Verdict: Do Something Else

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.88 (4 ratings)

Genre: Horror, Comedy

Director: Wenn Deramas

Writer: Keiko Aquino

Cast: Iza Calzado, Jodi Sta. Maria, Zanjoe Marudo

Synopsis: The film focuses on the troubles of three characters. Julio (Zanjoe Marudo), Faith (Iza Calzado) and Stella (Jodi Sta. Maria) all lost their daughters in a freak bus accident. The three are all grieving deeply for their loss, when a man shows up at each of their doorsteps. He claims to be a psychologist in experimental treatments, and he offers them his latest experiment. They each receive the gift of life-sized talking dolls designed to look and sound like their daughters. And for a while, having the dolls around does seem to ease their suffering, but it soon becomes clear that there is something more sinister and dangerous at play. People in their lives begin dying, and it appears that the dolls are somehow part of all this misfortune. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: R-13

Running time: 110 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.0         Oggs Cruz (Rappler)

“Maria Leonora Teresa is your standard horror film. It is sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but never uninteresting.” (Read full review)

2.0         Urbantribe.ph

“Maria Leonora Teresa started with a bang but ended in a dud. I wished whatever momentum and energy the film had was sustained until the every end.” (Read full review)

1.5         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The film seems to severely misunderstand what exactly makes these dolls so scary. As a result, scenes that are meant to be terrifying mostly end up looking pretty silly, the movie trying in vain to sell the threat of a four-foot entity wielding a knife.” (Read full review)

1.0         Armando dela Cruz (Film Police)

“Maria Leonora Teresa makes a completely mangled case; from the ramshackle writing to the paper-thin characterization…It plays out, ultimately, like an exploitation of the director’s best work.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.21 (7 ratings)

Genre: Adventure

Director: Jun Urbano

Writers: Jun Urbano, Angelo Hernandez

Cast: Rocco Nacino, Leo Martinez, Joel Torre, Angel Aquino, Benjie Paras, Lilia Cuntapay, Patricia Fernandez, Ronnie Lazaro

Synopsis: Sultan Mabait (Joel Torre) rules over a small kingdom of warring tribes. His scheming brother Datu Mangimbot (Leo Martinez) asks a witch to place a curse on the Sultan, striking him with a mysterious illness. Mabait’s son Sigasig (Rocco Nacino) goes on a quest to find the mythical Ibong Adarna, whose song can cure any ailment. The dangerous journey has the young hero facing stormy seas, dense jungles, a savage tribe, magical fairies, and the bird itself, which may be the most fearsome threat of all. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: G

Running time: 90 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

4.0         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Ibong Adarna isn’t a perfect film by any means, but even its missteps are kind of endearing. The movie has a very distinct voice, a sort of classical approach that is sorely missing from a lot of comparable local G-rated movies.” (Read full review)

3.0         Oggs Cruz (Rappler)

“It seems that Urbano believes that there is a certain level of consistency in how children see the world, that despite the constantly changing politics and philosophies of the world, children would still appreciate the utter simplicity and frankness of a morally-grounded fairy tale.” (Read full review)

2.5         Benedict Bartolome (PEP)

“Ibong Adarna the Pinoy Adventure aimed to elevate the Filipino movie viewing experience by bringing culture and dignity to the screen but it ultimately falls back to tried and true simple comedy.” (Read full review)

2.0         Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“There are moments that for a split second take you back to your childhood. But these are way too fleeting to really indulge or enjoy. Once reality slaps you right back, you realize that, in this film adaptation, there isn’t much to munch on other than its predictable strain.” (Read full review)

2.0         Nood.ph

“Hindi ko alam kung dahil aimed at kids ang pelikulang ito, pero medyo nakakainis na sa una palang ay kita mo na kung sino ang masama at kung sino ang mabuti. Kalimutan man natin ang super-obvious na name suggestions, masyadong clear-cut kung kanino ka dapat mag-root.” (Read full review)

1.0         Fred Hawson (Fred Said)

“The acting was terribly cheesy, way beneath the known talents of the actors gathered for this project. The visual effects were like the quality of a regular TV fantasy program only, no effort for believability and obviously cartoonish. They do not inspire awe nor wonder at all, even for the kids.” (Read full review)

1.0         Emil Hofileña (Cinemil Movie Reviews)

“There’s no tension, there’s no sense of wonder to anything. You’re just seeing things unfold. Same goes for the characters. You should not settle for archetypes, even if they were in the source material.” (Watch video review)

Verdict: Value for Money

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.25 (18 ratings)

Genre: Suspense, Drama

Director: Percival Intalan

Writers: Renei Dimla, Jun Lana

Cast: Nora Aunor, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Bing Loyzaga, Chynna Ortaleza, Yul Servo, Althea Vega, Jeric Gonzales, Lou Veloso, Lui Manansala

Synopsis: Rachel (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) and her parents Elaine and Rommel (Bing Loyzaga and Yul Servo) move back to the Philippines from the US to help take care of her aunt Mara (Nora Aunor), who is suffering from Dementia. They bring her to their old family home in Batanes, hoping that the familiar surroundings will help with her ailment. And living in the house does unearth a few old memories, but they bring with them strange apparitions and terrible consequences for Mara and her family. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: PG

Running time: 100 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

4.0         Arvin Mendoza (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“Dementia is heart-wrenching poetry in picture. Its visual verses beguile the senses to absorb the character’s prosaic state, rhymed with its aural rhythms lulling the terror that looms ahead.” (Read full review)

4.0         Eric Cabahug (InterAksyon)

“Dementia is that rare Filipino horror drama that packs a solid emotional wallop. You won’t forget it soon after leaving the theater. A lot of it has to do with debuting filmmaker Perci Intalan’s mostly firm grip on his material and his relatively sophisticated approach in presenting it.” (Read full review)

4.0         Lyndon Maburaot (Table Stretcher)

“Perci Intalan is precise down to the dot, his achievement here are his pacing and control of the material, so unbelievable for a first-time helmer. His sensibility is obviously mainstream, giving in to the demands of the genre: banshee, jump scare, dolls. But it is during his quieter scenes that he shows ability, the deftness is in the way he blocks a scene and how he positions the camera with regards to the characters.” (Read full review)

4.0         Fred Hawson (Fred Said)

“Dementia does not have the garish and noisy shock effects that we see in most mainstream Filipino horror films. Instead, its unnerving quietness which effectively communicates a sense of danger, on top of the compelling lead performance of Ms. Nora Aunor, gives this film high marks of cinematic excellence.” (Read full review)

4.0         Macky Macarayan (The FilmSoc Report)

“Cinematographer Mackie Galvez (Sana Dati) captures the visual tone that complements the story’s demands, and levels with the acting caliber of Nora Aunor.” (Read full review)

4.0         A Moot Point

“A rarity in Pinoy horror genre, Dementia stays away from blood & hysterics, instead, it capitalizes on the gothic setting & tension. Nora Aunor blows us away with her mesmerizing non-verbal performances, that we pardon the average plot  – something that the usual nitpicking critic will tear apart if it wasn’t for Aunor’s superb acting and Intalan’s impressive direction.” (Read full review)

3.5         Oggs Cruz (Rappler)

“Dementia has a lot of breathing space, a lot of protracted moments for thought and pondering. This is clearly a thinking man’s horror film.” (Read full review)

3.5         Rob San Miguel (Brun Philippines)

“Similar to Joel Lamangan’s Hustisya, Aunor is burdened by a thin script so she has to make do with trite lines spoken in between her quite moments. Fortunately, Intalan was smart enough to focus the camera on Aunor near the climax of the film.” (Read full review)

3.5         Armando dela Cruz (Film Police)

“Dementia is a thing of curious alchemy…It is not a story strictly about the haunted, but of fractured psyches and corrupted moralities.” (Read full review)

3.5         Irvin Malcolm Contreras (A Girl and a Gun)

“It is essentially a pretty rote, standard horror film with all the familiar narrative beats. But this film benefits from the acting talent of one of the Philippines’ best actresses, Nora Aunor who gives the pulpy material its weight and substance. It is worth seeing for that alone (and for the travelogue-esque on-location cinematography).” (Read full review)

3.0         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The film is solid enough, with its handsome production work and talented cast keeping the film watchable through the narrative’s lack of cohesion. It’s just that there’s a nagging sense that there could have been more.” (Read full review)

3.0         Julia Allende (PEP)

“With its paper-thin storyline, the film relied mostly on surprises, on strategically placed apparitions to make the heart lurch and the ears reverberate with ghostly sound effects.” (Read full review)

3.0         Nood.ph

“Bilang manonood, hindi ka magsa-suffer sa panonood ng Dementia dahil ang haba nito ay akma sa takbo ng kwento. Malinis ang pagkakakwento ng mga pangyayari, hindi ka iiwang hanging sa kahit anong punto.” (Read full review)

3.0         John Tawasil (Present Confusion)

“Dementia is an okay film that I recommend seeing more than once, just to see the nuances in Nora Aunor’s acting after the revelation at the end. As a horror film it is pretty run of the mill, but as a psychological film it is quite effective.” (Read full review)

2.5         Tito Genova Valiente (Business Mirror)

“Nora Aunor as Mara is not served at all by the cinematography. The long minutes of Mara in the isolation of the landscape fail to capture the delineation of an actor who is able to sublimate all kinds of theatricality to serve an intense recipe of homegrown guilt and hurt. The story is promising; could it have been the screenplay that neglected to honor the presence of a great actor?” (Read full review)

2.5         Renelson Morelos (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

“Dementia could have been better than it is. Intalan knows how to sway viewers into a ‘false’ belief by creating mood and tension in accordance with the horror genre. It’s in how the ‘trick’ is finally let out of the bag, something that is inappropriately downplayed rather than packed with a visceral whallop, that douses cold water over the previously fever-pitch proceedings.” (Read full review)

2.0         Urbantribe.ph

“If you’re looking for a ‘scary movie,’ it is a bit difficult to recommend Dementia. It has a strong cast, lovely cinematography, and notable sound design, but it just lacks the punch.” (Read full review)

1.5         Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“Effective horror plays to our psyche, not bullyrag our auditory senses. And a story teller creates an atmosphere of impending doom. Lesser equipped film makers resort, on the other hand, to cheaper artifice, by creating ‘sudden noises’ – the ones that actually break eardrums!” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.60 (5 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Writer/Director: Kip Oebanda

Cast: Kokoy de Santos, Kean Cipriano, Teri Malvar, Ronnie Lazaro, Dominic Roco, Star Orjaliza, Kerbie Zamora, Jaclyn Jose, Shamaine Buencamino, Ron Cieno

Synopsis: Carlo (Kokoy de Santos) and his younger cousin Jea (Teri Malvar) work inside a sardine factory. They spend their days under inhumane conditions stuffing sardines into cans, tearing up their hands on the sharp edges of the containers, and sleeping every night in a tiny locked room with all the other workers. They were recruited into this line of work under false pretenses, tricked into joining the work force with promise of a scholarship in Manila. While the rest of the workers in the factory are resigned to this life, Carlo dreams of escape. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: PG

Running time: 110 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5         Dicot Alvarado (Letterboxd)

“It doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights needed for its characters, but when it comes to the presenting a picture of the dark place where these characters are trapped in, it can get it extremely well, which makes the film terribly engaging.” (Read full review)

3.0         Nood.ph

“There are some magical moments in cinematography in this movie. It is also full of cinematic devices that they tell you about in film class: strong opening and closing shots that are linked together, parallelism and contrast between reality and fantasy, shots that foreshadow later events, strong use of lighting to set the mood, motifs.” (Read full review)

2.5         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The film settles for what’s obvious and what’s righteous. While that makes the movie correct, it doesn’t make it compelling.” (Read full review)

2.0         Oggs Cruz (Rappler)

“If relevance is the only barometer for quality, then Oebanda’s debut work has it in the can. The truth of the matter is that the both the film’s excesses and deficiencies make it less compelling than the advocacy it proudly champions.” (Read full review)

2.0         Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“Tumbang Preso is well intentioned, but it is hobbled by so many shortcomings, both narrative and technical, you eventually end up with a lot less sympathy.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Do Something Else

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.77 (13 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Louie Ignacio

Writer: Socorro Villanueva

Cast: Aiko Melendez, Gabby Eigenmann, Miggs Cuaderno, Rochelle Pangilinan, Jake Vargas, Benjie Felipe, Madz Nicholas, Maita Ejercito, Jak Roberto

Synopsis: In the middle of the preparation for Taong Putik Festival, a young man penniless and in love, takes on a drug courier job that goes terribly wrong. To save him, his mother now makes the most difficult decision of her life.

