SINGAPORE—US-based actor Art Acuña on his winning the Cinemalaya 2011 best supporting actor award for the Loy Arcenas drama “Nino”:
“I always get mixed feelings about awards. For example, you’re in a museum and you’re looking at paintings. How can you say which is first place or second place? It’s okay to give the gold and silver medals to, let’s say, a sporting event, but not to something like art that is very subjective.
“This is why I don’t even watch the Oscars. For example, I feel that a film or an actress deserves to be the first-place winner but it doesn’t happen, then I’d ask myself what did I see that nobody else saw? Bakit itong isa ang nanalo? (Why did this one win?) It just jades you.
“To be recognized, let’s say, special mention kaming lahat because we worked hard, I’m okay with that. I feel good and happy that the recognition is there. But for the ‘best’ part, I think there’s another guy out there that came up with better work than I did.” <strong><em>Marinel R. Cruz</em></strong>