Judy Ann Santos with her Best Actress trophy from the 41st Cairo International Film Festival (Image: Instagram.com/officialjuday)
Judy Ann Santos had nothing but gratitude after she finally received her “golden lady” trophy for bagging the Best Actress award in the 41st Cairo International Film Festival.
Santos said her “heart is so happy” after family, friends and colleagues attended the celebrity screening of “Mindanao” last Monday, Dec. 9, at The Podium in Mandaluyong City.
“Waaahhhh!! Totoo nga! Totoong totoo sya!! Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala (It is real! It is very real! I still cannot believe this!),” Santos said in an Instagram post on Dec. 10.
“Apart from this golden lady from Cairo, that was handed over to me tonight.. very dear friends, family and colleagues from different parts of our industry came and supported our celebrity screening.. from the bottom of my heart… maraming maraming salamat po (thank you very much),” she added.
Santos is seen happily holding her trophy and kissing it in the series of photos.
Santos bagged the Best Actress award for her lead performance in director Brillante Mendoza’s “Mindanao,” which is an official entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and showing on Christmas Day.
“Mindanao” tells the story of a Muslim mother taking care of her cancer-stricken daughter in a temporary home for children in Davao while her husband (Allen Dizon), a soldier, is off fighting against rebels in Maguindanao.
Santos also expressed her love for her husband, Ryan Agoncillo, who also attended the screening of his wife’s feature film.
“Everything I’ve ever dreamed of is in this photo (the other 3 are at home sleeping),” Santos said on another photo where she holds her trophy beside her husband.
Megastar Sharon Cuneta was also very supportive of her friend’s achievement, and even got emotional while watching the movie.
“Tumutulo ‘yung luha ko. Sis, ang saya-saya ko na makita ka, pero parang nagro-rollercoaster yung emotions ko kasi happy ako, pero iyak ako nang iyak sa pelikulang ‘to,” an emotional Cuneta told Santos while the latter is heard laughing while taking the video.
(My tears are falling. Sis, I am so happy that I got to see you, but it feels like I am on an emotional rollercoaster because even though I am happy, I cannot help but cry because of this film.)
“Napakaganda po, hindi ko po sinasabi ‘to dahil mahal ko si Juday, although talagang mahal ko siya. Pero talaga pong ang ganda, ganda ganda po ng pelikulang ‘to. You have to watch ‘Mindanao’ whether you’re Muslim or not, it’s so beautiful.
(It is very good, and I am not saying this only because I love Juday, although I really do love Juday. But this film is very, very, very good.)
“Like I said, Judy Ann is really one of the finest actresses I met,” Cuneta added.
Santos succeeds veteran actress Nora Aunor as the second Filipina to win the Best Actress award from the prestigious festival. “Mindanao” also bagged the Henry Barakat Award for best artistic contribution. /ra
RELATED STORIES:
Judy Ann Santos bags best actress award at 41st Cairo International Film Fest
LOOK: Judy Ann Santos opens restaurant in Malate
Judy Ann Santos slams fake ads, says she doesn’t use slimming products