MTRCB rating: R-13

Running time: 105 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.0         Nood.ph

“Melendez, in her big-screen comeback, proves she still has acting chops to portray a widow that has the worst stroke of luck. Vargas’ performance is also commendable.” (Read full review)

3.0         John Tawasil (Present Confusion)

“Overall it’s a decent film that manages to deliver an interesting story, but is hampered by a slow start and an ending that strains the viewer’s suspension of disbelief.” (Read full review)

2.5         Patricia Denise Chiu (GMA News)

“Asintado succeeds in telling the story it wants to tell. But it ends there, missing the mark for a potentially larger narrative that could have explored distinctly Filipino familial relationships amid personal tragedies.” (Read full review)

2.0         Zig Marasigan (Rappler)

“The script relies too much on exposition and very little on action, with the story picking up too late to feel relevant. What should have been an exploration of redemption, sacrifice and moral ambiguity ends up as a wasted opportunity to share something genuinely insightful.” (Read full review)

2.0         Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special Presents)

“Promising ang umpisa sa pagiging talky ng mga nakatira sa purok (mga tsismisan at iba pa) at bumabad ang camera sa mga ganitong eksena. Hindi masama. Nag-umpisa lang dumating ang delubyo nang nararamdaman mo nang nagaganap na ang premonition na nakita mo sa unang sampung minuto. At hindi nga nagkamali. Ang masama rito ay ubod ng sama. Ang mabuti, ubod ng buti.” (Read full review)

2.0         Jansen Musico (Philippine Star)

“The characters, as if plucked from a dreary Dramarama sa Hapon episode, lay the groundwork brick by banal brick before we, the audience, get rewarded with a brisk and arresting final act ushered in by consistently strong performances from Melendez and Cuaderno.” (Read full review)

1.5         Emil Hofilena (Cinemil Movie Reviews)

“For all the ambition Asintado had, the production is really a letdown. It’s as if it ran out of budget at a certain point. And this is one movie that died in the postproduction stage. The editing was so bad, I don’t know what happened.” (Watch full review)

1.5         Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“Asintado seems like a late entry from Ignacio to join the poverty porn bordering on social commentary bandwagon that has already gotten old many years ago. Much of it feels contrived and tries way too hard to be taken seriously whether it’s the darker complexion of the characters, their appear one time slash disappear another accents, the situations of the characters up to the pivotal resolution part.” (Read full review)

1.5         Dicot Alvarado (Letterboxd)

“The direction doesn’t know how to handle even its lightest moments in a convincing or interesting fashion, and much less so when it goes into darker territory. It doesn’t help that its main characters are incredibly dumb, and that its heftiest conflict arises from the contrivance of their idiocy.” (Read full review)

1.0         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“There are all sorts of clumsy storytelling choices along the way, the film exhibiting little control over the tone of its scenes. There’s a soap opera quality to all of it, the scenes often lingering a little too long on a reaction, as if waiting to cut to a commercial break.” (Read full review)

1.0         Richard Bolisay (Lilok Pelikula)

“One can only scowl at how proud it is of its stale stereotypes and trite plot turns, but Louie Ignacio is disposed to make things worse, revealing one rotten cliché after another, until it reaches this laughable conclusion and embarrassing postscript.” (Read full review)

1.0         Carl Papa (Whatever Carl)

“A lot went wrong in this film. It had a weird, unintentionally funny and borderline silly but still trying to be serious story.  Uber exposed and TV looking cinematography (but heck some TV shows look better than this). Wooden acting. And the list goes on.” (Read full review)

1.0         Armando dela Cruz (Film Police)

“Awash in earthen and dusty tones, Asintado essentially propels from one overlong reaction shot to the next, calling it a ‘narrative.’” (Read full review)

Verdict: Value for Money

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.25 (4 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Chito Roño

Writer: Kriz Gazmen, Enrico Santos

Cast: John Lloyd Cruz, Jessy Mendiola, Gretchen Barretto, Richard Gomez, Sylvia Sanchez, Vincent de Jesus, Enrique Gil

Synopsis: Ronald (John Lloyd Cruz) is a developmentally delayed adult working towards an elementary school diploma at the university where he works as a gardener. He receives tutoring from teacher Bessy (Jessy Mendiola), with whom he is in love. A video emerges of the two of them depicting what very much appears to be a rape. Charges are filed against Ronald, and he is confronted with the possibility of being sent to prison. The story is mainly told from the perspectives of Amanda and Julian (Gretchen Barretto and Richard Gomez), the parents of a deceased friend of Ronald. The two have a marriage that’s fallen apart, and they’re in the process of separating when this case suddenly pops up. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: R-13

Running time: 130 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

4.0         Bernard Santos (My Movie World)

“Ang ganda ng istorya ng pelikula na umikot talaga sa pagmamahal at masasabi natin at the end of the film na ang lahat at may karapatan magmahal at mahalin anuman ang katayuan o kalagayan nito sa buhay.” (Read full review)

3.5         Spot.ph

“The Trial is a compressed telenovela. All the good bits are preserved and nothing is stretched so far that the sensibilities get lost.” (Read full review)

3.0         Skilty Labastilla (Pinoy Rebyu)

“The Trial is an engaging, if a bit high-strung, family/courtroom melodrama that features a ferocious supporting turn by Sylvia Sanchez as John Lloyd Cruz’s father.”

2.5         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The Trial is compelling enough, but it remains an uneasy proposition. It’s laudable that it even attempts to tell this kind of story, but it’s kind of disappointing that it leaves so much of this premise unexplored.” (Read full review)

Performance has always been one of Philippine cinema’s most popular film elements. We know, of course, that it is just but one of myriad components that make up a film. Yet when we watch movies, we tend to ask “Who’s in it?” rather than “Who made it?” Still, no one would argue that actors can make or break a film. A good actor can make watching a crappy film tolerable while a bad actor can ruin an otherwise okay movie.

To celebrate the country’s best film performances of the decade so far, Pinoy Rebyu invited six bloggers/journalists who have been following and writing about Philippine film since 2010: Rito Asilo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Fidel Antonio Medel of Pixelated Popcorn and formerly of PEP.ph, Carl Joseph Papa of whatevercarl.com, Manuel Pangaruy of Tagailog Special Presents, Cathy Peña of Make Me Blush, and Pinoy Rebyu’s own Skilty Labastilla, to list down what they think are the greatest performances from 2010 to November 2014. Each of the six submitted a list of 100 best performances and we tallied them and came up with the top 100.

Starting today, we will roll out the list in increments, starting from 100.

100.  John Lloyd Cruz, Unofficially Yours (2012)

Character: Macky Galvez, a romantic yuppie who falls hard for a woman who does not want commitment

As Star Cinema’s top male romantic draw, Cruz has perfected the art of playing the ultimate dreamboat who more than makes up for his lack of hard abs by turning on the charm full blast. When Cruz uses those puppy-dog eyes to express deep emotion, even Angel Locsin won’t hesitate serenading him to win back his affection.

99. Felix Roco, Ang Nawawala (2012)

Character: Jamie Bonifacio, the lead character’s dead twin brother

The Roco twins were born to play the roles of upper class brothers in Marie Jamora’s engrossing tale of loss and redemption. Felix plays the departed twin, now free from the mundane worries of the living, with sexy, uber-cool nonchalance.

98. Archie Alemania, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013)

Character: Joaquin, a poor family man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit

In Diaz’s bleak Norte, Alemania, who is more known as a comic actor, shows his range in a way that doesn’t call attention to his subtlety.

97. Nonie Buencamino, Dagitab (2014)

Character: Jimmy Tolentino, a Humanities professor in search of his muse

It’s never easy playing a professor: an actor has to possess that mix of gravitas, intellect, and warmth that all students look for. Buencamino displays all three, yet adds an extra layer of vulnerability, portraying Jimmy not as a typical bookish academic but as a complicated, full-blooded husband/lover.

“His work in Dagitab keeps you guessing. It is not trivial, it is just that it seems that he is thinking differently from the way he acts. That line reading scene was quite heartbreaking (del Rosario and Buencamino square off, WOW).” – Carl Joseph Papa

96. TJ Trinidad, Sana Dati (2013)

Character: Robert Naval, a politician about to get married to a woman he just recently met

The go-to mode of most actors who get cast as a foil to a romantic pairing is to tap into their character’s unflattering side. Thankfully, Trinidad is not most actors. It’s a testament to his skill (though undoubtedly aided by Tarog’s fully realized script) that viewers actually root for Robert to end up with Andrea .

95. Lovi Poe, Mayohan (2010)

Character: Lilibeth, a young woman from the barrio in charge of an annual festival ritual

“Lovi Poe is luminous all throughout (thanks in part to the brilliant cinematography) taking her character Lilibeth with edifying intuition. It’s quite palpable why young boys would fall for Lilbeth.” – Cathy Peña

94. Dennis Trillo, The Janitor (2014)

Character: Crisanto Espina, a dismissed cop tasked to assassinate suspected bank robbers

“The most fully realized performance by any actor in the Director’s Showcase at this year’s Cinemalaya was turned in by Dennis Trillo, who delivered a thespic high-wire act as a disgraced cop who is as ruthless as an assassin as he is gentle as a much-abused son in Mike Tuviera’s exceptional action-drama.” – Rito Asilo

93. Raquel Villavicencio, Niño (2011)

Character: Raquel, a US migrant returning to the Philippines to sell her ancestral house to salvage her own economic woes abroad

Villavicencio is one of very few filmmakers (she’s an award-winning scriptwriter) who are also very good actors. In Niño, she plays a villain type (she knows that her actions will lead to depriving her aunt of a home) yet, through her sympathetic performance, she makes the audience understand her plight.

92. Irma Adlawan, Vox Populi (2010)

Character: Connie de Gracia, a mayoral candidate in a small town

Adlawan, one of the country’s top theater products, delivers an expertly controlled performance as a political greenhorn who realizes she is gradually crossing over to the dark side but can’t yet decide whether she is principled enough to change the system or weak enough to allow herself to just be swallowed by it.

91. Jodi Sta. Maria, Aparisyon (2012)

Character: Sister Lourdes, a novice nun who gets attacked outside her convent

Sta. Maria has that face that immediately draws attention. She is not conventionally attractive yet she possesses that serene confidence that only comes with life experience. In Aparisyon, she is devastating as a promising young nun whose dreams are crushed by a random act of violence.

90. Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Requieme! (2012)

Character: Swanie, a barangay captain who turns a high-profile crime into a vote-generating opportunity

Buencamino, along with theater contemporary Adlawan, has successfully straddled the worlds of theater, TV, and independent film.  In Loy Arcenas’ tragicomic Requieme!, she displays both expert comedic timing and touching pathos as a woman who desperately needs emotional closure.

89. Archie Alemania, Slumber Party (2012)

Character: Jhana, an outrageous gay man who becomes party to a hostage-taking

Violence should never be funny, but Alemania, in a riotous performance as a lascivious molester, sure missed the memo and is not apologizing for it.

88. Opaline Santos, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness (2011)

Character: Unnamed, a woman coping with the impacts of a traumatic sexual violence

Only an actor as unafraid to be unlikeable as Santos could have pulled off her brave performance as a rape victim who, after a couple of years, is still in love with her rapist.

87. Eugene Domingo, Instant Mommy (2013)

Character: Bechayda, a woman who pretends she is pregnant to keep her foreigner boyfriend

Domingo has emerged over the last decade as arguably the country’s biggest female comic draw and her talent is in full display here as she plays a family breadwinner who has to keep up appearances in fear of losing her man.

86. Dido dela Paz, Amok (2011)

Character: Dido, a sidewalk vendor who runs amok in Pasay Rotonda

Theater vet dela Paz is a horny husband one moment and a menacing hooligan the next in Lawrence Fajardo’s riveting portrait of a sweaty, throbbing, chaotic Pasay. The moment dela Paz’s character loses his temper, we know bad things will happen.

85. Arron Villaflor, Astro Mayabang (2010)

Character: Astro, a brash, xenophobic teenager who finds himself falling for a Filipino-American

Villaflor burst onto the local film scene with his sure-footed portrayal of a young buck who overcompensates for his impotence with hollow braggadocio.

84. Jodi Sta. Maria, Chassis (2010)

Character: Nora, a young mother forced into prostitution by dire circumstances

“Jodi Sta. Maria performs in almost every scene. She is the spark that gives Chassis life and flesh-and-blood realism. Her Nora is a portrait of a mother consumed by love for her daughter—a love powerful enough to drive her to the extreme. Similarly, Jodi pushes her limits in portraying a character radically different from anything she has done on TV and movies. She downplays the determination of her character for a haunting effect, and then bares her emotions in the heart-wrenching final act.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

83. Irma Adlawan, Transit (2013)

Character: Janet, an OFW mother who needs to keep her teenage daughter from being deported by Israeli authorities

Adlawan demonstrates her acting skills in a restrained performance as a mother torn between respecting the choices of her Hebrew-speaking daughter and instilling in her more Filipino values.

82. Sue Prado, Mga Dayo (2012)

Character: Alexandria Caballero, a boyish newspaper photographer in Guam forced to enter a green-card marriage

“Sa dulo, nakarating sa akin ang lungkot ng mga karakter at hindi maiikailang malaki ang naiambag dito nina Sue Prado at Olga Natividad. Sa katunayan, kapag naaalala ko ang mga eksena nila, nakukurot pa rin ako. Para sa akin, naibigay nila ang pinakamahusay na pagganap sa buong festival.” – Manuel Pangaruy

81. Dick Israel, Badil (2013)

Character: Ponso, a local politician’s trusted aide

“Recently recovered from a stroke, Israel’s slump and slurred speech do not diminish but instead add to his role’s respectability and gravitas. It takes extreme charisma to command the screen even when the body is failing, and Israel, bless his heart, has it in spades.” – SCL

*

PART 2: Nos. 80 to 61

PART 3: Nos. 60 to 41

PART 4: Nos. 40 to 21

PART 5: Nos. 20 to 11

PART 6: Nos. 10 to 1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

80. Jess Mendoza, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness (2011)

Character: Unnamed, a young man forced to reckon with the consequences of a past crime he committed

How can you make viewers interested in a rapist character? First you ensure that the character is multidimensional enough to warrant attention, and then you cast an actor sensitive enough to pull off the nuances of the role. Director Charliebebs Gohetia lucked out on Mendoza, whose brooding performance as a conflicted young man made it possible for viewers to understand that a past sin does not define a person’s character.

79. Arnalyn Ismael, Halaw (2010)

Character: Daying, a 9-year old Badjao girl who tags along with her father across an illegal boat ride to Malaysia to look for her mother

A non-professional actor, Ismael is a screen natural as a precocious girl oblivious to the dangers of the journey she is taking. Her spunky character buoys up the rather tense proceedings and allows viewers to gravitate towards her as a beacon of hope.

78. Carmina Villaroel, The Road (2011)

Character: Carmela, an abusive mother with a dark secret

“She browbeats with sinister abandon. You hardly hear her voice rise, but the menace is all there.” – Cathy Peña

77. Coco Martin, Noy (2010)

Character: Noy, a family breadwinner who gets hired as a journalist after submitting a fake diploma

“Coco delivers the passion required of his breadwinner character. There are shades of angst, frustration, and a little hope.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

76. Kristoffer King, Ad Ignorantiam (2012)

Character: Robert Igawad, an ill-tempered messenger who becomes the prime suspect in a robbery

The role of Robert does not really call for many opportunities to showcase any acting skill because Ad Ignorantiam is more idea- than character-driven. Trust King to suffuse a thinly written character with so much passion and charisma that there’s no way for the viewers to go but side with him in his quest for justice even if we don’t really know for sure if he’s guilty or not.

75. Ronaldo Valdez, The Mistress (2012)

Character: Frederico, a wealthy man whose mistress falls in love with his son

“Valdez makes a career-best performance as he depicts Frederico, the man who wants to have his cake and eat it too. His emotive cadences are spectacular, e.g. his argument with John Lloyd at the office. One moment he tells his son that he needs him (“Anong gusto mo, luluhod ako sa harap mo para pumayag ka?”), then he tells Eric how he owes the company his attention. Even when he drops emotionally charged lines (“Ano’ng karapatan mo, Sari? Kerida lang kita!”), you don’t feel the mawkishness of the scene.” – Cathy Peña

“It’s Valdez who delivers the most textured characterization—he’s hard, uncompromising, kind, selfish and loving at the same time!” – Rito Asilo

74. Aga Muhlach, Of All the Things (2012)

Character: Emil, a bar exam non-passer who, in his depression, buries himself working as a notary public instead of re-taking the exam

“Muhlach succeeds to personify Emil with all his emotional pathos. Muhlach’s silent moments are a virtual force of nature, like when he finally admits to his father how he needs his help (to review for his retake). His scenes with Abuel are heart breaking.” – Cathy Peña

73. Sandino Martin, Esprit de Corps (2014)

Character: Abel Sarmiento, a military cadet competing for the position of commanding officer

2014 is undoubtedly stage actor Martin’s breakout year in film, appearing as lead in Joselito Altarejos’ Unfriend and as a brooding aspiring writer in Giancarlo Abrahan’s Dagitab before showcasing his full potential in Kanakan-Balintagos’ film. Playing an ambitious yet conflicted cadet, Martin seduces both his commanding officer and us viewers with his magnetic presence.

