COPY It seems that the Metro Manila Film Festival has a fabulous publicist on board. When it dropped the usual comedic treats in 2016 and focused more on indie films, the industry took sides. An uproar lit up the screens when Baby Ruth Villarama’s Sunday Beauty Queen bagged the Best Picture.
Now fast track to 2017. Whether it’s the work of a publicist or not, we’re thrilled to be in this roller coaster ride of emotions. This year, we went on board to see a glass slipper fall off the stairs at the halls of the Festival. Loy Arcenas’ Ang Larawan winning the Best Picture when cinemas pulled it to give way to commercial films is the perfect irony to end this year.
We bought popcorns last night not to see a film, but to witness a drama unfold on our mobile phones and desktops. The minute we saw #MMFF2017AwardsNight on the list of trending topics a few hours before midnight, we knew it’s either #PacMan or #MissUniverse season again. A trip to the loo without our mobile phones, or failing to refresh our Twitter feeds every five seconds is not an option.
As to why it was such a spectacle to unfold right on our data-driven mobile phones:
1. THE Lea Salonga has spoken.
Hurray! #AngLarawan won Best Musical Score (@ryancayabyab), Best Actress (@JoannaAmpil) and BEST PICTURE!!! Congratulations!!! Now give it more screens please.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) December 27, 2017
2. And also of equal importance:
Guys!!! No words can prove how beautiful ‘Ang Larawan’ was!! I know y’all busy lining up for the mainstream but The Philippine theater needs more attention 😭❤️ #AngLarawan #MMFF2017
— Sonnet John 🌌 (@SJLlaguno) December 25, 2017
3. And to Banyo concert kings and queens everywhere:
You’ll definitely love “Ang Larawan” if you are musically inclined and even if you are a Banyo singer as well 😂😂😂 #AngLarawan #MMFF2017
— Francis John Busbus (@iampotchollo) December 28, 2017
4. Exactly our sentiments.
MY HEARTTTT. TAPOS IPPULL OUT NIYO LANG? GAGDJDNSIJWUAGKF #AngLarawan https://t.co/U9Dw54Gc53
— Khaleesi 👑🐉 (@ichaBABE) December 28, 2017
5. And some very important information.
The film PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS FILIPINO was directed by National Artist Lamberto Avellana in 1965. The stage version of LARAWAN starred Lolita Rodriguez and Rita Gomez/Charito Solis directed by National Artist Lino Brocka for PETA. In 2017 comes #AngLarawan
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) December 26, 2017
6. This and Wildflower.
Yung gusto manood ng Ang Larawan ay Gora! Maloka kayo kay Red Dragon! Charot! Super Gwapo ni Paulo Avelino!!!!!!!!! #AngLarawan #MMFF2017
— ImangKuba🌹 (@ImangKuba) December 28, 2017
7. There’s hustisya.
Justice has been served, charot! 😅 Congrats, Ang Larawan! 👏🏼#AngLarawan #MMFF2017 pic.twitter.com/gptx6LL0dr
— Phoebe Trinidad (@akosipv) December 28, 2017
8. Hurrah to Candida.
Congratulations! @JoannaAmpil Hindi man natanggap si Candida bilang manghuhuli ng daga sa palengke, siya naman ay isa na ngayong Best Actress, Hahaha! #AngLarawan.
— chadik39 (@solidkathniel39) December 28, 2017
9. Sa kanila ang huling halakhak.
Kahit tinanggal sa sinehan, nasa huli ang halakhak for #AngLarawan. Now, I have more reasons to watch this!
— macky(); (@eastereggyolk) December 28, 2017
10. And a summary of that fairy tale last night:
Congrats #Siargao and #AngLarawan for that big sweep in the #MMFF2017AwardsNight 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/n2MBbsJN9g
— Quennie, RPm 👑 (@reynangrosas) December 27, 2017
