direk Dan Villegas sa walang sawang pagtulak sa akin. Para po sa ating lahat ito. Para po sa aking inspirasyong si Jazz, sa nanay ko at sa lanat ng bumubuo ng 'Walang Forever.' Napakagandang Christmas gift po nito. Lord, thank you," said Mercado.

Pedring Lopez's "Nilalang," which stars former adult film star Maria Ozawa and Cesar Montano, also took home five awards, including Best Editing and Best Cinematography.

Erik Matti's "Honor Thy Father," likewise, bagged five awards, including Best Director.

Randolph Longjas' "Buy Now, Die Later" took home the 2nd Best Picture award and Best Production Design, while "My Bebe Love" took home the 3rd Best Picture award, the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural award, and the Best Supporting Actress award for Maine Mendoza.

For the New Wave Category, "Ari: My Life with a King" took home majority of the awards, including Best Actor for Francisco Quinto, Full Feature Best Picture and Full Feature Best Screenplay.

This year's festival has been beset with several controversies, including the disqualification of "Honor Thy Father" from the Best Picture race one day before the awards night, and allegations of "ticket swapping."
Here are the complete list of winners:

Offical Entries:

Major Awards:

Best Child Performer - Krystal Brimmer ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Festival Sound - Ditoy Aguila ("Nilalang")
Best Festival Musical Score - Jessie Lazaten ("Nilalang")
Best Festival Original Theme Song - "Tao" ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Festival Make Up Artist - Ryan Panaligan and Ericka Racela ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Festival Visual Effects – "Nilalang"
Best Festival Production Design - "Buy Now, Die Later"
Best Festival Editing – "Nilalang"
Best Festival Cinematography – "Nilalang"
Best Original Story - Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone ("Walang Forever")
Best Screenplay - Paul Santa Ana ("Walang Forever")
Best Director - Erik Matti ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Supporting Actor -Tirso Cruz III ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Supporting Actress - Maine Mendoza ("My Bebe Love")
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award - "My Bebe Love"
3rd Best Picture: "My Bebe Love"
2nd Best Picture: "Buy Now, Die Later"
Best Picture: "Walang Forever"
Best Actor: Jericho Rosales ("Walang Forever")
Best Actress: Jennylyn Mercado ("Walang Forever")

Special Awards:

Best Float - "Buy Now, Die Later"
FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence - "Walang Forever"
Male Celebrity of the Night - Cesar Montano
Female Celebrity of the Night - Jennylyn Mercado

New Wave Entries

Full Feature Category:

Best Supporting Actor - Thou Reyes ("Toto")
Best Supporting Actress - Bibeth Orteza ("Toto")
Best Actors - JM De Guzman ("Tandem") and Francisco Quinto ("Ari: My Life with a King")
Best Screenplay – "Ari: My Life with a King"
Best Director - John Paul Su ("Toto")
Special Jury - "Toto"
Best Picture - "Ari: My Life with a King"
Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Full Feature Film - "Ari My Life with a King"

Animation Category:
New Wave Animation Special Jury Prize - "Little Lights" (Rivelle Mallari)
New Wave Best Animation Picture - "Buttons" (Marvel Obemio, Francis Ramirez & Jared Garcia)
Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Short Film Award – “Momento”
Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Animation Film Award - "Geo"

Student Short Film Category:

Special Jury Prize - "Daisy" (Brian Reyes)
Best Short Picture - "Mumu" (Jean Cheryl Tagyamon)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jennylyn goes topless for FHM

MANILA, Philippines -- Actress-singer Jennylyn Mercado appears topless for her third cover appearance on men's magazine FHM.

The 26-year-old actress is seen posing by the beach wearing only a flesh-colored pantyhose, with her arms covering her chest.

She was photographed by BJ Pascual.

Mercado, who has one son with former partner, actor Patrick Garcia, first appeared in the pages of FHM as its cover girl in January 2008. She followed this up with a cover appearance for the same magazine in November 2009.

"I was offered another cover, so why not?" Mercado was quoted as saying by FHM on its official website, where her June 2013 cover was unveiled Tuesday.

"Now I can say na medyo fit naman na ako at naalagaan ko na naman ang body ko, so I guess ito na 'yung tamang oras para mai-share ko naman sa mga tao (laughs)," she said.

She added: "Ngayon parang mas hindi na ako nahihiya, I feel more confident. I'm more comfortable with this concept."

Last Sunday, Mercado also graced the underwear fashion show of local clothing line Bench for the annual Philippine Fashion Week, where she took to the runway wearing only lingerie.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Luis reveals Valentine plans with Jennylyn

MANILA, Philippines -- Actor-host Luis Manzano and girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado plan to celebrate Valentine's Day with a "simple" dinner date.

“We’re gonna have a simple dinner tapos tingnan natin kung saan mapupunta,” he said in an interview during a press conference for the fourth season of "Pilipinas Got Talent" on Wednesday.

Asked of his Valentine's gift for the actress, Manzano replied: "It’s a very simple gift."

"Kasi kami ...more on sa birthdays kami medyo nago-all-out sa regalo. Itong Valentine’s, medyo surprise pa. In fact, I had to order it pa. Darating siguro, hopefully, by next week. It’s very simple, nothing fancy, pero sweet,” he said, adding that he ordered his present from the United States.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Luis breaks silence on ties with Jennylyn

MANILA - Actor-TV host Luis Manzano finally broke his silence on reports that his relationship with Jennylyn Mercado is now on the rocks.

In a press conference on the film, "This Guy's In Love With You," held at the Dolphy Theater on Thursday, Manzano said these reports and blind items are not true.