72. Arnold Reyes, Kasal (2014)

Character: Sherwin, a lawyer specializing in annulment who refuses to come out as gay for fear of ostracism

Reyes, in arguably a career-best turn, seems to have bottled all his past performances as homosexual men in indie films and distilled them here to a pure, honest form in playing a man totally in love with his partner yet as totally averse to the idea of revealing his true self.

71. Mark Gil, Amok (2011)

Character: Rogelio Vasquez, a struggling stuntman who gets deceived by a transvestite

“Gil displays the vulnerability of a desperate soul without dismissing the inherent humor borne out of his situation.” – Cathy Peña

70. Bembol Roco, Isda (2011)

Character: Miguel, a drunkard husband of a woman who gives birth to a fish

“Roco moves around as though a joke’s being played on his family, and we feel his helplessness.” –Cathy Peña

69. Ronnie Lazaro, Ishmael (2010)

Character: Ishmael, an ex-convict who discovers the horrors inflicted on his village by a cult leader

“Lazaro plays the title role with gusto. No sense of remorse is seen on his face as he wields his bolo and delivers the entire town to their final destination.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

68. Andy Bais, Violator (2014)

Character: Mang Vic, a prison utility worker who is haunted by a past crime

It’s definitely those eyes. In Violator, Bais, looking like a lovechild of Nora Aunor and Gollum, is the scariest of them all because his monster is the realest.

67. Edgar Allan Guzman, Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me (2011)

Character: Intoy, a horny college student who meets his match in a sexually carefree classmate

“Guzman exhibits a winking portrayal that displays both his dramatic and comedic skill, all in one coherent, insightful package.” – Cathy Peña

66. Matt Daclan, Soap Opera (2014)

Character: Noel, a struggling young father who uses his family to deceive a foreign man

In Soap Opera, Daclan embodies the everyman. Even if his character has gone to the proverbial dark side from the very beginning, viewers will him to make things right because we want him to succeed in life. And a large part of it has to do with Daclan’s compassionate performance.

“Matt Daclan is just fantastic in Soap Opera, a major find for 2014.” – Cathy Peña

65. Donna Gimeno, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010)

Character: Terya, an island woman about to depart her village as a mail-order bride

Gimeno, as the boyish Terya, fully understands her character’s dilemma. She knows that she’s just delaying the inevitable and that she’d eventually acquiesce to her parents’ wishes of marrying her to a man they only know by name. Gimeno avoids all melodrama and instead hides her true feelings with playful interactions with her well-wishers.

64. Pen Medina, Layang Bilanggo (2010)

Character: Paul, an ex-convict who checks himself in a home for the aged to become close to the daughter he abandoned for several years

“Ang pinakamalaking risk siguro sa pelikulang ito ay ang aktor para sa lead character. Naitawid ni Pen Medina nang maayos ‘yung pinaka-critical na bentahe ng materyal. Kung pumalpak ang bida, papalpak din ang kabuuhan.” – Manuel Pangaruy

63. Rocco Nacino, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (2011)

Character: Dennis, a college student who gets infatuated with a fellow male classmate

Probably one of the most head-scratching Urian nomination snubs of all time is its exclusion of Rocco Nacino in Sayaw. He portrays Dennis, the more sexually assured of the two boys, with a nuanced combination of desire and wariness.

62. Joey Paras, Babagwa (2013)

Character: Marney, an online scammer who uses a young man to deceive unsuspecting women and gays

Paras almost steals the movie with his ferocious performance as a scheming operator who never grows a conscience.

61. Mark Gil, A Philippino Story (2013)

Character: Bastian, a gay painter who falls for his young househelp

Gil, in his last great performance, displays open-hearted fragility as a man who has seen it all but still takes a stab at a romance that he knows will be doomed anyway. His heartbreak at the end of the movie is ours as well.

*

PART 1: Nos. 100 to 81

PART 3: Nos. 60 to 41

PART 4: Nos. 40 to 21

PART 5: Nos. 20 to 11

PART 6: Nos. 10 to 1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

60. Chynna Ortaleza, #Y (2014)

Character: Abbie, a frazzled suicide hotline operator who is befriended by her caller

Ortaleza’s amiable turn as a hotline operator who goes out of her way to reach out to a troubled teen is a collective wish-fulfillment for our longing for genuine connection in an age of normalized fleeting, often hollow, encounters.

“Though the time she was in was very short, she made the most impact in a cast that was generally good. I kept on wanting to see more of her in the film but she was powerful in those few scenes she was in. That breakdown scene, just on the phone talking, is definitely the highlight of her career.” – Carl Joseph Papa

59. Carla Abellana, Punerarya (2010)

Character: Dianne, a part-time tutor to children of a family that owns a funeral parlor

In probably the shortest lead performance in this list, Abellana proves that a good actor doesn’t need a lot of screen exposure to truly shine. As the beleaguered tutor who slowly learns the real nature of her employers, Abellana ably carries the weight of the movie with her steely resolve.

“A feisty, empathetic heroine – and a ‘star’ is truly born!” – Cathy Peña

58. Carlo Aquino, Porno (2013)

Character:  Alex, a playboy porn dubber who gets haunted by an online ghost

Aquino’s haughty, smirking take of a strapping youth who is used to things going his way until he gets served cold vengeance can only be borne out of his experience in the industry honing his craft over the years.

57. Agot Isidro, Mga Anino ng Kahapon (2013)

Character: Irene, a married nurse suffering from schizophrenia

Isidro knows better than to play a mentally disturbed character with just the typical crazy-normal binary that lesser actors might resort to. She understands the condition from inside out and it shows in her layered, nuanced take on an illness not many are familiar with.

“Stripped of her dignity, Irene’s exasperation is palpable but never over-the-top in Isidro’s delicate thespic handling.” – Rito Asilo

56. Dominic Roco, Ang Nawawala (2012)

Character:  Gibson Bonifacio, a young man who stops speaking after the death of his twin brother, for which he blames himself

“Dominic Roco delivers a well-limned performance as Gibson, who copes with guilt by going mute after he witnesses the death of his twin brother.” – Rito Asilo

55. Bea Alonzo, The Mistress (2012)

Character: Sari, a seamstress who finds herself falling in love with a man who is the son of her much-older boyfriend

“Bea Alonzo, still the most gifted actress of her generation, delectably inhabits Sari with a highly nuanced turn. Her instincts are so fine-tuned she never misses a step.” – Cathy Peña

“As Sari, she is fragile yet assured, flighty yet sensible. It takes great skill to make viewers empathize with a kept woman and Alonzo manages to do just that.” – SCL

“Alonzo manages to make her less-than-likable character sympathetic, even when Sari’s choices don’t feel right.” – Rito Asilo

54. Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Lorna (2014)

Character: Lorna, a 60-year old woman in search of life’s contentment

Buencamino dives into her character head-on and refuses to come up for air until she has fully grasped Lorna’s essence. She is at turns, funny, sad, sexy, motherly, logical, impetuous, and, above all, all-too-human.

53. Eden Villarba, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010)

Character: A balikbayan cousin of a girl about to marry her foreigner boyfriend

Villarba’s role as a woman giving last-minute advice to her mail-order bride cousin could have been perfunctorily essayed by a less intuitive actor. Villarba attacks it as a small-town diva, complete with an umbrella-carrying servant at her beck and call, who has been there and done it all when she lived in Germany for some time. Her confrontation scenes with a rival sophisticate, the city-bred recruiter of her cousin, are the film’s most hilarious moments.

52. Art Acuña, Niño (2011)

Character: Mombic, the prodigal son of a once-prominent family

Theater vet Acuña expertly juggles the many facets of his character, a wily, street-smart single father who leaves his son in the care of his sister as he strikes a covert deal to sell the ancestral house with a cousin he once had an affair with.

51. Ronnie Lazaro, Boundary (2011)

Character: Limuel Alcantara, a cab driver who robs his passenger

About 90% of Boundary is shot inside a cab, with Lazaro as the driver who picks up the wrong passenger to rob. Lazaro skillfully shifts from tense to respectful to guilty to uncertain throughout the long drive, you almost wish he won’t push through with his plan.

50. Alex Medina, Babagwa (2013)

Character: Greg, an online scammer who falls in love with his victim

“As a counterpoint to Joey Paras’ explosive scheming character, Medina more than holds his own by refusing to succumb to mug for the cameras. His slacker, stoic mien throughout hides the inner turmoil he’s undergoing as he slowly discovers the immorality of his trade by falling in love with a potential victim.” – SCL

49. Raymond Bagatsing, Boundary (2011)

Character: Emmanuel Lazaro, a mysterious cab passenger held up by the driver

As the other half of the duo in that fateful taxi ride to Antipolo, Bagatsing is calm personified as he begins to realize the situation he finds himself in. His cool confidence turns what would otherwise have been an implausible scenario of prey-turns-predator very logical.

48. Maria Veronica Santiago, Pascalina (2012)

Character: Pascalina, a young woman who embraces her inner aswang when her boyfriend deceives her

“It’s Santiago’s courage to appear unlikable that makes her ironically likable. Her Pascalina is insouciant, antisocial, and operates to the beat of her own drum, yet Santiago makes sure that Pascalina doesn’t lose audience empathy by imbuing the character with just the right doses of quirky charm and cool level-headedness so that even when she does terrible things towards the end, viewers will still be rooting for her.” – SCL

47. Jean Garcia, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (2011)

Character: Karen, a literature professor who gets entangled in a love triangle with two of her students

“Garcia gives a sublime performance, something that I have never seen from her before. She excelled most in the quiet moments.” – Carl Joseph Papa

46. Lovi Poe, Sana Dati (2013)

Character: Andrea Gonzaga, a young bride who gets cold feet when she meets a man who reminds her of the love of her life

“Poe has always been a natural onscreen and here she relishes the opportunity to wholeheartedly embrace her character, warts and all.” – SCL

45. Olga Natividad, Mga Dayo (2012)

Character: Ella Regalado, a housekeeping supervisor in a Guam hotel who’s finding it difficult to juggle her responsibilities at work and at home

Natividad, with her warm smile and dogged determination concealing the many problems she is facing, embodies the OFW spirit in Julius Cena’s gentle drama about Filipino workers in Guam. In a hotel breakdown scene she displays her formidable acting skills as she releases all her pent-up emotions without uttering a single word.

44. Angelica Panganiban, Beauty in a Bottle (2014)

Character: Estelle, a starlet struggling with her weight who gets chosen to be an endorser of a beauty product

Panganiban brings the house down in her uproarious performance that sends up her own image as a big-boned actor in an industry obsessed with Hollywood-dictated ideals of beauty. Her audition and shooting scenes (featuring her endless repetition of the line “Come back to the young and beautiful you”) are guaranteed to keep the audience in stitches.

43. Ama Quiambao, Diablo (2012)

Character: Nana Lusing, a mother of five who sleeps restlessly as a mysterious, sinister-looking shadow watches over her

Quiambao is a force to be reckoned with in her dignified depiction of a silently suffering mother dealing with the loss of her husband and the petty squabbles of her grown-up sons.

“Quiambao’s luminous turn is just one of many standout portrayals in the eighth edition of the eagerly anticipated indie festival.” – Rito Asilo

42. Martin del Rosario, Dagitab (2014)

Character: Gab Atienza, a precocious college writer

Del Rosario’s surprisingly restrained performance in Giancarlo Abrahan’s arty film proves that when TV-bred young actors are given fully textured roles, they are more than capable of delivering the goods.

“I was mightily impressed with del Rosario’s performance. I knew somehow that he could act but I did not know that he could deliver such an intense performance, controlled without going overboard. He’s got that sort of pompous arrogance of a teenager down, then we see him mature in front of your eyes as the story progresses.” – Carl Joseph Papa

41. Art Acuña, Posas (2012)

Character: Police Inspector Domingo, a ruthless cop who tortures a suspected thief

“Acuña is a sinister presence in Posas.” – Rito Asilo

“The revelation in the movie is theater actor Art Acuña. With his lean frame, calm delivery and mild demeanor, he succeeds to impart a level of malignity and truculence without even raising his voice. He scared the bejesus out of me. He likewise imparts charm in savagery, which is antipodean at best.” – Cathy Peña

“Acuña understands that a villain doesn’t know that he’s a villain: for him, he’s the bida. And you actually feel from Acuña’s performance that his character does not realize he’s a crooked person. Even when he’s waterboarding suspects and playing mind games with them, he believes that he’s doing it for a noble purpose. Acuña finds the humanity within each of the characters that he plays, good or bad. That is a mark of good acting.” – SCL

*

PART 1: Nos. 100 to 81

PART 2: Nos. 80 to 61

PART 4: Nos. 40 to 21

PART 5: Nos. 20 to 11

PART 6: Nos. 10 to 1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

40. Jodi Sta. Maria, Third World Happy (2010)

Character: Aylynn, a single mother left behind by her then-boyfriend who migrated to America to follow his dream

As evidenced by her hugely successful turn as Maya in TV soap Be Careful With My Heart, Sta. Maria is very effective in playing the underdog in a romantic pair. In Third World Happy, she embodies that friend we know who got the raw end of the deal in a relationship with a more attractive partner when he left her behind to pursue his dream/another woman.

“In a scene where Aylynn reunites with her runaway boyfriend, Sta.Maria conveys silent anxiety and understated volatile agitation in delicious emotive splendor.” – Cathy Peña

39. Mylene Dizon, Aparisyon (2012)

Character: Sister Remy, a young nun who begins to question her Order’s apathy in the face of growing social unrest

Dizon is in her element in headstrong, icy characters (e.g., 100, Mariquina) and she shows it here as a nun who admits culpability for the horror that befell a fellow nun. Her wordless apology scene with the equally brilliant Jodi Sta. Maria is one for the books.

“Si Mylene Dizon ay gamay na gamay ang kontrol sa hinihinging role mula sa kanya.” – Manuel Pangaruy

38. Angel Locsin, One More Try (2012)

Character: Grace, a single mother forced to sleep with an ex-boyfriend to save their son

The preposterousness of the film’s premise does not at all diminish Locsin’s tour-de-force interpretation of a mother who would do anything to save the life of her sick son.

