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(From left) Enchong Dee, Jaime Fabregas, Cedrick Juan. Image: Instagram/@mr_enchongdee
Before Cedrick Juan was named as Best Actor at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 Gabi ng Parangal, his “GomBurZa” co-star Enchong Dee already had an inkling the theater actor would bag the coveted award.
Dee admitted, when interviewed by entertainment journalist MJ Marfori on the sidelines of the MMFF awards night, that he had rooted for Juan’s win even before the festival’s culminating event.
“Kausap ko siya kanina bago [magsimula ‘yung Gabi ng Parangal], sabi ko, alam kong ikaw ang mananalo. Inabangan ko na (I was talking to him before the awards night started, I said, you will win. I was waiting for it),” Dee said, referring to Juan.
The actor, who starred as Padre Jacinto Zamora, also spoke about “manifesting” for Juan’s win on his Instagram Story, which was reposted by the latter on his account. The term “manifest” or “manifesting” refers to making something happen by consciously thinking that it will happen.
“I was manifesting for your win the whole day! Well-deserved Best Actor Win,” Dee wrote, as he tagged the theater actor in his post.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@cedrickgjuan
For his part, Juan thanked Dee as he dedicated his win to his “GomBurZa” co-stars and the production team.
“I share this with you brother @mr_enchongdee at lahat ng (and to all) co-actors, salamat sa (thank you for the) appreciation. I share this to all the people behind making this film,” he wrote.
“GomBurZa,” which is a retelling of the three martyr priests, emerged as the biggest winner of the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal with a total of seven awards, namely Second-Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Production Design and Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award.