Eugene Domingo during the MMFF 2024 Gabi ng Parangal. —Image: Screengrab from Facebook/MMFF
Two days after Eugene Domingo went viral for her inclusion in a segment at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal, the festival’s executive committee clarified that it was meant to be a tribute to the “luminaries” who played a significant role in its 50-year history.
Domingo caught the attention of netizens after she was included in a Gabi ng Parangal segment aimed to pay tribute to the “stars who came before us,” according to a spiel from Gabbi Garcia, who was one of the ceremony’s hosts.
With a performance from John Arcilla, Mark Bautista, Robert Seña, and Arman Ferrer, a video featuring Nora Aunor, as well as the late actors Spanky Manikan and Cherie Gil was flashed onstage before Domingo’s face was shown.
This led to netizens being confused about the video’s purpose, with some calling out the festival for mistakenly leading them to believe that Domingo had already passed away. Others also demanded the festival to apologize to the actress-comedienne.
First, inisnub n’yo ang isang Eugene Domingo na isa sa beteranang aktress at nagbigay ng walang tapong performance sa ATBWI. Ngayon, ginawa n’yong patay??
Eugene Domingo didn’t last this long in this industry for you to disrespect her. APOLOGIZE TO HER!!
#MMFF50GabiNgParangal pic.twitter.com/dGlsEFeVwl
— o’brien (@deeplyfrost) December 27, 2024
Bakit naman isinama ’yung picture ni Eugene Domingo sa tribute sa mga patay? 😭 #MMFF50
— chell (@ChellDion) December 27, 2024
Bakit nasa In Memoriam si Eugene Domingo?????! 😭😭😭 #MMFF50GabiNgParangal #MMFF2024 https://t.co/eySMbP3KzN
— 𐚁 (@kaypatricktayo) December 27, 2024
Bakit n’yo dinedo si Eugene Domingo . Shutaccayo. 🥲 #MMFF50GabiNgParangal
— Anima Cristi Fhermin (@thequeenanima) December 27, 2024
Bakit n’yo tinegi si Ms. Eugene Domingo, MMFF!!! Tapos ’yung napili n’yo pang picture 😭😭😭😭 shuta kayooo#MMFF50 #MMFF50GabiNgParangalhttps://t.co/5VStPyqjcg
— alt iWantTFC (@ALTiWantTFC) December 27, 2024
Not a tribute to the dead
This led the MMFF executive committee to clarify that Domingo’s inclusion in the segment was meant to celebrate her contributions to the annual film festival.
“We’ve noted concerns regarding the video tribute featuring Ms. Eugene Domingo at the recent Gabi ng Parangal. This was intended as a tribute to luminaries both living and passed, and who have contributed to the MMFF over its 50-year history, not an In Memoriam segment,” it said in a statement posted on Sunday, December 29.
The MMFF executive committee issued a statement on the inclusion of Eugene Domingo in a now-viral segment. —Image: Facebook/MMFF
Aside from Domingo, former president Joseph Estrada, Christopher de Leon, Hilda Koronel, Ruel Vernal, Amy Austria, Vilma Santos, Charo Santos, and Nora Aunor were also included in the MMFF’s tribute.
“We hope this clears up any misunderstandings and allows us to focus on celebrating the film industry’s achievements,” it added.
Meanwhile, MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer said on his Instagram page that netizens should focus on the performance of Arcilla, Bautista, Seña, and Ferrer instead.
“Sana man lang na-appreciate na ang huhusay ng mga nagperform,” said Ferrer. “Just to clarify, the number of @armanfferrer @iammarkbautista Robert Sena [and] @johnarcilla was a tribute number to MMFF Icons through the 50 years… hindi po in memoriam.”
(I hope you will appreciate the performance instead. Just to clarify, Arman Ferrer, Mark Bautista, Robert Seña, and John Arcilla did a tribute number to MMFF Icons through the 50 years. Not an in memoriam.)
Domingo has yet to address the viral segment, as of press time.
The actress-comedienne is one of the lead stars of the 2024 MMFF entry “And the Breadwinner Is…” which also stars Vice Ganda, Gladys Reyes, Jhong Hilario, Maris Racal, Kokoy de Santos, and Malou de Guzman.