37. Bing Pimentel, Mariquina (2014)

Character: Tess, a shoemaker’s business associate who becomes a stepmother to his unappreciative daughter when his wife left

The resurgence of Pimentel’s acting career began in 2013’s Kabisera where she effectively played the conniving wife of a drug mogul, but it is here in Mariquina that she truly showed that the talents of her children (Sid Lucero and Max Eigenmann) are not only inherited from their father, the late Mark Gil. As Ricky Davao’s lover (and, eventually, domestic partner) Pimentel brings grace and class to a character that we otherwise would have despised.

“After seeing Pimentel in last year’s Kabisera, I was not sold. I thought that she was just OK in it. Nothing memorable. But after seeing her in Mariquina, I instantly became a fan. She brought a whole new take on being the mistress.” – Carl Joseph Papa

36. Rustica Carpio, Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? (2013)

Character: Teresa, an elderly househelp who is about to become homeless after her employers decide to sell their ancestral house

Carpio does not really act in Joey Reyes’ domestic drama: every time she’s in the frame, we project all our empathy towards her character because she reminds us so much of our own grandmothers, and the thought of them being banished from their homes is just too unbearable. Still, Carpio lends the role with a quiet wisdom and dignity.

“Carpio’s quiet scenes and painful realizations tug at viewers’ heartstrings, even without gut-wrenching and declarative ululations of betrayal and grief.” – Rito Asilo

35. Nicholas Varela, Aberya (2012)

Character: Mike, a budding drug dealer experimenting with time travel

Varela’s incredibly realistic portrayal of a psychedelic-addled politician’s son makes one wish the four-part film just focused on his segment if only because it’s the most intriguing, and Varela has an arresting screen presence despite his everyman looks.

34. Meryl Soriano, Donor (2010)

Character: Lizette, a hard-up young woman who is forced to marry a foreigner so she can sell him one of her kidneys

Soriano’s charismatic presence lends her portrayal of a poor but resourceful woman determined to make ends meet with a mix of resignation and hope.

33. Jhong Hilario, Badil (2013)

Character: Lando, a son of a trusted politician’s aide who gets thrown into the dirty world of vote-buying when his father becomes incapacitated

“Lando, as portrayed by the excellently perceptive Hilario, grows before our very eyes from a hesitant fisherman and obedient son to someone who will fight for the loyalty earned by his father from the powers that be.” – SCL

32. Anthony Falcon, Requieme (2012)

Character: Joanna, a transgender woman who runs away from home to live a new life

“Falcon plays Buencamino’s transgender son with just the right mix of restraint and flair that left viewers asking ‘Who is this guy?’ Mainstream actors playing swishy gay guys should study what he did here because there’s not an ounce of caricature in his performance.” – SCL

31. LJ Reyes, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino (2012)

Character: Doray, a young woman living in a slum coastal village who sells her body for a living

The prostitute with a heart of gold is pretty much one of cinema’s most tired character clichés but it’s impossible for viewers to not get affected by Reyes’ heartrending turn here. She plays Doray with a certain pluckiness that conceals her crushed soul.

“Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino drowns in the suffocating squalor of poverty porn, but LJ Reyes, who plays JM de Guzman’s femme fatale, is a soothing presence—and a lovely revelation.” – Rito Asilo

30. Krystle Valentino, Purok 7 (2013)

Character: Diana, a pubescent girl left to fend for herself and her little brother when their mother left to work abroad and their father remarried

“Carlo Obispo’s debut feature would have been impressive enough just on the strength of his lyrical, gentle depiction of rural childhood amidst a tragic backdrop, but he knows that for his film to work beautifully as it did, he had to get a young competent actor who will carry the film with aplomb, and the charming, natural Valentino more than lives up to the promise. As the 14 year-old big sister and de-facto mother to a young boy, she has to hold her fort and maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of an impending tragedy and her own burgeoning womanhood. In doing so, she delivers such an honest, winsome, heartbreaking performance.” – SCL

“The film proves that neither a marquee name nor a gorgeous face is crucial for the success of a movie—and every actor has to start somewhere.” – Rito Asilo

29. Sid Lucero, Muli (2010)

Character: Jun Bernabe, a Baguio hotel manager who enters into a decades-long affair with a married man

“Lucero magnificently plunges head-on into an array of emotions that play out naturally and sympathetically on screen. He is charming, affecting, believable and just astonishing, even in the scenes where he quietly cries.” – Cathy Peña

28. Lilia Cuntapay, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (2011)

Character: Herself, as a life-long bit player who finally gets nominated for an acting award

Contrary to popular opinion, playing oneself onscreen is not as easy as it sounds: the tendency of most actors is to exaggerate the qualities that audiences know they possess. Cuntapay avoids the trap by erasing all self-consciousness from her body and delivering a sincere, heartfelt portrait of an industry outsider finally given the recognition she deserves.

“If I were to base from her previous works, I would not expect that she is a great dramatic actress, and a terrific comedic actress. Playing herself in a mockumentary, she hits every jokes, and was devastatingly heartbreakingly real. It for me was the performance of the year, by any actor. I can only wish that she gets more roles deserving of her talents.” – Carl Joseph Papa

27. Fe Hyde, Sheika (2010)

Character: Sheika, a woman whose two sons were killed by a vigilante group

The controversy behind the casting of Sheika is probably as well-known now as the film itself, and it’s evident why so much was at stake: Sheika is a star-making role, and Hyde’s tornado of a performance rightfully embarrassed the people who insisted that director Arnel Mardoquio cast an established actor instead. Hyde’s superb portrayal here is powerful argument that regional cinema needs regional actors.

“Hyde is fierce in Sheika. She goes from protective to vengeful mother in a bat of an eyelash. She is loving, broken, angst-ridden, and out of her mind.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

26. Cherie Gil, Sonata (2013)

Character: Regina Cadena, a washed-up opera singer recuperating in their family hacienda

“The sublime Cherie is superb as her character shuttles between a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown and her weak grip on lucidity—but, her friendship with Jonjon and his teenage friend, Ping (the note-worthy Joshua Pineda), soon nurses her back to sanity! Their raw and riveting portrayals are the film’s antidote against its occasional melodramatic excesses.” – Rito Asilo

“She is larger than life (what diva isn’t?) yet fragile and vulnerable. When a veteran actor like Gil delights in finding the role of her life, we viewers are only too happy for her.” – SCL

25. Barbie Forteza, Mariquina (2014)

Character: Imelda Guevara, a high-school student coping with her troubled mother’s sudden departure

Imelda Guevara is undoubtedly Forteza’s breakout role. In Mariquina, she personifies the amalgamation of elements that make up our collective high school experience, falling in love, shaping our emerging identities, rebelling against our overprotective parents. And, when one of her parents left, Forteza’s shattered spirit is our own.

“It is such a tremendous performance. At the beginning I thought she would just be a passive character but the story provided her with so much that in lesser actresses would have become melodramatic. In the end Forteza gives her career-high performance at such a young age.” – Carl Joseph Papa

24. Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Transit (2013)

Character: Yael, a teenage daughter of a Filipino migrant worker in Israel

“Curtis-Smith imbues her character with both youthful warmth and mature countenance that viewers gravitate towards.” – SCL

23. Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa (2013)

Character: Lourdes Lagrimas, a single mother who inherits her late husband’s underground empire

“Alajar goes deep into the heart of Lourdes, covers it in metal casing, and goes through life without fearing anyone. Even so, she hasn’t lost her ferocious maternal instinct and when provoked, hell hath no fury indeed.” – SCL

“As matriarch of a crime family, Alajar means business.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

22. Annicka Dolonius, Ang Nawawala (2012)

Character: Enid, a hipster who seduces a guy and helps him come out of his shell only to break his heart

“Dolonius is a breath of fresh air and is so natural on screen. Even if you root for Enid and Gibson’s romance, you will understand that her world-weary jadedness is not the perfect match to his pure innocence.” – SCL

“Dolonius gives a surprisingly spectacular performance.” – Carl Joseph Papa

“Dolonius is luminous.” – Manuel Pangaruy

“Dolonius is refreshing.” – Rito Asilo

21. Ricky Davao, Mariquina (2014)

Character: Romeo Guevara, a shoemaker dealing with the consequences of his wife’s departure

Just when we thought that Ricky Davao has already exhausted his talents as an actor, he ups and surprises us with his quietly devastating turn in Milo Sogueco’s melodrama of regret and reconciliation.

“Davao is a Cinemalaya regular. But I have never seen him in such great form before. And of all the performances that I have seen from him, this might be his best, to date.” – Carl Joseph Papa

*

PART 1: Nos. 100 to 81

PART 2: Nos. 80 to 61

PART 3: Nos. 60 to 41

PART 5: Nos. 20 to 11

PART 6: Nos. 10 to 1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

20. Mimi Juareza, Quick Change (2013)

Character: Dorina Pineda, a transwoman running an illegal cosmetic-surgery business

“The idiosyncratic Quick Change fields superlative portrayals from its whole ensemble, led by Mimi Juareza in an indelible, career-making performance.” – Rito Asilo

“Mimi Juareza’s brave performance in Quick Change should make all gender-specific Best Actor/Best Actress categories irrelevant. As Dorina, a transgender who beautifies fellow transgenders by injecting their skins with a dangerous black-market substance, Juareza is all woman, even with that thing dangling between her legs. As the film’s lead character, it would have been very tempting for Juareza to upstage the many colorful supporting characters surrounding her by playing it big, but she refuses that easy route and goes instead for the subtle approach, imbuing Dorina with a quiet grace even as she shows us her character’s silent suffering as her world slowly unravels.” – SCL

19. Angeli Bayani, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013)

Character: Eliza, wife of a man wrongfully accused of murder

Bayani’s trademark serene underacting is given full focus whenever she’s in a Lav Diaz film and it’s clearly evident here as she plays a suffering mother at her wit’s end. Despite her small frame, she lends Eliza a solemn dignity and pride.

18. Kristoffer King, Oros (2012)

Character: Makoy, a saklaan operator who prolongs funerals so he can make more money

“The film is buoyed by the natural grace of King, who’s fantastic. He navigates Baseco as though he isn’t acting.” – Cathy Peña

“King defines naturalistic acting so much that you will second-guess yourself whether you’re watching a fictional film or a documentary. Acting coaches would benefit from using Oros as instruction material.” – SCL

17. Cherry Pie Picache, Isda (2011)

Character: Lina, a woman living in a dumpsite who gives birth to a fish

“Carrying her ‘fish child’ around with a desperate sense of affection has got to be one of the hardest things to parlay.” – Cathy Peña

“Kahit wala s’yang masyadong ipinakitang bago, na-maintain naman n’ya ‘yung pagiging consistent sa delivery. Hindi n’ya nilagyan ng butas ang storytelling na maaaring kasingitan ng pagkutya mula sa audience. Natatawa ang manonood hindi dahil sa kanyang dilemma kundi sa irony ng kanyang sitwasyon.” – Manuel Pangaruy

16. Jericho Rosales, Alagwa (2012)

Character: Robert Lim, a widowed father of a young boy who goes missing

“Rosales finds his best role yet in Robert. He’s in almost every scene yet he never once hits a false note. It helps that he has great chemistry with Bugoy Cariño who plays his son.” – SCL

15. Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana (2014)

Character:  Mace Castillo, a young woman who finds solace from her heartbreak in a kind stranger

Straddling that fine line between comedy and drama in a single film can be a tricky job. A common tendency of actors is to magnify the extremes to showcase their range. Panganiban wisely downplays her efforts in generating laughter or tears from viewers by just playing it right, respecting the character’s realness and relatability.

“All of Panganiban’s previous roles prepared her for her performance as Mace. Panganiban expertly pulls back her usual babaeng bakla antics and does not go the all-the-way commercial-melodrama route to create a perfect portrait of a recovering heartbroken woman.” – Carl Joseph Papa

14. Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, Niño (2011)

Character: Merced, a spinster who reluctantly takes on the burden of taking care of her aging mother and bedridden uncle in a household sliding to ruin

For Buencamino, considered by many as a goddess of modern Philippine theater, no role is too small. As a family caregiver with burdens of her own, she effortlessly slides into her character, essaying an empathetic performance that will be remembered in years to come.

13. Fides Cuyugan Asensio, Niño (2011)

Character: Celia, once the darling of Philippine opera, who holds a tertulia, inviting her aging opera singer friends, as a last-ditch effort to awaken her bedridden brother

“Asensio gave the best performance in 2011’s Cinemalaya, and it is saddening that she does not get the recognition she deserves. She was an all-around threat. She is perfect in the role: she is funny, she is heartbreaking, and she sings REAAAAALLLY beautifully. I can go all day singing her praises.” – Carl Joseph Papa

12. Eugene Domingo, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011)

Character: Herself as a wealthy movie star who gets cast as Mila, an impoverished mother of seven

“It was a high-wire act that showcased Domingo’s versatility. The degree of difficulty is considerable: there’s drama, comedy and even a dash of musical. There’s even social statement thrown into the fray – and they all worked quite well.” – Cathy Peña

“Sa kaso ni Eugene Domingo, wala namang kokontra na s’ya lang ang maaaring maka-pull off ng ganitong materyal.” – Manuel Pangaruy

11. Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes the Bride (2010)

Character: Stephanie, a young bride who gets possessed by the spirit of a flaming queen in a mysterious solar eclipse

“Her wacky antics and over-the-top performance as a babaeng bakla is a spectacle you shouldn’t miss. I’ve never seen such an effective sexy comedienne since Rufa Mae Quinto played the endowed dimwit in Booba and Boobita Rose.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

“Panganiban is once again a revelation. She relishes her lividly gay persona with spirited brio. Her gay-speak deliveries are, in fact, pleasurable linguistic cadences, deliciously frivolous to inspire streetwise mimics. Yes, Angelica is even gayer than John Lapus in his pinkest moments! What a joy!” – Cathy Peña

*

PART 1: Nos. 100 to 81

PART 2: Nos. 80 to 61

PART 3: Nos. 60 to 41

PART 4: Nos. 40 to 21

PART 6: Nos. 10 to 1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

1. Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw
2. Vilma Santos, Ekstra
3. Nora Aunor, Thy Womb
4. Agot Isidro, Mga Anino ng Kahapon
5. Jericho Rosales, Alagwa
6. Joel Torre, OTJ
7. Angelica Panganiban, Beauty in a Bottle
8. Dennis Trillo, The Janitor
9. Angel Aquino, Huling Cha-cha ni Anita
10. Eugene Domingo, Barber’s Tales

The rest of the list is unranked:

