Lorna Tolentino, Jinggoy Estrada win FAMAS awards

The 56th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences or FAMAS awards was held Saturday night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, outstanding in his outing as an Overseas Filipino Worker who finally went home to his disoriented kids, won as Best Actor for “Katas ng Saudi” while Lorna Tolentino, widow of the late president of the Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Rudy Fernandez, bagged the Best Actress trophy for her performance as an understanding wife of an OFW in “Katas ng Saudi.”

Extolling the values of a father who sweats hard overseas to send his children to school and buy them luxuries in life to keep up with society’s social-climbing, Famas recognized Maverick Films’ “Katas ng Saudi” as the excellent picture shown in 2007.

Although its director Jose Javier Reyes failed to clinch the best director plum which instead went to “A Love Story” helmer Maryo J. de los Reyes, the overall sentiment was written all over the primary awards.

The Best Supporting Actor was an eclectic choice, Mon Confiado in director Eddie Romero’s digital film “Faces of Love.”

Irma Adlawan brought home the Best Supporting award for her arresting portrayal of a mother blinded by cash from her wayward son who met a tragic fate in Artiste Entertainment’s “Ataul for Rent.”

The foster child in Brillante Mendoza’s foray into adoption, Kier Segundo, won as Best Child Actor for Seiko Films’ “Foster Child” while Ella Cruz, one of Becky Aguila’s stable of young stars, was named Best Child Actress for Imus Productions’ “Resiklo.”

Best Story went to Neal “Buboy” Tan and Anthony Guidang for Artiste’s Entertainment “Ataul for Rent” while Tan, who won his first award since started writing screenplays and directing, took home the Best Screenplay for the same movie.

Best Cinematography went to Ramoncito Redoble for “Batanes” and Best Editing was won by Tara Illenberger for “A Love Story”. Best Music Score went to Jesse Lucas for “A Love Story” and “Sine-Sine,” the overall music of “Confessional” bagged the Best Theme Song.

Best Art Direction went to Rodell Cruz for his work in “Resiklo” while the Best Production Design was also given to him for the same film.

Best Sound went to Albert Idioma for “A Love Story” while the Best Visual Effects and Best Special Effects were won by Ignite Media/Riot, Inc. for “Resiklo.”

Famas also has its own Special Awards to boot such as the Presidential Award given to Boots Anson Roa; Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on Paraluman; FPJ Memorial Award given to Cesar Montano; Flavio Macaso Award, the main organizer of Famas, awarded to Wilberto Villamin; Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award handed to Chit Ramos; Golden Artist Award given to Ogie Alcasid; German Moreno Achievement Award (for Female) awarded to Marian Rivera and (Male) to Ryan Agoncillo.