Judy Ann, Kathryn in Luna Awards’ acting derby tonight

Judy Ann Santos (left) in “Mindanao”

“We have to continue with the awards night. It’s a morale booster to counter the depressing things that are happening now,” declared actress Vivian Velez, who is the current director-general of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

Despite the current pandemic lockdown, the 38th Film Academy Awards, also known as the Luna Awards, will push through tonight with a virtual ceremony that will be aired at 7 p.m. on UNTV Channel 37.

“A lot of people are saying that we should just forgo the awards ceremony. First of all, the FAP has no budget. Second, because there’s a pandemic. But what really made me decide to push through with the Luna Awards was when a person told me, ‘Vivian, people are hungry. The entertainment industry is not important at this point.’”

She added: “That got me boiling! I said, ‘When the government ordered a lockdown and all of us were forced to stay at home, what did most people do? They watched movies and TV shows. It was the entertainment industry that saved us from insanity. Without us, how will you keep people entertained in their homes? That really got me going.”

The program, she said, will not be a grand one. It will, however, feature couple Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez singing the newly composed theme song (“Luna: Bukas May Liwanag Pa Rin” by Njel de Mesa) of the Luna Awards.

Kathryn Bernardo in “Hello, Love, Goodbye”

To be able to mount the event, Vivian said the FAP sought help from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, “which donated the Luna trophies;” the Cultural Center of the Philippines, “which gave us financial help of P500,000;” and from actor Dingdong Dantes, “who sponsored the fees for the riders who will deliver the trophies to the winners. The riders happen to be film workers who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.”

Battling for best actress this year are Judy Ann Santos (“Mindanao”), Kathryn Bernardo (“Hello, Love, Goodbye”), Sylvia Sanchez (“Hesusa”), Ruby Ruiz (“Iska”) and Shamaine Buencamino (“Sunshine Family”).

Even after his death, Kristoffer King is still getting best actor nominations for his performance in “Verdict.” He will be competing against Raymond Bagatsing (“Quezon’s Game”), Gio Gahol (“Sila Sila”), and Jansen Magpusao (“John Denver Trending”).

The best picture winner will be chosen from the following: Matthew Rosen’s “Quezon’s Game,” Raymund Ribay Gutierrez’s “Verdict,” Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Mindanao,” Cathy Garcia-Molina’s “Hello, Love, Goodbye” and Njel de Mesa’s “Kontradiksyon.”

Meanwhile, the best director nominees are Matthew Rosen (“Quezon’s Game), Glenn Barit (“Cleaners”), Brillante Ma Mendoza (“Mindanao”), Arden Rod Condez (“John Denver Trending”) and Cathy Garcia-Molina (“Hello, Love, Goodbye”).