Aga Muhlach, In The Name of Love
Aga Muhlach, Of All The Things
Alden Richards, The Road
Alessandra de Rossi, Baybayin
Alessandra de Rossi, Mauban
Ama Quiambao, Diablo
Andy Bais, Violator
Angel Locsin, One More Try
Angeli Bayani, Bwaya
Angeli Bayani, Norte
Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes The Bride
Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana
Anne Curtis, The Gifted
Annicka Dolonius, Ang Nawawala
Anthony Falcon, Requieme
Art Acuna, Nino
Art Acuna, Posas
Assunta de Rossi, Baybayin
Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
Bea Alonzo, 4 Sisters and a Wedding
Bea Alonzo, Sa ‘Yo Lamang
Bembol Roco, Isda
Bing Pimentel, Mariquina
Carmina Villaroel, The Road
Che Ramos, Mariquina
Cherie Gil, Sonata
Cherry Pie Picache, Isda
Clara Ramona, In Nomine Matris
Coco Martin, Noy
Daniel Fernando, Suntok Sa Buwan
Dante Rivero, 1st Ko So 3rd
Dawn Zulueta, Ang Nawawala
Dingdong Dantes, One More Try
Dolphy, Rosario
Donna Gimeno, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria
Edgar Allan Guzman, Ligo Na U
Erich Gonzales, Once a Princess
Ericka Villongco, Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig
Eugene Domingo, Babae Sa Septic Tank
Eugene Domingo, Here Comes The Bride
Eula Valdez, Dagitab
Fides Cuyugan Asencio, Nino
Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa
Gina Alajar, Sigwa
Hazel Orencio, Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon
Jasmine Curtis Smith, Transit

Joey Paras, Babagwa
Joey Paras, Bwakaw
John Lloyd Cruz, Miss You Like Crazy
Jennylyn Mercado, Rosario
Jodi Sta Maria, Third World Happy
Joel Torre, Kabisera
Joel Torre, OTJ
John Lloyd Cruz, The Trial
Junjun Quintana, A Philippino Story
KC Concepcion, Boy Golden
Kristoffer King, Ad Ignorantiam
Kristoffer King, Oros
Krystle Valentino, Purok 7
Lilia Cintapay, Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay
LJ Reyes, Intoy Syokoy
Lovi Poe, Mayohan
Maja Salvador, Thelma
Mark Gil, A Philippino Story
Mark Gil, Amok
Martin Escudero, Zombadings
Matt Daclan, Soap Opera
Meryl Soriano, Donor
Migs Cuaderno, Purok 7
Mimi Juareza, Quick Change
Mylene Dizon, Aparisyon
Natileigh Sitoy, Soap Opera
Nora Aunor, Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti
Nova Villa, 1st Ko Si 3rd
Pauleen Luna, Gaydar
Pilar Pilapil, Leona Calderon
Ping Medina, Transit
Raquel Villavicencio, Aparisyon
Raquel Villavicencio, Bisperas
Ricky Davao, Mariquina
Ricky Davao, Rosario
Ronaldo Valdez, The Mistress
Ronnie Lazaro, Ishmael
Rustica Carpio, Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?
Sandino Martin, Esprit de Corps
Sef Cadayona, Slumber Party
Shamaine Buencamino, Nino
Sid Lucero, Muli
TJ Trinidad, Mga Anino ng Kahapon
Tommy Abuel, Of All The Things
Vivian Velez, Bendor

*
Skilty Labastilla (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Sid Lucero, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
2. Angel Locsin, One More Try
3. Joel Torre, On the Job
4. Bing Pimentel, Mariquina
5. Dido dela Paz, Amok
6. Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, Lorna
7. Kristoffer King, Oros
8. Nora Aunor, Thy Womb
9. Lovi Poe, Mayohan
10. Fe Virtudazo-Hyde, Sheika
11. Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw
12. Jericho Rosales, Alagwa
13. Bea Alonzo, The Mistress
14. Vilma Santos, Ekstra
15. Jhong Hilario, Badil
16. Art Acuña, Niño
17. Maria Veronica Santiago, Pascalina
18. Angel Locsin, Unofficially Yours
19. Raymond Bagatsing, Boundary
20. John Lloyd Cruz, Unofficially Yours
21. Krystle Valentino, Purok 7
22. Angelica Panganiban, Beauty in a Bottle
23. Eugene Domingo, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
24. Annicka Dolonius, Ang Nawawala
25. Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes the Bride
26. Ronnie Lazaro, Boundary
27. Joel Torre, Kabisera
28. Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Niño
29. Dick Israel , Badil
30. Eula Valdez, Dagitab
31. Yul Servo, Pusang Gala
32. Lovi Poe, Sana Dati
33. Janice de Belen, Pusang Gala
34. Anthony Falcon, Requieme
35. Fides Cuyugan Asensio, Niño
36. Jean Garcia, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
37. Che Ramos, Mariquina
38. Carlo Aquino, Porno
39. Angeli Bayani, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
40. Eugene Domingo, Barber’s Tales
41. Martin Escudero, Zombadings
42. Lilia Cuntapay, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay
43. Sid Lucero, Muli
44. Olga Natividad, Mga Dayo
45. Cherrie Pie Picache, Isda
46. Eugene Domingo, Instant Mommy
47. Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Transit
48. Carla Abellana, Punerarya
49. Jodi Sta. Maria, Third World Happy
50. Mark Gil, Amok
51. Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa
52. Coco Martin, Sta. Niña
53. Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
54. LJ Reyes, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino
55. Edgar Allan Guzman, Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me
56. Kim Chiu, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?
57. Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, Requieme!
58. Carlo Aquino, Mater Dolorosa
59. Jodi Sta. Maria, Aparisyon
60. Alex Medina, Babagwa
61. Vivian Velez, Bendor
62. Gladys Reyes, Barber’s Tales
63. Joel Torre, Siglo ng Pagluluwal
64. TJ Trinidad, Sana Dati
65. Art Acuña, Posas
66. Raquel Villavicencio, Bisperas
67. Diana Zubiri, Bahay Bata
68. Archie Alemania, Slumber Party
69. Rita Avila, Magdamag
70. Mimi Juareza, Quick Change
71. Rocco Nacino, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
72. Cherie Gil, Sonata
73. Mark Gil, A Philippino Story
74. Ronaldo Valdez, The Mistress
75. JM de Guzman, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino
76. Patrick Sugui, The Animals
77. Ricky Davao, Mariquina
78. Alfred Vargas, Supremo
79. Eden Villarba, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria
80. Nikki Gil, Badil
81. Kean Cipriano, Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi
82. Chynna Ortaleza, #Y
83. Sylvia Sanchez, The Trial
84. Kenneth Ocampo, Muli
85. Alessandra de Rossi, Sta. Niña
86. Orlando Sol, Bamboo Flowers
87. Junjun Quintana, A Philippino Story
88. Angel Aquino, Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita
89. Gregg Tecson, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria
90. Nonie Buencamino, Dagitab
91. Maricar Reyes, Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon
92. Enchong Dee, Tuhog
93. Kristoffer King, Ad Ignorantiam
94. Nicholas Varela, Aberya
95. Sam Concepcion, I Do Bidoo Bidoo
96. Bangs Garcia, Lauriana
97. Tuesday Vargas, Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin
98. Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana
99. Lav Diaz, Lorna
100. Arnold Reyes, Kasal

*

Fidel Medel (Pixelated Popcorn, former PEP film reviewer)

1 Fe Hyde, Sheika
2 Nora Aunor, Thy Womb
3 Joel Torre, Kabisera
4 John Arcilla, Metro Manila
5 Dwight Gaston, The Arrival
6 Cherry Pie Picache, Isda
7 Lilia Cuntapay, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay
8 Mart Escudero, Zombadings
9 Arnold Reyes, Graceland
10 Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes the Bride
11 Joel Torre, On The Job
12 Lovi Poe, Sana Dati
13 Ai-Ai De Las Alas, Ronda
14 Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw
15 Ricky Davao, Mariquina
16 Irma Adlawan, Transit
17 Sheenly Gener, Nakabibinging Kadiliman
18 Krystle Valentino, Purok 7
19 Shamaine Buencamino, Nino
20 Eugene Domingo, Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank
21 Mylene Dizon, Aparisyon
22 Raquel Villavicencio, Nino
23 Angel Aquino, Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita
24 Shamaine Buencamino, REquieme!
25 Mylene Dizon, Mariquina
26 Anthony Falcon, REquieme!
27 Joey Paras, Babagwa
28 Art Acuna, Kabisera
29 Bea Alonzo, The Mistress
30 John Lloyd Cruz, The Mistress
31 TJ Trinidad, Sana Dati
32 Jhong Hilario, Badil
33 Eden Villarba, Ang Damgo Ni Eleuteria
34 Jean Garcia, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
35 Mimi Juareza, Quick Change
36 Archie Alemania, Norte
37 Nicco Manalo, The Janitor
38 Mailes Kanapi, Norte
39 Vilma Santos, Ekstra
40 Chyna Hortaleza, #Y
41 Sheen Gener, Walang Katapusang Kwarto
42 Janice de Belen, Mga Mumunting Lihim
43 Nathaniel Britt, Sundalong Kanin
44 Sid Lucero, Norte
45 Cherie Gil, Sonata
46 Angeli Bayani, Norte
47 Eula Valdez, Dagitab
48 Nico Antonio, Posas
49 Raquel Villavicencio, Aparisyon
50 Dido dela Paz, Amok
51 Marc Abaya, Dagim
52 Bugoy Carino, Alagwa
53 Ronnie Lazaro, Ishmael
54 Ronnie Lazaro, Boundary
55 Raymond Bagatsing, Boundary
56 Martin del Rosario, Dagitab
57 Pen Medina, Layang Bilanggo
58 Paolo O’ Hara, Sundalong Kanin
59 Publio Briones, My Paranormal Romance
60 Art Acuna, Nino
61 Arnel Ignacio, Melodrama Negra
62 Dimples Romana, Blue Bustamante
63 Jodi Sta. Maria, Third World Happy
64 Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Nino
65 Irma Adlawan, Vox Populi
66 Meryll Soriano, Donor
67 Bembol Roco, Isda
68 Paulo Avelino, Ang Sayaw Ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
69 Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa
70 Dulce, Emir
71 Dominic Roco, Ang Nawawala
72 Jasmine Curtis, Transit
73 Donna Gimeno, Ang Damgo Ni Eleuteria
74 Ama Quiambao, Diablo
75 LJ Reyes, The Leaving
76 Irma Adlawan, Sta. Nina
77 Tessie Tomas, The Red Shoes
78 Marc Justine Alvarez, Transit
79 Coco Martin, Sta. Nina
80 Anita Linda, Sta. Nina
81 Che Ramos, Faculty
82 Alessandra De Rossi, Ka Oryang
83 Ruby Ruiz, Ekstra
84 Jericho Rosales, Alagwa
85 Marvin Agustin, Sigwa

*

Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Sid Lucero, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
2. Fe GingGing Hyde, Sheika
3. Nora Aunor, Thy Womb
4. Joel Torre, Kabisera
5. Pen Medina, Kamera Obskura
6. Jodie Sta. Maria, Chassis
7. Max Eigenmann, Rigodon
8. Arnalyn Ismael, Halaw
9. JM de Guzman, Pintakasi
10. Olga Natividad, Mga Dayo
11. Joel Torre, OTJ
12. Sid Lucero, Muli
13. Meryll Soriano, Donor
14. Kristoffer King, Oros
15. Mark Gil, Philippino Story
16. Martin Escudero, Zombadings
17. Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes the Bride
18. Anthony Falcon, Requieme
19. Jess Mendoza, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness
20. Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Niño
21. Donna Gimeno, Ang Damgo Ni Eleuteria
22. Irma Adlawan, Transit
23. Matt Daclan, Soap Opera
24. LJ Reyes, Intoy Syokoy
25. Rocco Nacino, Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
26. Wildredo Layug, Dukit
27. Ruby Ruiz, Ekstra
28. Archie Alemania, Slumber Party
29. Lovi Poe, Sana Dati
30. Eugene Domingo, Barber’s Tales
31. Maria Veronica Santiago, Pascalina
32. Pen Medina, Layang Bilanggo
33. Andy Bais, Violator
34. Vilma Santos, Ekstra
35. Alwyn Uytingco, The Leaving
36. Sue Prado, Mga Dayo
37. Carla Abellana Shake, Rattle and Roll 12 (Punerarya)
38. Felix Roco, Shift
39. Raymond Bagatsing, Boundary
40. Jimmy Santos, Bang Bang Alley
41. Rustica Carpio, Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?
42. Bor Ocampo, Dukit
43. Jandro Asuncion, Kordero sa Dios
44. Eula Valdez, Dagitab
45. Shamaine Buencamino, Niño
46. Carlo Aquino, Porno
47. Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw
48. Julio Diaz, Magkakapatid
49. Ronnie Lazaro, Boundary
50. Shamaine Buencamino, Lorna
51. Arron Villaflor, Astro Mayabang
52. Opaline Santos, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness
53. Joem Bascon, QWERTY
54. Alex Medina, Babagwa
55. Liza Dino, In Nomine Matris
56. Sandino Martin, Esprit de Corps
57. Rita Avila, Magdamag
58. Nicholas Varela, Aberya
59. Dominic Roco, Ang Nawawala
60. Junjun Quintana, Bingoleras
61. Agot Isidro, Mga Anino ng Kahapon
62. Art Acuña, Posas
63. Aga Muhlach, Of All the Things
64. Raquel Villavicencio, Niño
65. Buboy Villar, Children’s Show
66. Kristofer Martin, Oros
67. Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa
68. Alessandra de Rossi, Ka Oryang
69. Ronnie Quizon, Rekorder
70. Jericho Rosales, Alagwa
71. Sarah Geronimo, Catch Me I’m In Love
72. Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana
73. John Lapus, I Do Bidoo Bidoo
74. Ronnie Lazaro, Ishmael
75. Sam Milby, Third World Happy
76. Alfred Vargas, Teoriya
77. Angel Locsin, One More Try
78. Edgar Allan, Guzman Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me
79. Angeli Bayani, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
80. Angel Aquino, Huling Chacha ni Anita
81. Arnold Reyes, Kasal
82. Alchris Galura, Ang Nawawala
83. Coney Reyes, Four Weddings and a Wedding
84. Martin del Rosario, Dagitab
85. Shamaine Buencamino, Maskara
86. Julia Clarete, Bisperas
87. Carla Abellana, So It’s You
88. Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
89. Sef Cadayona, Slumber Party
90. Gloria Sevilla, Boy Golden
91. Annicka Dolonius, Ang Nawawala
92. Mylene Dizon, Aparisyon
93. Jhong Hilario, Badil
94. Kalila Aguilos, Emir
95. Andi Eigenmann, Pridyider
96. John Pratts, Sitio
97. JM de Guzman, Rekrut
98. Erich Gonzales, Mariposa: Sa Hawla ng Gabi
99. Max Eigenmann, Bingoleras
100. Agot Isidro, Mga Mumunting Lihim

*

Carl Joseph Papa (Whatever Carl)

