Lav Diaz’s Marcos-era film cops Urian best picture award

Lav Diaz’s “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon,” a film set in 1972 when the late President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines, bagged the highly coveted best picture trophy at the 38th Gawad Urian on Tuesday night.

The film also won for Diaz the best director honor, which was handed by a group of esteemed film critics–the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” first brought the country honor when it copped the Golden Leopard Prize at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in August 2014.

Shot in black and white, and running for five and half hours, the film tracks the lives of underprivileged villagers in a remote province in the Philippines during the reign of the late dictator.

Actress Hazel Orencio received the director’s award on behalf of Diaz. “It is such a triumph. Hindi po kami nag-Pasko nung 2013. Marami po kaming sakripisyo for this film,” Orencio said.

Allen Dizon, who has also won three international awards for Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Magkakabaung,” bagged the Urian best actor trophy, while Eula Valdez beat seven other equally worthy nominees for the best actress honor for her performance in Giancarlo Abrahan’s “Dagitab.”

It was Dizon’s fourth best actor award for the same film after the 3rd Hanoi (Vietnam), 9th Harlem (New York) and 3rd Silk Road (Dublin) international film festivals last year.

“Tatlong beses na po ako nanalo sa ibang bansa. Sa Pilipinas po mas kinabahan ako kasi mas talented ang mga Pilipino,” Dizon said.

Eula Valdez said she didn’t expect to win the best actress award. “Ang balak ko lang po talaga ngayong gabi ay rumampa (lang). Hindi ko po talaga ito ini-expect.”

Martin del Rosario was heralded best supporting actor for “Dagitab,” while Gladys Reyes brought home the best supporting actress honor for “Magkakabaung.”
Adolfo Alix Jr’s “Kinabukasan” was proclaimed best short film, while the best documentary honor was given to Lester Valle’s “Walang Rape sa Bontoc.”

Superstar Nora Aunor is this year’s recipient of the Natatanging Gawad Urian, the Manunuri’s counterpart of the Lifetime Achievement award.

“She is the most excellent actress of this country,” said multi-awarded director Brillante Mendoza as he introduced Aunor to the audience.

“Nakapakasarap ng pakiramdam, ngayon lamang damang dama ko ang pagbibigay sa ‘kin ng parangal ng Gawad Urian,” Aunor said, tearfully. “Ibig sabihin lang po nito dapat akong magsipag lalo at gumawa ng mas marami pang pelikula na makapagbibigay ng aral sa ating mga kabataan sa kasalukuyan.”

Following are winners of the technical awards:

— Lav Diaz, ((“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”), best screenplay

— Popo Diaz (“Dementia), best production design
— Neil Daza (“Bwaya”), best cinematography
— Lav Diaz (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”), best editing
— Erwin Fajardo (“Bwaya”), best music
— Corinne de San Jose (“Violator”), best sound

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