Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29) — Being named as the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival’s Best Supporting Actor still feels surreal for JC Santos as he continues to take in what he calls the real award for him — the comeback of long lines for local films.
Santos, who plays Father Lucas in the MMFF 3rd Best Picture “Mallari,” said he did not expect to win an individual award after seeing the big stars that he competed with in his category.
“Of course, these are all big stars and really good actors…I really was not expecting it. Sa kanila na yon (It’s theirs) I’m sure and gulat na gulat kami nung bigla na lang kaming tinawag (we were really surprised when we were called),” the actor told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday.
Other nominees for the supporting actor category include Dingdong Dantes in Best Picture “Firefly,” Enchong Dee in “GomBurZa,” and Romnick Sarmenta in “Becky & Badette.”
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“‘Di pa nagsi-sink in sakin (It has not sunk in yet)…I think the award for me is that I see many people lining up for the cinema and that when they see me they don’t even remember my name. They call me my character – Mallari. I like that. It means they remember the work,” Santos said.
“Our focus right now is that sana marami pa manood ng pelikula at bumabalik na yung sinehan. Masaya kami na isa kami sa makakatulong sa pagbalik ng tao sa sinehan and it feels great,” he added.
[Translation: Our focus right now is that hopefully more people will watch the movies and that the cinema is coming back. We are happy that we are one of those who can help people return to the cinema and it feels great.]
John Bryan Diamante, President of local film company Mentorque which produced Mallari, mirrored Santos’ sentiments, feeling proud of the public’s positive feedback for the thriller.
Diamante said the team has been overwhelmed with the support and felt that they have executed the “film for this generation.”
“When I bumped into the story, alam namin sa sarili namin na (deep down we knew that) it’s gonna be hard. We also know that, I think, Filipinos right now, the audience right now, are really looking for something like this,” he said.
“It’s the film of this generation, we really tried to bring in what this generation is looking for,” the director added.
Diamante said Mallari is currently showing in 101 cinemas nationwide with a public clamor for its now-offered midnight screening.
Aside from bagging 3rd Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, the movie also took home Best Musical Score and Best Visual Effects.
The film delves into the story of Jonathan Mallari as he digs into Severino, his 1800s serial killer priest ancestor, who accidentally unleashes a curse that causes the serial killings to repeat in the present.
Early December, Mentorque sealed a major deal with Warner Bros. Pictures for the theatrical distribution of Mallari.