1 Lilia Cuntapay, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay
2 Fe Ginging Hyde, Sheika
3 Dick Israel, Badil
4 Neil Ryan Sese, Di Natatapos ang Gabi
5 Fides Cuyugan Asensio, Nino
6 Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana
7 Angelina Kanapi, Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio
8 Olga Natividad, Mga Dayo
9 Arron Villaflor, Astro Mayabang
10 Sid Lucero, Muli
11 Krystle Valentino, Purok 7
12 Jess Mendoza, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness
13 Martin Escudero, Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington
14 Jean Garcia, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
15 Arnalyn Ismael, Halaw
16 Sue Prado, Mga Dayo
17 Nicholas Varela, Aberya
18 Dominic Roco, Ang Nawawala
19 Irma Adlawan, Vox Populi
20 Annicka Dolonius, Ang Nawawala
21 Angeli Bayani, Norte Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
22 Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw
23 Cherry Pie Picache, Isda
24 Meryl Soriano, Donor
25 Nonie Buencamino, Dagitab
26 Eden Villarba, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum
27 Ricky Davao, Mariquina
28 Baron Geisler, Donor
29 Alex Medina, Babagwa
30 Geraldine Villamil, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay
31 Rustica Carpio, Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?
32 Nora Aunor, Thy Womb
33 Eugene Domingo, Barber’s Tales
34 Joy Viado, MNL 143
35 Ina Feleo, Maskara
36 Eugene Domingo, Instant Mommy
37 Eula Valdez, Dagitab
38 Irma Adlawan, Sta Nina
39 Jodi Sta. Maria, Aparisyon
40 Shamaine Buencamino Centenera, Nino
41 Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
42 Jasmine Curtis Smith, Transit
43 Opaline Santos, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness
44 Gina Alajar, Mater Dolorosa
45 Marc Justine Alvarez, Transit
46 Joey Paras, Babagwa
47 Jhong Hilario, Badil
48 Greg Tecson, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum
49 Patrick Sugui, The Animals
50 Arnel Ignacio, Melodrama Negra
51 Chynna Ortaleza, #Y
52 Hazel Orencio, Siglo ng Pagluluwal
53 Art Acuna, Nino
54 Jodi Sta. Maria, Chassis
55 Allan Paule, MNL 143
56 Angel Aquino, Porno
57 Anita Linda, Sta Nina
58 Vilma Santos, Ekstra
59 Joel Torre, OTJ
60 Mylene Dizon, Aparisyon
61 Tuesday Vargas, Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Din
62 Anita Linda, Presa
63 Joel Torre, Kabisera
64 Archie Alemana, Norte Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayaan
65 Spanky Manikad, Alienasyon
66 Teri Malvar, Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita
67 Bembol Roco, Isda
68 Ama Quiambao, Diablo
69 Bing Pimentel, Mariquina
70 Nicco Manalo, San Lazaro
71 Angelica Panganiban, Here Comes the Bride
72 Karl Medina, Bwaya
73 Joey Marquez, OTJ
74 John Arcilla, Halaw
75 Sid Lucero, Norte Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
76 Arnold Reyes, Kasal
77 Kristofer King, Oros
78 Maria Veronica Santiago, Pascalina
79 Felix Roco, Ang Nawawala
80 Eugene Domingo, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
81 Coleen Garcia, #Y
82 Martin del Rosario, Dagitab
83 Janice de Belen, Mga Mumunting Lihim
84 Carlo Aquino, Mater Dolorosa
85 Albie Casino, The Animals
86 Angeli Bayani, Bwaya
87 Leo Martinez, Tuhog
88 Alden Richards, The Road
89 Joey Marquez, Tiktik The Aswang Chronicles
90 Angel Aquino, Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita
91 Mimi Juareza, Quick Change
92 Fe Gingging Hyde, Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim
93 Agot Isidro, Mga Mumunting Lihim
94 Coco Martin, Noy
95 Carlo Aquino, Porno
96 Roderick Paulate, Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington
97 Regine Velasquez, Of All the Things
98 Cherie Gil, Sonata
99 Rocco Nacino, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
100 Carmina Villaroel, The Road

*

Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

1. Eugene Domingo – Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
2. Vilma Santos – Ekstra
3. Nora Aunor – Thy Womb
4. Joel Torre – On the Job
5. Angelica Panganiban – Beauty in a Bottle/ That Thing Called Tadhana
6. Eddie Garcia – Bwakaw
7. Eula Valdez – Dagitab
8. Mimi Juareza – Quick Change
9. LJ Reyes – Intoy Syokoy sa Kalye Marino
10. Matt Daclan – Soap Opera

Note: I was mulling over my choices and seriously thought about Eugene Domingo’s role in “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank”. It was a high-wire act that showcased Domingo’s versatility. The degree of difficulty is considerable: there’s drama, comedy and even a dash of musical. There’s even social statement thrown into the fray – and they all worked quite well. When I am faced with a tough decision (should it be Nora, Vilma or Eugene?), I try resorting to an educated decision; an academic criteria, if you will, to get a more objective result. If this were a point-system, Domingo will get all the points ticked. As for Angelica Panganiban, how can anyone choose between her two films: “Beauty in a Bottle” and “That Thing Called Tadhana”? They’re companion pieces. Matt Daclan is just fantastic in “Soap Opera”, a major find for 2014 and deserves to be in this list. The rest of my top 100 are unranked.

1. Aga Muhlach – “In the Name of Love”
2. Aga Muhlach – “Of All the Things”
3. Agot Isidro – “Mga Anino ng Kahapon”
4. Alessandra de Rossi – “Mauban: Ang Resiko”
5. Alessandra de Rossi – “Relaks… It’s Just Pag Ibig”
6. Ama Quiambao – “Diablo”
7. Ananda Everingham – “Kalayaan”
8. Andy Bais – “Violator”
9. Angel Aquino – “Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita”
10. Angel Locsin – “In the Name of Love”
11. Angel Locsin – “One More Try”
12. Angeli Bayani – “Bwaya”
13. Angeli Bayani – “Iloilo”
14. Angelica Panganiban – “Beauty in a Bottle”
15. Angelica Panganiban – “Here Comes the Bride”
16. Angelica Panganiban – “One More Try”
17. Angelica Panganiban – “That Thing Called Tadhana”
18. Annicka Dolonius – “Ang Nawawala”
19. Art Acuna – “Posas”
20. Barbie Forteza – “Mariquina”
21. Bea Alonzo – “The Mistress”
22. Bing Loyzaga – “Dementia”
23. Bing Pimentel – “Kabisera”
24. Bing Pimentel – “Mariquina”
25. Carla Abellana- “Shake, Rattle & Roll 12: Punerarya”
26. Carmina Villaroel – “The Road”
27. Cherrie Pie Picache – “Isda”
28. Cherry Gil – “Sonata”
29. Coco Martin – “Santa Nina”
30. Coleen Garcia – “#Y”
31. Daniel Fernando – “Suntok sa Buwan”
32. Dante Rivero – “1st Ko si Third”
33. Dante Rivero – “The Janitor”
34. Dennis Trillo – “Ang Katiwala”
35. Dennis Trillo – “The Janitor”
36. Diana Zubiri – “Bantay Bata”
37. Dingdong Dantes – “One More Try”
38. Dingdong Dantes – “Segunda Mano”
39. Eddie Garcia – “Bwakaw”
40. Erich Gonzales – “Once a Princess”
41. Eugene Domingo – “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank”
42. Eugene Domingo – “Barber’s Tales”
43. Eula Valdez – “Dagitab”
44. Frenchescka Farr – “Emir”
45. Garry Lim – “Amok”
46. Gladys Reyes – “Barber’s Tale”
47. Gloria Sevilla – “Boy Golden”
48. Hilda Koronel – “The Mistress”
49. J.C. Santos – “Esprit de Corps”
50. Jake Cuenca – “Lihis”
51. Jake Cuenca – “Nuwebe”
52. Janice de Belen – “Pridyider”
53. Jasmine Curtis-Smith – “Dementia”
54. Jasmine Curtis-Smith – “Transit”
55. Jennylyn Mercado – “Rosario”
56. Jericho Rosales – “Alagwa”
57. Jess Mendoza – “Mauban: Ang Resiko”
58. Ji-Soo Kim – “Seoul Mates”
59. JM de Guzman – “That Thing Called Tadhana”
60. Jodi Santa Maria – “Third World Happy”
61. Joel Lamangan – “Violator”
62. Joel Torre – “Kabisera”
63. Joel Torre – “On the Job”
64. Joey Paras – “Last Supper No. 3”
65. John Lloyd Cruz – “Unofficially Yours”
66. John Lloyd Cruz – “The Trial”
67. John Regala – “Zombadings I: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington”
68. Kathryn Bernardo – “Shake, Rattle & Roll 13: Parola”
69. Kristoffer King – “Ad Ignorantiam”
70. Kristoffer Martin – “Oros”
71. LJ Reyes – “Intoy Syokoy sa Kalye Marino”
72. Lou Veloso – Tigbao
73. Lovi Poe – “Soap Opera”
74. Lovi Poe – “Temptation Island”
75. Mark Gil – “Amok”
76. Martin del Rosario – “Dagitab”
77. Martin Escudero – “Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington”
78. Matt Daclan – “Soap Opera”
79. Mimi Juareza – “Quick Change”
80. Nataleigh Sitoy – “Soap Opera”
81. Nicholas Varela – “Aberya”
82. Nora Aunor – “Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti”
83. Nora Aunor – “Hustisya”
84. Nora Aunor – “Thy Womb”
85. Odette Khan – “Shake, Rattle & Roll 12: Punerarya”
86. Pauleen Luna – Gaydar
87. Pen Medina – “Layang Bilanggo”
88. Pilar Pilapil – Leona Calderon
89. Ricky Davao – “Mariquina”
90. Ronaldo Valdez – “The Mistress”
91. Rustica Carpio – Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?
92. Sandino Martin, “Dagitab”
93. Sandino Martin, “Esprit de Corps”
94. Sandino Martin, “Unfriend”
95. Sandy Talag – Lilet Never Happened
96. Shamaine Buencamino, “Lorna “
97. Sid Lucero – “Norte Hangganan ng Kasaysayan”
98. Teri Malvar – “Ang Huling Cha cha ni Anita”
99. Toni Gonzaga – “Starting Over Again”
100. Vilma Santos – “Ekstra”

MULTIPLE MENTIONS 

10. Sid Lucero, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013)

Character: Fabian, an embittered law student who commits a brutal murder

“It’s now common knowledge that Lucero is one of the finest actors not just of his but of any generation. He has mastered the naturalistic speaking style, the way people stammer and hesitate and pause when talking in real life. Working with Lav Diaz, who is known to give his actors free rein over their performances, must have been heaven for Lucero who, as Fabian, a disaffected youth who deals with the consequences of a crime he committed, gets to display his acting chops in full throttle, knowing full well that he will most likely never get another role that will be as meaty and as complex. A towering performance if there ever was one.” – SCL

9. Eugene Domingo, Barber’s Tales (2014)

Character: Marilou Aguallo, a newly widowed woman who inherits the town’s only barbershop from her husband

“Domingo’s boundless dramatic gifts continue to unravel as she delivers a master class in thespic restraint and subtlety in her prized portrayal of a subservient housewife. She is a thespic knockout from beginning to end—you won’t miss the knowing twinkle in her eyes we often see in her crowd-pleasing ‘dramedic’ potboilers, even in the production’s random moments of angst-leavening humor. Her character’s situations may be dire, but she manages to keep her scenes from becoming overwhelmingly treacly. Eugene is smart enough to know that gut-wrenching ululations of grief don’t necessarily result in a textured characterization. Without a doubt, hers is one of the year’s finest performances.” – Rito Asilo

8. Angel Aquino, Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita (2013)

Character: Pilar, a mysterious woman who becomes the object of a pubescent girl’s affection

No other actor could have played the complicated Pilar the way Aquino did. The role calls for a gorgeous actor who is capable of showing a dark side and Aquino gets under the skin of her character, that when she breaks Anita’s heart, we wanted to shake her silly and forgive her at the same time.

“Aquino was a beguiling presence in Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita.” – Cathy Peña

7. Joel Torre, Kabisera (2013)

Character: Andres, a simple fisherman who finds part of a consignment of drugs floating in the sea and decides to run a drug empire

“Torre portrays Andres with a mix of apprehension, excitement, familial love, obsession, and menace, and makes it all too human that even as we curse him for making wrong decisions along the way, we can understand why he had to do the things he did. If that, meaning eliciting empathy, is not the goal of acting in the first place, nobody knows what is.” – SCL

6. Martin Escudero, Zombadings (2011)

Character: Remington, a homophobe cursed by a wizard to turn gay on his 21st birthday

“His character shifts and emotional upheavals are competently delivered in the subtlest movements. He perfected the nuance of a flaming (queen) who’s hard-pressed in controlling his emerging effete tendencies. What a joy to watch!” – Cathy Peña

“Escudero is a stunning discovery. His comic talent is impeccable. He speaks, sashays, and acts like a real gay man! He is the crowning glory of Zombadings.” – Fidel Antonio Medel

5. Eula Valdez, Dagitab (2014)

Character: Issey Tolentino, a Humanities professor who gets entangled in an extramarital scandal

Valdez almost did not get to play Issey Tolentino, the juicily complex professor character written by director Giancarlo Abrahan, because of scheduling conflicts. The stars must have aligned for the role to be offered back to her, after the replacement actors also backed out, because we can’t imagine any other actor who could give the role justice. Valdez lends Issey a delightful blend of sexiness, intelligence and mystery that makes her riveting to watch.

