Another Pinay in Asian Oscars

Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino joins Eugene Domingo with best supporting actress nomination

CHRIS Martinez

Apart from the two nominations of Marlon Rivera’s “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” another Filipino, theater stalwart Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, clinched a best supporting actress nod, for “Niño,” in the 6th Asian Film Awards.

Buencamino joins best actress nominee Eugene Domingo and best screenplay nominee Chris Martinez (both for “Septic”) in the honor roll. Three years ago, Gina Pareño won best supporting actress for Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Serbis” and her costar, Jaclyn Jose, was nominated in the same category.

Regarded as the Asian Oscars, the AFA will be held in Hong Kong in March.

When Buencamino heard the news from “Niño” director Loy Arcenas a few days ago, she was initially incredulous. “I didn’t expect it because, during the film’s screening at the Busan fest last year, my costars Art Acuña and Raquel Villavicencio were the ones who got noticed,” she explained.

She feels it’s a welcome development that theater actors like her and Domingo are being recognized in the mainstream— locally and but internationally as well.

“In the past, theater actors didn’t get meaty roles,” she recalled. But the indie film movement, she said, allowed them to break the star system slowly. “Uge [Domingo’s nickname] made

EUGENE Domingo

headway. She proved that theater actors can do comedy and drama.”

In her Facebook page, Domingo said that she is “honored” to be nominated alongside Buencamino. “Shamaine is one great actress,” Domingo said. “She is my senior in the theater… [someone] I’ve always admired.”

Domingo dedicated her AFA nomination to all her teachers at the Speech Communication and Theater Arts department in UP Diliman— including Buencamino, who taught there when Domingo was a student.

Buencamino also won best supporting actress for “Niño” at the Cinemalaya last year.

When she was nominated at the movie press’ Star Awards in the best supporting actress category for Joselito Altarejos’ “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” in 2008, the souvenir program stated that she’s a veteran in acting derbies.

“Actually, I hardly get singled out,” she admitted. Apart from Cinemalaya, her only other acting trophy was from Cinema One for Lawrence Fajardo’s “Prinsesa” in 2007, she pointed out.

A newcomer

She feels she’s still a newcomer when it comes to acting in front of the camera. “Some mainstream stars think one workshop is enough. But it’s a constant learning process. Until now, I still watch and study my playbacks. I get worried that my gestures are too big or that my face moves too much onscreen.”

SHAMAINE Centenera photo by rodel rotoni

Buencamino, who’s in the cast of the GMA 7 afternoon soap “Kung Aagawin ang Langit,” is optimistic that theater training and discipline will finally get affirmed with these recognitions here and abroad.

“I hope these honors will mean more acting jobs,” she quipped.

But will she attend the Asian Oscars in Hong Kong?

“I’ll be unemployed by then. I hope I’ll get another job soon, so I can afford to attend the awards show. It’ll be my first time in Hong Kong if ever,” she remarked.

E-mail bayanisandiego@hotmail.com

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Tags: 6th Asian Film Awards , Chris Martinez , Eugene Domingo , Loy Arcenas’s “Niño” , Marlon Rivera’s “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank , ” Shamaine Centenera