LOOK: Dolphy, Gloria Romero among stars featured in MMFF EDSA mural

Dolphy and Gloria Romero among stars featured in MMFF mural along EDSA | Image: Facebook/MMDA

Commemorating its 50th edition this year, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) unveiled a mural along EDSA honoring movie icons that include Dolphy, Gloria Romero, Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, among others.

Aside from the aforementioned, actors Eddie Garcia, Fernando Poe Jr., Christopher de Leon, Maricel Soriano, Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Amy Austria, Joseph Estrada, Cesar Montano and Anthony Alonzo are also featured in the colorful mural. 

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman and MMFF overall concurrent chairman Atty. Don Artes underscored that they could not paint all Filipino actors who contributed to the rich history of local cinema.

“Alam niyo po, limampung taon po ang MMFF. Hindi po namin kayang ipinta lahat sa isang mural dahil napakarami po naman na magagaling na aktor, aktres. Alam ko po, may mga magku-question lalo na iyong mga fans pero pagpasensyahan niyo po, ito po yung napagdesisyunan namin,” he said.

(You know, MMFF is fifty years old. We can’t paint them all in one mural because there are so many great actors and actresses. I know, some people will question us, especially the fans, but please forgive me, this is what we have decided on.)

Artes explained that the featured stars were chosen based on the criteria that they were part of the top-grossing films in the festival and best in acting awardees during the past 50 years.

“Unang-una po, iyan ang mga Hall of Famers natin. Mga aktor doon sa mga pelikula na naging top grossers. Iyon po yung ating naging criteria. Either awardee po sila as best actor, best actress. Or kahit hindi po sila nagkaroon ng award bilang best actor, best actress, ‘yung kanila pong pelikula ay top grosser po sa MMFF,” the chairman stated.

(First of all, those are our Hall of Famers. Actors who starred in movies that became topgrossers. That was our criteria. They are either awardee as best actor, best actress. Or even if they didn’t have an award as best actor, best actress, their movies were top grossers at the MMFF.)

MMFF also launched the initiative “Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta,” which gave the public a chance to watch iconic MMFF movies from the past 50 years on the big screen from Sept. 25 to Oct. 15 for the price of only P50.

Meanwhile, the official run of the 50th MMFF will begin on Dec. 25, featuring a new and stellar lineup of Filipino films.