“Valdez is a great actress and it is not up until now that she is given more to work with and she is just amazing.” – Carl Joseph Papa

4. Vilma Santos, Ekstra (2013)

Character: Loida Malabanan, a single mother who acts as a bit player in TV soaps

“For naysayers who scoff at the actress’ penchant for physical acting, here’s a movie that shows the egoless Vilma—warts, wrinkles, eye bags and all—at her quietly insightful and vulnerable best, as she fights for better roles on the set of a teleserye that must finish 45 sequences overnight. She’ll break your heart especially in scenes that require no dialogue, particularly in the sequence that shows Loida quietly watching her botched scene with Cherie Gil and Pilar Pilapil.” – Rito Asilo

“After a harrowing day on the set where she lost a good role, Loida returns to an empty home. She boils water for a bath, then transfixes her gaze on the table. She starts to eat the leftover food she took home from the set; then eats like there’s no tomorrow, drowning out her frustration and embarrassment. You could see all the pent-up emotions on her face as she masticates and swallows and weeps? The scene is short and line-free, but it packs a wallop. It showcases the emotional power of Vilma Santos as the seasoned and sincere actress that she has become. No lines needed.” –  Cathy Peña

“The only way to silence the doubters is to turn in a nuanced, convincing performance.  It’s a testament to Santos’ instinct as an actor that she finds the honest core of Loida and operates from there. Everything else follows.” – SCL

3. Eddie Garcia, Bwakaw (2012)

Character: Rene, a closeted gay septuagenarian who finds comfort in the company of his dog

“Garcia is simply marvelous as the late-blooming homosexual. He masterfully circumvents the stereotypical picture of a washed up gay man. We last saw his brilliance in I.C.U. Bed #7 and we feel honored to witness a level of artistry achieved only by years of insightful experience. Garcia is exquisite in his grief and cantankerous manner. He is delight nonpareil.” –  Cathy Peña

“It’s a testament to Garcia’s talent that Rene, the testy curmudgeon that he is, never loses the empathy of viewers. We cheer him on when he gets the courage to act on his feelings for a younger man and grieve with him when he loses a loved one. And in the end, when he decides to turn a new leaf in his twilight, we, too, wish to have the desire to face life head on even in old age.” – SCL

“It’s hard to beat Eddie Garcia’s tragicomic turn in Bwakaw.” – Rito Asilo

2. Joel Torre, On the Job (2013)

Character:  Mario Maghari aka Tatang, a prisoner hired as an assassin

“It is in Torre’s crackerjack portrayal that the film finds its soul—he is ruthless one minute and vulnerable the next, and he juggles those emotions with audacious believability. Watch how the 52-year-old actor knocks his final scene with Anderson out of the thespic ballpark—as they forge their friendship with a shocking gesture of sacrifice!” – Rito Asilo

“Torre schools younger, studlier co-stars in acting by showing that you don’t have to look the part of an action star to deliver a knockout performance – you only have to fully inhabit the character and make sure that you’re playing not just a role but a whole, complex human being. Viewers saw that in Torre’s morally hollow Tatang yet fully understood him nonetheless.” – SCL

1. Nora Aunor, Thy Womb (2012)

Character: Shaleha, a Badjao midwife who helps her husband search for a second wife

“Aunor’s silent but intensely immersive portrayal. Nora will break your heart as her world-weary face lights up at the film’s final fade. Like the movie itself, Shaleha doesn’t know the fate that awaits her after she delivers Mersila’s baby, but the evocative eyes of the legendary actress who portrays her do!” – Rito Asilo

“Much has been said about Aunor’s eyes that speak volumes, and director Brillante Mendoza utilizes them to the hilt with numerous close-ups. But more than the eyes, it’s Aunor’s body language here that makes her performance captivating. She has fully inhabited the role of a barren midwife and completely understood the verité style favored by Mendoza that you don’t see her act. It’s as if every line she says is something she herself, not the scriptwriter, has thought of. For a movie legend to completely disappear in a role is such a daunting task, but Aunor makes it look so damn easy.” – SCL

“La Aunor succeeded as she gracefully disappeared into her character without much vocal calisthenics or excessive physical artifice.” – Cathy Peña

*

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

PART 1: Nos. 100 to 81

PART 2: Nos. 80 to 61

PART 3: Nos. 60 to 41

PART 4: Nos. 40 to 21

PART 5: Nos. 20 to 11

Dagitab, Giancarlo Abrahan’s debut feature about two intellectuals whose marriage is tested by the husband’s memory of a past lover and the wife’s dalliance with a precocious student, tops Pinoy Rebyu’s 4^th Annual Poll of the best in Philippine cinema, as voted by online film reviewers, while Eula Valdes’ portrayal of the wife embroiled in an extramarital scandal is voted best lead performance.

Dagitab also took the top prizes for best screenplay (Abrahan), best first feature, best cinematography (Rommel Sales), and best scene (for the much-talked about beach scene).

Dagitab topped Lav Diaz’s pre-Martial Law drama Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon (2^nd best film) and Sigrid Bernardo’s dramedy on elderly romance Lorna (3^rd best film). Valdes edged out Shamaine Buencamino’s turn as a senior citizen longing for love in Lorna (2^nd best lead performance), and Eugene Domingo’s take on an abused rural wife in Barber’s Tales (3^rd best lead performance).

Barbie Forteza’s portrayal of a high school student abandoned by her mother in Mariquina was adjudged best supporting performance, edging out two performances by Gladys Reyes: as a hard-hearted mother in Magkakabaung and as a battered wife who gets her comeuppance in Barber’s Tales, with both performances tying for second place.

Jun Lana was voted best director for Barber’s Tales, which also topped the best editing category for Lawrence Ang. Meanwhile, the music for Mariquina was voted best score or soundtrack.

Babyruth Villarama’s Little Azkals was picked as best documentary, while Petersen Vargas’ Lisyun Qng Geografia was chosen best short film.

For the 2014 poll, 11 film writers participated, although for the best film category, published lists of three more reviewers were included in the tally. Click HERE for the full tally and individual ballots.

When we conducted our 2013 poll for the Greatest Pinoy Films of All Time list, 81 respondents (critics, filmmakers, archivists, academics, etc.) provided us with a total of 204 films, ranging from obscure gems like Kidlat Tahimik’s Orbit 50: Letters to My 3 Sons to the unabashedly campy No Other Woman. We decided then to limit the list to 50 because we had a lot of ties, and it seemed unwieldy to publish a top 100 list with so many ties.

That was before we discovered a sensible method to break ties based on which of the tied films are ranked higher by their voters. We have since used that method to rank the 100 Best Performances of the Half-Decade. It’s a pretty boring task to detail the equation we used (you can message us if you want to know how we did it) so let us get on with the more exciting job of revealing which films are the 50 next best.

100 – Tanging Yaman (Laurice Guillen, 2000)

99 – Emily (Gregorio Fernandez, 1960)

98 – Pila Balde (Jeffrey Jeturian, 1999)

97 – Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi (Danny Zialcita, 1983)

96 – Dahas (Chito Roño, 1995)

95 – Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (Lino Brocka, 1979)

94 – Sanda Wong (Gerardo de Leon, 1955)

93 – Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa (Celso Ad. Castillo, 1974)

92 – Cain at Abel (Lino Brocka, 1982)

91 – Puting Paalam (Sari Lluch Dalena, 1997)

90 – Temptation Island (Joey Gosiengfiao, 1980)

89 – Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw (Celso Ad. Castillo, 1975)

88 – Pagdating sa Dulo (Ishmael Bernal, 1971)

87 – One More Chance (Cathy Garcia-Molina, 2007)

86 – Laman (Maryo J. delos Reyes, 2002)

85 – Palabra de Honor (Danny Zialcita, 1983)

84 – Milagros (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, 1997)

83 – Pare Ko (Jose Javier Reyes, 1995)

82 – Maicling Pelicula nang Ysang Indio Nacional (Raya Martin, 2005)

81 – Lucia (Mel Chionglo, 1992)

80 – Sisa (Gerardo de Leon, 1951)

79 – Biyaheng Lupa (Armando Lao, 2009)

78 – Tirador (Brillante Mendoza, 2008)

77 – Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (Gerardo de Leon, 1960)

76 – Bulaklak ng Maynila (Joel Lamangan, 1999)

75 – Now Showing (Raya Martin, 2008)

74 – Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi (Sherad Anthony Sanchez, 2006)

73 – Ang Kabiyak (Danny Zialcita, 1980)

72 – Confessional (Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto, 2007)

71 – Luksang Tagumpay (Gregorio Fernandez, 1956)

70 – Anak (Rory Quintos, 2000)

69 – Shake, Rattle and Roll (Emmanuel Borlaza, Ishmael Bernal, Peque Gallaga, 1984)

68 – Juan Tamad Goes to Congress (Manuel Conde, 1960)

67 – Sibak: Midnight Dancers (Mel Chionglo, 1994)

66 – Miguelito: Ang Batang Rebelde (Lino Brocka, 1985)

65 – Ang Ninanais (John Torres, 2010)

64 – Riles (Ditsi Carolino, 2002)

63 – Haplos (Tony Perez, 1982)

62 – Jose Rizal (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, 1998)

61 – Independencia (Raya Martin, 2009)

60 – Misteryo sa Tuwa (Abbo dela Cruz, 1984)

59 – Ang Magpakailanman (Raymond Red, 1982)

58 – Lola (Brillante Mendoza, 2009)

57 – Working Girls (Ishmael Bernal, 1984)

56 – Salome (Laurice Guillen, 1981)

55 – Todo Todo Teros (John Torres, 2006)

54 – Bulaklak sa City Jail (Mario O’Hara, 1984)

53 – Broken Marriage (Ishmael Bernal, 1983)

52 – Noli Me Tangere (Gerardo de Leon, 1961)

51 – Thy Womb (Brillante Mendoza, 2012)

50-41

40-31

30-21

20-11

10-1

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS

Movie reviewers have voted the cinemas in Quezon City’s TriNoma mall as the best in 2015. Aside from screening commercial fare, TriNoma cinemas have hosted several film festivals last year, including successful runs of QCinema, International Pink Festival, and Cinema One Originals Film Festival.

The movie theaters of Greenhills Promenade and Gateway Cineplex, which both feature a Dolby Atmos theater, were voted and second and third best, respectively.

1 – TriNoma Cinemas, Quezon City (13 points)

2 – Greenhills Promenade Movie Theater, San Juan (11 points)

3 – Gateway Cineplex, Quezon City (10 points)

4 – Greenbelt Cinemas, Makati (9 points)

5 – Shang Cineplex, Mandaluyong (8 points)

6 – Glorietta Cinemas, Makati (5 points, 4 votes)

7 – Century City Mall Cinemas, Makati (5 points, 2 votes)

8 – Newport Mall Cinemas, Pasay (4 points)

9 – Bonifacio High Street Cinemas, Taguig (3 points)

9 – Eastwood Mall Cinemas, Quezon City (3 points)

9 – Fisher Mall Cinemas, Quezon City (3 points)

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS »

MAYK ALEGRE (Cinemaddict)

1. Shang Cineplex, EDSA Shangri-la
2. Ayala Cinema, Glorietta 4
3. Gateway Cineplex

 JAMES ESPINOZA (Film Police Reviews)

1. Promenade
2. Greenbelt
3. Cine Adarna

JONELL ESTILLORE (Cinema Bravo)

Best Movie Theater

1. Eastwood Mall Cinema
2. Greenbelt 3 Cinema
3. Gateway Cineplex

Worst Movie Theater

SM Cinemas, particularly SM Megamall Cinemas

EMIL HOFILEÑA (Cinemil Writes)

1. Trinoma
2. Shangri-La
3. SM Megamall

KAYO JOLONGBAYAN (Film Police Reviews)

1. Trinoma cinema
2. Teatrino
3. Greenhills Promenade

SKILTY LABASTILLA (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Gateway Dolby Atmos
2. Megamall IMAX
3. Trinoma Cinemas

MACKY MACARAYAN (Death of Traditional Cinema)

1. Greenhills Dolby Atmos Cinema 8
2. Trinoma Cinema 7
3. Shang Cineplex Premiere Cinema

RENELSON MORELOS (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

1. Trinoma
2. Gateway
3. SM Marikina

NOOD.PH

1. Trinoma cinemas
2. SM City North Edsa cinemas
3. SM Megamall cinemas

MANUEL PANGARUY (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Bonifacio High Street
2. Century City Mall
3. Powerplant Mall – Cinema 6 (ang kanilang bagong Atmos theater)

NICO QUEJANO (Cinephiles!)

1. Century City Mall
2. Shangrila Plaza
3. Glorietta

BERNARD SANTOS (My Movie World)

1. Fisher Mall
2. Gateway Platinum Cinema
3. Trinoma

NAZAMEL TABARES (Movies in the Philippines)

1. Greenbelt 3 Cinemas
2. Gateway Cineplex
3. Resorts World Manila Cinemas

JOHN TAWASIL (Present Confusion)

1. Resorts World Manila/Newport Cinemas
2. IMAX SM Aura
3. Greenhills Promenade Dolby Atmos

EMIL NOR URAO (The Movie Bud)

1. Gateway Cinema
2. Lucky Chinatown
3. Glorietta 4

Aside from voting Honor Thy Father as the best film of 2015, movie reviewers have also voted it as the most musically satisfying film of last year. The film’s original score was composed by frequent Erik Matti collborator Erwin Romulo, and the soundtrack features haunting rearrangements of the Catholic song “Ama Namin” by Dong Abay and the Sampaguita folk classic “Tao” by Armi Millare.

Jerrold Tarog’s soaring score for his own Heneral Luna was voted second best soundtrack while Khavn dela Cruz and Brezel Goring’s rock jazz-inflected soundtrack to Ruined Heart placed third.

1 – Honor Thy Father (Soundtrack: Various artists, Score: Erwin Romulo) 31.5 points

2 – Heneral Luna (Jerrold Tarog) 25 points

3 – Ruined Heart (Score: Khavn dela Cruz and Brezel Göring, Songs: Various) 21 points

4 – Matangtubig (Brian Gonzales) 20 points

5 – Iisa (Emerzon Texon) 13 points

6 – Apocalypse Child (Armi Millare) 11 points

7 – Patintero (Mikey Amistoso, Jazz Nicolas, Diego Mapa) 9 points, 4 votes

8 – Miss Bulalacao (Rotsanjani Mojica) 9 points, 3 votes

9 – Sleepless (BP Valenzuela) 6 points, 3 votes

10 – An Kubo sa Kawayanan (Jema Pamintuan) 6 points, 2 votes

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS »

MAYK ALEGRE (Cinemaddict)

1. Matangtubig
2. Iisa
3. Honor Thy Father
4. Baka Siguro Yata
5. Gayuma

EDUARDO DAYAO (Piling Piling Pelikula)

1. Miss Bulalacao
2. Iisa

 JAMES ESPINOZA (Film Police Reviews)

1. Honor Thy Father
2. Ruined Heart
3. Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo
4. Heneral Luna
5. Sleepless

JONELL ESTILLORE (Cinema Bravo)

1. Iisa
2. Matangtubig
3. Heneral Luna
4. Dayang Asu
5. Honor Thy Father

EMIL HOFILEÑA (Cinemil Writes)

1. Ari: My Life with a King
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Waves

KAYO JOLONGBAYAN (Film Police Reviews)

1. Matangtubig
2. Water Lemon
3. Miss Bulalacao
4. Filemon Mamon
5. Waves

SKILTY LABASTILLA (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Heneral Luna (Jerrold Tarog)
2. Honor Thy Father (Soundtrack: Various Artists, Score: Erwin Romulo)
3. Apocalypse Child (Armi Millare)
4. Ruined Heart (Khavn dela Cruz and Brezel Göring)
5. Patintero (Mikey Amistoso, Jazz Nicolas, Diego Mapa)

MACKY MACARAYAN (Death of Traditional Cinema)

1. Pusong Wazak
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Heneral Luna
4. Dayang Asu
5. Patintero

RENELSON MORELOS (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

1. Heneral Luna
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Ari: My Life with a King

NOOD.PH

1. The Breakup Playlist
2. Honor Thy Father

MANUEL PANGARUY (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Ruined Heart
2. Miss Bulalacao
3. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
4. Honor Thy Father
5. Baka Siguro Yata

NICO QUEJANO (Cinephiles!)

