Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
(In the run-up to the Gawad Urian, the Inquirer trains the spotlight on some nominees. The Gawad Urian will be aired live Tuesday, 8 p.m. on Cinema One.)
IN THEIR Urian-nominated films: Ping Medina with Marc Justin Alvarez in “Transit” (far left)
Brothers Ping and Alex Medina, who are competing for Best Actor in the 2014 Gawad Urian, are certain that neither of them will bring home the award.
Ping, nominated for his performance in Hannah Espia’s “Transit,” said Sid Lucero (“Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan”) would bag the trophy for sure.
Alex is betting on Joel Torre (“On the Job”). Alex is nominated for Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Babagwa.”
“Mimi (Juareza, “Quick Change”) is the dark horse,” Alex told the Inquirer. Other nominees are Jhong Hilario for “Badil” and
Alex Medina in “Babagwa.”
Mark Gil for “A Philippino Story.”
Ping is attending the awards show at the Dolphy Theater in the ABS-CBN compound, just to have fun, “to be with friends.” He has bought a new suit, by Manila-based South African designer Tatenda Sipula. “Deep inside, I want to win,” he said. “But a part of me says it’s not my year yet.”
Asked about the significance of an Urian award (given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino) for them, Ping said: “It’s the most credible [awards body]. It’s an honor just to be nominated.” This is Ping’s third Urian nod, after two Best Supporting Actor noms—for Auraeus Solito’s “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” in 2006 and for Mike Sandejas’ “Tulad ng Dati” in 2007.
Ping Medina ALANAH TORRALBA
Alex sees his nomination as a “validation” of his work. “Coming from Manunuri, it’s a big deal for me.”
He watched “Transit” and thought Ping gave the role a good shot. Ping didn’t get to see Alex in “Babagwa,” though. “I don’t remember Alex inviting me to see it. I guess it was because there was butt exposure.” He added, “Alex asks for our dad’s advice, not mine.” Dad is veteran character actor Pen Medina.
The brothers were certain that Pen is proud of this landmark in their careers. “I haven’t talked with Dad about this, but I’m sure he’s happy for us,” quipped Ping.
Alex added: “Dad told me, ‘Astig ’yan. Congrats ’Tong!’ Like him, I believe what’s important is that you’re satisfied with your
Alex Medina ALANAH TORRALBA
work. An award is just a bonus.”
Like his brother, Alex admitted that it was a heady feeling being congratulated by supporters and peers. “It’d be nice to win, but that remains to be seen.”
Ping said he didn’t care much about his first Urian nomination. “I got three that year from different awards groups for ‘Maximo Oliveros.’ The significance [escaped] me. I went to the awards rites in jeans.”
New outfit
For tomorrow’s ceremony, Alex bought a new pair of pants and shoes. “Some of my costars in ‘Heneral Luna’ are nominees, too. We plan to turn up in period costumes to pimp the movie for next year. I just want to go there and hang out with them.”
Alex admitted there was “a bit of sibling rivalry” with Ping as kids. “We fought about the silliest things, like who got to make Dad listen to our favorite songs first.”
Now, there is competition in the workplace, too, said Ping. The brothers auditioned recently for the same role in the coming Discovery Channel tele-movie, “Amerikan Kanibal.” Ping got the part. “Alex was offered another part,” Ping said. “He begged off because of schedule conflicts.”
Alex has two entries in the 2014 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in August: Aida del Mundo’s “K’na the Dreamweaver” and Mike Tuviera’s “The Janitor.” He is working on Jerrold Tarog’s “Heneral Luna” and a “still-secret” international production, both slated for 2015.
During these interviews, Ping had just arrived from the “Amerikan Kanibal” shoot in Palawan, while Alex was in the middle of
filming “Heneral Luna.” It was difficult to bring the two together.
AS KIDS, Ping and Alex (right) “fought over the silliest things, like who got to make Dad listen to our favorite songs first.” Facebook
These exchanges happened in the same afternoon—the first with Ping at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City; the second, with Alex at the Tomato Kick Bar and Resto in Quezon City.
For Alex, Ping’s strength as an actor is “sensitivity.” He explained: “Ping is more sensitive than I am and our brother Karl. If he could fully grasp this, he’d be even more effective.”
Thankful
On the other hand, Ping told the Inquirer, “Alex’s acting is still raw. I always tell him that experience is the best teacher and that he needs to take all the good roles he can get his hands on.”
Their dad is cool with the boys being grown up now. Said Ping, “He just reminds me, ‘’Tong tama na ang inom’ or ‘Bakit puyat ka na naman?’”
Alex is thankful that Pen did not force show business on him. “I wanted to try other things. Now, I’m more committed to my craft.”
Ping, who marks his 10th anniversary in the biz this year, said he was really proud of Alex and Karl, who both bagged acting awards early on in their careers.
PING, dad Pen and brother Alex: “There is strength in numbers.” Facebook
Karl, who debuted in Sari and Kiri Dalena’s “The Guerrilla Is a Poet” won Best Actor in the 2013 CineFilipino Film Festival. Alex won Best Actor for Ato Bautista’s “Palitan” at the 2012 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival.
(There’s another Medina brother in the biz—Victor, who was in the cast of the 2011 Cinemalaya movie “Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me.”)
“I’m happy that they’ve gotten good breaks. There are now five Medina actors,” Ping said. “There is strength in numbers.”