Gabby Padilla during the Cinemalaya 2024 closing ceremony. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Gabby Padilla confessed that she was shocked after winning Best Actress at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, but she’s grateful for the opportunity to portray the story of grief.
Padilla and “Balota” star Marian Rivera tied for Best Actress at the film festival’s closing ceremony on Sunday, August 11. As soon as her name was announced up to the moment she gave her acceptance speech, the “Kono Basho” star had a shocked expression throughout.
“Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Masaya ako na panalo si Ate Marian kasi napanood ko siya sa ‘Balota,’ and deserve na deserve niya ang award (I still couldn’t believe it. I’m happy that Ate Marian won because I watched ‘Balota’ and she really deserved the award). To be able to share this award with her is a great blessing and I’m so grateful,” she said.
Padilla recalled that she was telling her seatmate how much she enjoyed “Balota” until her name was called as one of the winners, which also contributed to her shock.
“Sobrang gulat po ako kasi noong binanggit si Ate Marian, I was telling my [seatmate] na ang ganda talaga ng ‘Balota.’ I was shocked but I’m so grateful,” she said. “Pina-process pa rin ng utak ko. I’m filled with gratitude. I just want to share this with my team and I’m so excited to celebrate with them.”
(I was so shocked. When Ate Marian was called, I was telling my seatmate that “Balota” was really nice. I was shocked but I’m so grateful. My mind is still processing it).
On the film’s theme of grief, Padilla hoped that viewers would be reminded of the beauty of finding someone to help one get through the “darkness.”
“I keep thinking of the team who made it possible… ‘Kono Basho’ is a story about grief and losing a loved one. But the message is reaching out and finding someone [amid the] darkness. To get through grief and devastation in life, you have to have someone with you,” she said.
Gabby Padilla in a scene from “Kono Basho.” Image: Courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
The actress also shared that doing “Kono Basho” was a personal experience since it’s a theme that hits close to home.
“Personal siya sa’kin (It’s personal for me) because it speaks about losing a father. It was something I struggled with as well,” she said.
“Kono Basho” tells the story of Ella (Padilla) who travels to Rikuzentakata City in Japan to attend her father’s funeral. She finds herself reuniting with her half-sister Reina and meeting her step-family while navigating through her grief.
Aside from Best Actress, the film also bagged the Best Director (full-length feature film), Best Production Design, and Best Cinematography awards.