1. Heneral Luna
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Walang Forever

BERNARD SANTOS (My Movie World)

1. Jerrold Tarog – Heneral Luna
2. Matangtubig
3. Jema Pamintuan – An Kubo Sa Kawayanan
4. Dinno Christopher Parafina – Manang Biring
5. Emerzon Texon – The Breakup Playlist

NAZAMEL TABARES (Movies in the Philippines)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. Imbisibol
3. Iisa
4. Matangtubig
5. Heneral Luna

JOHN TAWASIL (Present Confusion)

1. Honor Thy Father
2. Sleepless
3. Apocalypse Child
4. Abi (short film)
5. Imbisibol

Special mention for sound design: Iisa. I wanted to mention this one because even though I don’t remember much about its music, its overall sound design was excellent.

EMIL NOR URAO (The Movie Bud)

1. Ruined Heart
2. Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo
3. Tandem
4. Bambanti
5. Sleepless

Lawrence Ang’s dynamic, playful editing of Apocalypse Child contributed a lot to the film’s overall mood, and it has reaped him accolades, winning QCinema’s lone technical jury citation in 2015 and topping the Pinoy Rebyu poll for Best Editing.

Jerrold Tarog’s and Lawrence Fajardo’s edits to their own films (Heneral Luna and Imbisibol, respectively) also paid off as they were cited runners-up in the category.

1 – Apocalypse Child (Lawrence Ang) 40 points

2 – Heneral Luna (Jerrold Tarog) 32 points

3 – Imbisibol (Lawrence Fajardo) 22 points, 8 votes

4 – Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (Lawrence Ang) 22 points, 7 votes

5 – An Kubo sa Kawayanan (Benjamin Tolentino) 20 points

6 – Kapatiran (Benjamin Tolentino) 19 points, 6 votes, 2 first-place votes

7 – Honor Thy Father (Jay Halili) 19 points, 6 votes, no first-place votes

8 – Dayang Asu (Mikee dela Cruz) 12 points

9 – Matangtubig (Brian Gonzales) 9 points

10 – Ruined Heart (Carlo Francisco Manatad) 7 points

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS »

MAYK ALEGRE (Cinemaddict)

1. Lawrence Ang (Apocalypse Child)
2. Lawrence Ang (Anino sa Likod ng Buwan)
3. Brian Gonzales (Matangtubig)
4. Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna)
5. Salvage

JAMES ESPINOZA (Film Police Reviews)

1. Kapatiran
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
4. Heneral Luna
5. Imbisibol

JONELL ESTILLORE (Cinema Bravo)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. Imbisibol
3. An Kubo Sa Kawayanan
4. Matangtubig
5. Swap

RICKY GALLARDO (Business Mirror)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. Dayang Asu
3. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
4. Imbisibol
5. Hamog

EMIL HOFILEÑA (Cinemil Writes)

1. Heneral Luna
2. Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon
3. Honor Thy Father

KAYO JOLONGBAYAN (Film Police Reviews)

1. Kapatiran
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Dayang Asu
4. Matangtubig
5. Heneral Luna

SKILTY LABASTILLA (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Apocalypse Child (Lawrence Ang)
2. Heneral Luna (Jerrold Tarog)
3. Honor Thy Father (Jay Halili)
4. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (Lawrence Ang)
5. Ari: My Life with a King (Carlo Manatad)

LYNDON MABURAOT (Table Stretcher)

1. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
2. Apocalypse Child
3. Kapatiran
4. Imbisibol
5. Tandem

MACKY MACARAYAN (Death of Traditional Cinema)

1. Pusong Wazak
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Heneral Luna
4. Dayang Asu
5. Apocalypse Child

RENELSON MORELOS (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

1. Heneral Luna (Jerrold Tarog)
2. Imbisibol (Lawrence Fajardo)
3. Honor Thy Father (Jay Halili)
4. Ari: My Life with a King (Carlo Francisco Manatad)
5. Tandem (Benjamin Tolentino)

NOOD.PH

Heneral Luna

MANUEL PANGARUY (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
3. Imbisibol
4. Waves
5. Kapatiran

NICO QUEJANO (Cinephiles!)

1. Heneral Luna
2. Kapatiran
3. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
4. Imbisibol
5. An Kubo sa Kawayanan

BERNARD SANTOS (My Movie World)

1. Lawrence Ang – Apocalypse Child
2. Benjamin Tolentino – An Kubo Sa Kawayanan
3. Mikee Dela Cruz – Dayang Asu
4. Jerrold Tarog – Heneral Luna
5. Benjamin Tolentino – All You Need is Pag-ibig

NAZAMEL TABARES (Movies in the Philippines)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. Imbisibol
3. An Kubo Sa Kawayanan
4. Matangtubig
5. Swap

JOHN TAWASIL (Present Confusion)

1. Ale Alejandra (short)
2. Heneral Luna
3. Tandem
4. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
5. Kapatiran

Special Mention: Swap. I suspect there is a clever edit hidden somewhere in this film.

EMIL NOR URAO (The Movie Bud)

1. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
2. Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo
3. Walang Forever
4. Ruined Heart
5. The Breakup Playlist

Ber Cruz’s sun-bleached photography of Honor Thy Father leads the competitive cinematography field in 2015. As local cinematographers have adopted the latest in digital technology, they have also honed their craft in technique and composition, resulting in several distinguished looks in 2015. From the dark mining tunnels of Benguet to the peak of Mt. Pulag, from lahar-covered Pampanga to snow-drenched Japan, from intimate underwater shots to grand drone shots, from crisp high-def night shots to lo-def analog ones, the 10 films below feature the year’s best cinematography.

1 – Honor Thy Father (Ber Cruz) 35.5 points

2 – Heneral Luna (Pong Ignacio) 30 points

3 – Imbisibol (Boy Yñiguez) 28.5 points

4 – Apocalypse Child (Ike Avellana) 21 points, 7 votes, 2 first-place votes, 2 second-place votes

5 – Iisa (Dexter dela Peña) 21 points, 7 votes, 2 first-place votes, 1 second-place vote

6 – Dayang Asu (Albert Banzon) 17 points

7 – Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (Carlo Mendoza) 16 points, 2 first-place votes

7 – Matangtubig (Tristan Salas) 16 points, 2 first-place votes

9 – An Kubo sa Kawayanan (Ronald Rebutica) 14 points

10 – Above the Clouds (Carlo Mendoza) 12 points

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS »

MAYK ALEGRE (Cinemaddict)

1. Ber Cruz (Honor Thy Father)
2. Ike Avellana (Apocalypse Child)
3. Carlo Mendoza (Anino sa Likod ng Buwan)
4. Pong Ignacio (Heneral Luna)
5. Carlo Mendoza (Above The Clouds)

EDUARDO DAYAO (Piling Piling Pelikula)

1. Dayang Asu
2. Ruined Heart
3. Matangtubig
4. Iisa
5. Apocalypse Child

 JAMES ESPINOZA (Film Police Reviews)

1. Heneral Luna
2. Above the Clouds
3. Ruined Heart
4. Iisa
5. Waves

JONELL ESTILLORE (Cinema Bravo)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
3. Heneral Luna
4. Above the Clouds
5. Dayang Asu

RICKY GALLARDO (Business Mirror)

1. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
2. Apocalypse Child
3. Dayang Asu
4. Imbisibol
5. Above the Clouds

EMIL HOFILEÑA (Cinemil Writes)

1. Ari: My Life with a King
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Waves

KAYO JOLONGBAYAN (Film Police Reviews)

1. Iisa
2. Imbisibol
3. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
4. Honor Thy Father
5. Pusong Wazak

SKILTY LABASTILLA (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Heneral Luna (Pong Ignacio)
2. Honor Thy Father (Ber Cruz)
3. Imbisibol (Boy Yñiguez)
4. Nilalang (Pao Orendain)
5. Iisa (Dexter dela Peña)

LYNDON MABURAOT (Table Stretcher)

1. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
2. Imbisibol
3. Taklub
4. Tandem
5. Dayang Asu

MACKY MACARAYAN (Death of Traditional Cinema)

1. Dayang Asu
2. Honor Thy Father
3. Heneral Luna
4. Pusong Wazak
5. Apocalypse Child

RENELSON MORELOS (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

1. Imbisibol (Boy Yniguez)
2. Ari: My Life with a King (Carlo Mendoza)
3. Honor Thy Father (Ber Cruz)
4. Swap (Ruel Dahis Antipuesto)
5. Heneral Luna (Pong Ignacio)

NOOD.PH

Imbisibol
Honor Thy Father

MANUEL PANGARUY (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Imbisibol
2. Bukod Kang Pinagpala
3. Honor Thy Father
4. Felix Manalo
5. Ari

CATHY PEÑA (Make Me Blush)

1. Ber Cruz, Honor Thy Father
2. Pong Ignacio, Heneral Luna
3. Christian Linaban, Miss Bulalacao
4. Dexter dela Pena, Iisa
5. Neil Daza, Etiquette For Mistresses

NICO QUEJANO (Cinephiles!)

1. Matangtubig
2. Bukod Kang Pinagpala
3. Honor Thy Father
4. Salvage
5. Apocalypse Child

BERNARD SANTOS (My Movie World)

1. Tristan Salas – Matangtubig
2. Dexter Dela Peña – Iisa
3. Pao Orendain – Nilalang
4. Albert Banzon – Dayang Asu
5. Joseph Delos Reyes and Ma. Solita Garcia – Bambanti

NAZAMEL TABARES (Movies in the Philippines)

1. Apocalypse Child
2. An Kubo sa Kawayanan
3. Heneral Luna
4. Above The Clouds
5. Patintero: Alamat ni Meng Patalo

JOHN TAWASIL (Present Confusion)

1. Iisa
2. Imbisibol
3. Matangtubig
4. Above the Clouds
5. An Kubo sa Kawayanan

EMIL NOR URAO (The Movie Bud)

1. Anino sa Likod ng Buwan
2. Heneral Luna
3. Honor Thy Father
4. Sleepless
5. Bambanti

In a close three-way battle for the top spot, Ara Chawdury’s Miss Bulalacao edged out Bor Ocampo’s Dayang Asu and Carlo Enciso Catu’s Ari: My Life with a King for Best First Feature. The three films, along with two other first features (Sleepless and Patintero) are also in the Top 20 Best Films of 2015, a good sign that new filmmakers have what it takes to come up with quality outputs given the right opportunities. The future is bright indeed.

1 – Miss Bulalacao (Ara Chawdhury) 38 points, 13 votes, 3 first-place votes

2 – Dayang Asu (Bor Ocampo) 38 points, 13 votes, 1 first-place vote

3 – Ari: My Life with a King (Carlo Enciso Catu) 38 points, 11 votes

4 – Iisa (Chuck Gutierrez) 21 points

5 – Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo (Mihk Vergara) 17 points, 6 votes

6 – Sleepless (Prime Cruz) 17 points, 5 votes

7 – Tandem (King Palisoc) 15 points

8 – Toto (John Paul Su) 13 points

9 – Waves (Don Gerardo Frasco) 10 points

10 – Old Skool (Cia Hermosa-Jorge) 4 points

INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS »

MAYK ALEGRE (Cinemaddict)

1. Iisa
2. Miss Bulalacao
3. Ari: My Life With A King
4. Tandem
5. Dayang Asu

EDUARDO DAYAO (Piling Piling Pelikula)

1. Manang Biring
2. Miss Bulalacao
3. Patintero

JAMES ESPINOZA (Film Police Reviews)

1. Ari: My Life with a King
2. Dayang Asu
3. Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo
4. Tandem
5. Miss Bulalacao

JONELL ESTILLORE (Cinema Bravo)

1. Miss Bulalacao
2. Iisa
3. Dayang Asu
4. Ari: My Life With A King
5. Tandem

RICKY GALLARDO (Business Mirror)

1. Bor Ocampo, Dayang Asu
2. Ara Chawdhury, Ms. Bulalacao
3. John Paul Su, Toto
4. Carlo Encisu, Ari Life with A King
5. Cia Jorge, Old Skool

EMIL HOFILEÑA (Cinemil Writes)

1. Ari: My Life with a King
2. Tandem
3. Toto

KAYO JOLONGBAYAN (Film Police Reviews)

1. Patintero
2. Dayang Asu
3. Waves
4. Miss Bulalacao
5. Tandem

SKILTY LABASTILLA (Pinoy Rebyu)

1. Ari: My Life with a King (Carlo Enciso Catu)
2. Sleepless (Prime Cruz)
3. Waves (Don Gerardo Frasco)
4. Iisa (Chuck Gutierrez)
5. Dayang Asu (Bor Ocampo)

LYNDON MABURAOT (Table Stretcher)

1. Dayang Asu
2. Sleepless
3. Toto

MACKY MACARAYAN (Death of Traditional Cinema)

1. Bor Ocampo, Dayang Asu
2. Mihk Vergara, Patintero
3. John Paul Su, Toto

RENELSON MORELOS (Ramblings of a Film Urchin)

1. Ari: My Life with a King, Carlo Enciso Catu
2. Tandem, King Palisoc

NOOD.PH

Dayang Asu, Bor Ocampo

MANUEL PANGARUY (Tagailog Special Presents)

1. Ari (Carlo Enciso Catu)
2. Waves (Don Gerardo Frasco)
3. Dayang Asu (Bor Ocampo)
4. Of Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, and Sashimi (Perry Dizon)
5. Miss Bulalacao (Ara Chawdhury)

CATHY PEÑA (Make Me Blush)

1. Ara Chawdhury, Miss Bulalacao
2. Chuck Gutierrez, Iisa
3. Cia Jorge, Old Skool
4. Carlo Enciso Catu, Ari My Life with a King
5. Mihk Vergara, Patintero Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo

NICO QUEJANO (Cinephiles!)

1. Sleepless
2. Dayang Asu
3. Miss Bulalacao
4. Iisa

BERNARD SANTOS (My Movie World)

1. Sleepless
2. Dayang Asu
3. Miss Bulalacao
4. Toto
5. Iisa

NAZAMEL TABARES (Movies in the Philippines)

1. Miss Bulalacao
2. Ari: My Life With A King
3. Dayang Asu
4. Tandem
5. Toto

JOHN TAWASIL (Present Confusion)

1. Ari
2. Iisa
3. Miss Bulalacao
4. Sleepless
5. Tandem

EMIL NOR URAO (The Movie Bud)

1. Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo, Mihk Vergara
2. Toto, John Paul Su
3. Tandem, King Palisoc
4. The Comeback, Ivan Andrew Payawal
5. Miss Bulalacao, Ara Chawdhury