"Once and for all, hindi po. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang isyu na yon. Wala pong 'labuan' issue. Kahit noong lumabas pa yung alam nating issue, never po kaming nagkalabuan, not even for a single day. So kahit ako ay nagulat na mayroon pang 'on the rocks na lumabas.' ... We are still together," he said, referring to the alleged involvement of Mercado in the separation of actor Paolo Contis from his wife, Lian Paz.

According Manzano, he even talked to Paz about the issue although he refused to give details.

"I have to hear all sides ng istorya. We are still together. Huwag na nating ibigay yung detalye (ng usapan) kasi si Lian is going through something, may mga anak sila so huwag na nating i-elaborate. Pero the fact  na si Jen and I are still OK, ibig sabihin, kumbaga, yun na yon, it's something blown out of proportion," he said.

Manzano said Mercado is also clueless on where the issue linking her to Contis started.

"Si Jen, yun din ang gusto niyang malaman. Ang pinakaalam ko lang, nagkasama sila sa Futbolilits, yun na lang yon. Dumadalaw pa nga ako sa set nila kung saan nakakausap ko pa," he said.

The actor stressed that the issue linking Mercado to Contis really never affected their relationship.

"Wala, not for a single day. Kaya nagulat ako na may 'on the rocks' na," he said.

On Thursday, amid escalating rumors of her supposed role in the break-up, Mercado expressed her love for Manzano via the micro-blogging site Twitter , a move that seemed to address speculations on the status of their relationship.

In recent weeks, Mercado's name was dragged into the controversial separation of Contis and Paz. This, according to a blind item that alluded to the Manzano and the singer-actress, caused the Kapamilya actor to be "suspicious" of his girlfriend for over a year.

Prior to the published item hinting about their eventual breakup, Mercado had denied being a "third party" in Contis' and Paz's marriage, and even laughed off the issue.

The former child star, meanwhile, also cleared the name of Mercado in the separation, following Paz's reported admission of the reality contest alumnus' alleged role in their breakup.

In recent months, Manzano and Mercado have been vocal of their strong relationship, which was confirmed by the Kapamilya actor in March last year.

Manzano, in a number of interviews, has also shared his hopes of eventually settling down with the actress.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

It's a deal: Jennylyn Mercado to guest on Luis Manzano's show, and vice versa

Apparently, it's a network deal. On April 28, GMA talent Jennylyn Mercado will appear as a special guest on "Deal or No Deal," the ABS-CBN game show hosted by her boyfriend, Luis Manzano.

In return, the Kapamilya hunk is expected to cross over as a guest on Jennylyn's talk show on GMA, "Showbiz Central."

The Kapuso actress clarifies that she obtained a one-time pass for her "Deal or No Deal" only as a part of the show's birthday treat for Luis, who turned a year older last April 21.

The two-part birthday special has already been taped, with Luis' mother, Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto, kicking off the proceedings.

"Naunang ipinalabas last Saturday (April 21) 'yung kay Tita Vi. Yun kasi ang birthday mismo ni Luis," Jennylyn says.

Both shows were taped on the same day.

"We were both in the studio noong tine-tape 'yung show. Pero nasa bandang likod ako. Si Tita Vi ang nasa harapan ng audience. Sa dressing room na kami nagkausap," she says.

Needless to say, Jennylyn had a blast doing the show with Luis, her boyfriend of one year. But she admits getting unnerved by the idea that his mom was watching them in the studio.

"Hindi naman nawawala 'yung kaba ko lalo na kapag nandiyan si Tita Vi. Sobra ang respeto ko sa kanya kaya kapag nandiyan siya, kailangan maayos ako," she explains.

Thankfully, Luis was always ready with a wisecrack or three: "Si Luis kasi, mahilig magbiro kaya natatawa ako. Nawawala tuloy ang poise ko dahil sa kanya.

'Pero sinasabi naman niya na ginagawa niya iyon para ma-relax ako. Mas gusto raw niyang hindi ako ninenerbiyos. Kaya panay ang pagpapatawa niya sa akin," she adds.

But the truth is Jennylyn has nothing to worry about. The Star for All Seasons likes her son's girlfriend just the way she is.

"Noong mabasa ko nga 'yan sa mga interviews ni Tita Vi, natuwa naman ako kasi 'yun pala ang napapansin sa akin. Hindi naman ako aware na ganito pala ang kilos ko. Basta nandiyan naman si Tita Vi, I try to be myself talaga," she says.

And based on those interviews, what matters the most to her Tita Vi is that Jennylyn makes Luis happy.

"Kung napapasaya ko si Luis, napapasaya rin naman niya ako," she says. "Pareho lang kaming masayahing tao at nagkataon na magkasundo kaming dalawa."

She thinks the compatibility also applies to their respective careers.

Working for different networks has allowed them to maintain their identities as individuals.

But of course, when the idea to guest on each other's shows came up, Jennylyn knew it was a deal she couldn't pass up. Now that she has fulfilled her end of the bargain, when will Luis live up to his?

"May pinag-usapan naman na kami and with our managers. Pumayag ako na mag-guest sa show ni Luis, kaya papayag din siyang mag-guest sa 'Showbiz Central.'"

All indications point to the prospect of Luis popping in as a "surprise guest" when Jennylyn celebrates her birthday on the show next month, but her handlers are keeping the details under wraps.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga at kung kelan. Pero mas maganda nga kung sa birthday ko para parehas lang," she says. "Abangan na lang nila kung kelan mapapanood si Luis sa GMA. For sure

na isang exciting na araw ito for both of us."

source: interaksyon.com