NO-GOWNS-OR-TUXESNIGHT From left: Carla Abellana, Epy Quizon, Sophie Albert and Jessa Zaragoza
German Moreno. Photos by Richard Reyes
As in previous years, the Entertainment Press Society’s 5th Golden Screen TV Awards rolled out on Friday without much glitz or fanfare.
What the event did have a lot of were energy and spontaneity. With celebs like John “Sweet” Lapus and Mr. Fu hosting, the atmosphere inside Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan City, was like that of a rollicking night in a comedy bar.
Laughter promptly crackled as Sweet, in a black dress, made his entrance, claiming he was channeling pop superstar Jennifer Lopez. Mr. Fu snapped, “More like Claire de la Fuente!”
The stars came in casual clothes; “Who are you wearing?” was not a question thrown around much.
John “Sweet” Lapus
To be fair, anyone who happened to stand next to Sweet—with his four costume changes—in any part of the program would have looked underdressed. Except, perhaps, for Pokwang, who pulled out all the stops in a green gown with a slit this high.
And why not, the comedienne said. It wasn’t every day that she got to receive an acting award (outstanding performance by an actress in a comedy program, “Toda Max”).
She was later joined onstage by Eugene Domingo, hailed outstanding game show host for “Celebrity Bluff.” The two engaged in riotous banter.
It was impossible not to be alerted when a celeb arrived for two reasons. First, the venue was so small, you literally bumped into the stars when you moved about. Second, crazed fans made sure to let you know with shrieks that rivaled a ringing microphone feedback.
Most of the big-name winners were no-shows but, it turned out, Dennis Trillo was all that the crowd needed to see. The GMA 7 star was met with a chorus of banshee screams. He bagged the trophy for outstanding performance by an actor in a drama series for “My Husband’s Lover,” which swept most of the major acting awards.
FROM left: Dennis Trillo, Bela Padilla,Nova Villa and Harlene Bautista happily keep to the nonformal motif.
The hit show also won outstanding original drama series, supporting actor in a drama series for Kevin Santos, supporting actress in a drama series for Glydel Mercado (tied with Angel Aquino for “Apoy sa Dagat”) and actress in a drama series for Carla Abellana.
Carla failed to mention boyfriend Geoff Eigenmann in her speech, fanning the talk that he was getting cozy with actress Kylie Padilla, girlfriend of Aljur Abrenica.
She told the Inquirer: “Even if I don’t mention his name, he knows I’m grateful to him. He’s part of my family—I didn’t mention my relatives, either. [Geoff and I] have a lot to iron out, but we manage.”
(apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph)